Firstly, if you're new to ‘The Hobby’, welcome. It's a friendly space for like minded individuals who share an interest in sports and small pieces of cardboard.
A common question that people may ask is, “Are you a collector or are you an investor?”. Whilst there will be a few people who lean towards being one or the other, I think it's fair to say that the majority of us understand that the two aren't mutually exclusive.
You might be completely new to collecting cards, or rekindling a lost passion for completing a sticker album. You may be looking to buy cards as a financial investment. Either way, there's a number of handy tips that may help you along your journey.
Create a Network - Sounds fancy right? Simply put, start by joining groups and engaging in conversations with other card collectors. Facebook is a great place to find relevant pages, and you may also consider creating your own individual page on instagram to showcase your collection whilst sharing tips & advice. This is a great way to learn from fellow enthusiasts.
Ask for Help - You’ll find out pretty quickly that the hobby is a friendly community, and that the majority of people are approachable. Once you have created your network, don't be afraid to reach out and ask for advice. Many experienced collectors will wish that they had done this more when starting out.
Do your Research - It's easier said than done, but try not to rush into a purchase or an investment. If you're a collector, give thought to where you want to be in the hobby. Are you looking to collect a certain player or team? Or would you like to complete certain sets? Before you make a purchase, have a look at all the different platforms to find the best deal. Greater savings means you can buy more cards right? Ebay and facebook marketplace are obvious starting points, but also, reach out to the community. People are always happy to help you out with a good deal. If you are working with a small budget, suggest a trade. This is a great way to get a card you want, whilst helping out a fellow collector.
Stay within your Budget - This is probably the most important piece of advice you will receive. It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of collecting, and the enjoyment of receiving more cards through the post, but it is important to remember to stay within budget, whatever that may be. Same goes for investing. Sports cards are super speculative, and you must only invest amounts that you are comfortable to lose.
Collect what you Enjoy - Sounds simple, but it's extremely important. After all, this is a hobby. It's easy to become involved in what other people are buying, and to develop FOMO, but to get maximum enjoyment out of what you buy, you should enjoy it. As stated above, cards are a super speculative market, so if the value of your collection goes down, you should enjoy the cards you have.
Attend a Card Show - We’re blessed now in the UK to have a number of card shows throughout the year at a variety of locations. This is a great place to buy cards, complete trades, and safely meet up with friends you've made within the hobby. The fact that we now have card shows in the UK, highlights just how far the hobby has come within the last couple of years.
That's a lot of information to take onboard, but even if you just take away a snippet of advice, your experience should hopefully be a more enjoyable one. Above all, it's important to enjoy what you are doing, and we all eventually learn from our own mistakes. The fun part is the journey and that includes the successes and the failures. Happy collecting, and i hope to see you at a card show soon.
Martin Robinson
HobbyStock