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Conference school::sports_memorabilia

Title:Sports Memorabilia
Notice:Wanted: 3.*; For_sale: 4.*; Traded: 5.*
Moderator:SCHOOL::KOPACKO
Created:Wed Aug 27 1986
Last Modified:Thu May 08 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:730
Total number of notes:8547

402.0. "SPORTS ART (LITHOGRAPHS)" by KDCA01::CDCUP_HODGSO () Tue Mar 03 1992 16:20

     I hope you can all help me , I have a oppurtunity to invest in a sports
    art company thats  reproduces art work in the form of lithographs.
    They are all limitted editions and autographed.
    
     I hope you can help me in any way by giving me your honest opinion
    on this form of memorabillia.
    
     Would you spend $100+ for an autographed litho (as an investment
    or just as a collectable) of your favorite athlete.
    
     Have you seen any litho at card shows and is there any interest
    by the average collector (small/large interest, are people fighting
    over them)
    
     The name of the company i'm interested in is called SLUGGER ONE
    PRODUCTION and the artist name is JOHN ZAPPOLA and he works out
    of liverpool NEW YORK. Some of the known athletes under contract
    are JIM PALMER STEVE CARLETON SAM SNEAD JEROME WALTON AND RICHARD
    PETTY. Knowing that the company is somewhat new, has anyone
    heard of it or the artist or seen any of his work.
    
    In Canada I have seen very little in sports art so i can't get a
    grip on the market, but being that we imitate the Americans
    (we're usually 4-6 month behind) hopefully I can get a feel
    with discussions in this note. 
                                          thanks in advance
                                      
                                          Frank Hodgson (kanata)    
    
    I  read somewhere that sport art could be the collecting craze
    of the ninties with card collecting lossing it's appeal
    anyone agreeing with that notion.
    
    
           
    
    
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
402.2CERBUS::KARLSONOnly 297 shopping days until Xmas!Tue Mar 03 1992 19:3456
402.3Other CommentsCARTUN::PAVLOCKTue Mar 03 1992 20:0954
    
    I agree and support what the previous noters had to say, here's some
    additional comments:
    
**     Would you spend $100+ for an autographed litho (as an investment
**    or just as a collectable) of your favorite athlete.
  
    At $100+ I would think you had a very limited market.  The average
    person in this hobby (card collecting) gets into it for $5, $10 or
    maybe $30 for a box of cards that they start collecting.  But it's
    relatively small investments over time.  If the $100+ Litho's really
    increse in value you will have an even smaller market when it comes
    time to sell them.
      
**    Have you seen any litho at card shows and is there any interest
**    by the average collector (small/large interest, are people fighting
**    over them)
    
    I see them as shows but very few people walking out with them.  I don't
    think this is a type of product you will move through the typical card
    show.  Maybe dealers, "Art type" studios, etc.
    
**    JIM PALMER STEVE CARLETON SAM SNEAD JEROME WALTON AND RICHARD PETTY. 
    
    Good Luck picking the right Athlete to endorse.  Everyone that I know
    so far in this hobby have their favorites, but their are very few
    "universal" stars.  It's like college baseball caps.  Walk into any
    store that carries a alot of them and you'll find the Notre Dames,
    Harvards' and a few other big names and then very little others.  I
    would think like one of the other noters just said, the biggies will do
    it themselves.
    
    
**    I  read somewhere that sport art could be the collecting craze
**    of the ninties with card collecting lossing it's appeal
**    anyone agreeing with that notion.
  
    For some one new into the card collencting hobby, it's pretty crazy
    will the 15 varities of Hockey and 15 Baseball, etc., etc.  But I can
    pick and choose what I want to buy and it's still relatively cheap.  I
    do it with my son and have fun with him.  There's no way an 11 year old
    or even teenager is going to get into $100+ Litho's.
    
    As long as you understand what market you're going after you should be
    okay.  Good Luck!!
    
    Regards,
    Denny  
    
           
    
    
    
    
402.4Do a Market survey.IAMOK::GASPARONIWed Mar 04 1992 15:5712
    I have to agree with the previous sports collecting officianardoes, or 
    whatever you call them.
    
    I think the most important aspect in your marketing approach is to
    reach the consumer who has the need for this product.  Kids and sport
    card collectors are the wrong audience, and many times are turned off
    by the product and the price.  First, what do you do once you buy one
    of these 2X3 lithos?  There large, and frames are expensive, and how
    many can you hang up until you run out of space?  Second, you have to 
    determine who is your audience, who will buy this product.  Possibly
    sports bars, boys clubs, race tracks, country clubs, etc.  Not real 
    attractive to your average home owner.  Just my thoughts.
402.6look before you leapELMAGO::JVERGOWed Mar 04 1992 22:0838
    
    In my opinion you are going to have to concentrate on the mega stars
    and limit the number produced. Keep an inventory of 15-20 bb,fb,bsktb,
    and hky. Such as bb: Ryan, Thomas, Ryno, Griffey jr, Clark, Canseco,
    Clemens, Straw, Fielder, Mays, Aaron, Banks, Mantle, T Williams, Yaz,
    Bench, Rose, Fisk. Limit production: have a series or produce different
    lithos each year, but limit each version to 10k Ryans, Mantle, Mays,
    Aaron, Griffey jr, Thomas ect, and limit Ryno, Straw, Clark, Canseco,
    and Ripken to 5k, and limit Fisk, Banks, Yaz, and Fielder, to 2500.
    This will interest collectors as well as investors. You need to
    sell them as reasonably as possible. It doesn't cost much more to have
    1000 done than it does to have 100 done. The costs should be about 
    $2-$3 ea for 1000, so if you can sell them for $29.99 you might see a
    few kids hanging these up in their bedrooms.
    I've looked into this somewhat, because my wife is an artist and she
    has already done a Ryan ( her Dr. bought it) , Ryno (I have it) and
    Griffey jr (my son has it). She doesn't feel good enough about any of
    the ones she has done so far to do lithos on one. I've taken these
    oil paintings to shows and have had alot of compliments and interest
    shown. There have been quite a few kids very interested in their
    favorite player and I believe they would purchase a framed litho
    for $15-$20
    In my opinion however, there is nothing like having the original 
    oil painting hanging in your house right next to the shelves and
    cabinets that contain your favoite cards, autographed balls, and
    other items.
    Art is very subjective and is in the eye of the beholder. I've
    had people say " hey, those are nice , I wonder if she could do 
    a painting of the '90 ud Ryno card", or this card or that card.
    If I did open a card shop/gallery I would limit to originals
    and special orders and requests. How much interest is there in
    that type of thing is debateable. However I feel a guy like Rick
    would love to have his favorite thought of Mickey hanging on his
    wall to set off his collection.
    
    
    Jim
     
402.758455::CDCUP_HODGSOMon Mar 09 1992 13:4128
    
      Thanks guys for all your input, it's much appreciated.  It
    looks like I'm about 99% sure about this venture. It's pretty
    exciting being that I'm a collector of all sports memorabillia,
    It's a good chance to mix hobby and buisness together in a part
    time bases. 
    
    here's a quick run down of our game plan (in case your interested)
    
    - limited editions of 3000 lithos only (for Canada and USA)
    - letter of authenticity, with photo of athelete signing (no auto
      pen)
    - price will be between $100 to $150 (no higher)(probably about
      $125)
    - we will be selling at card shows ,art gallerys mail order and
     magazines
    
    If you guys are interested I could keep you posted as to how
    things are going, what I'm learning and some of my experiences.
    I'm not in to this to make millions (just to recover my inital
    investment) but to learn more of the business world and most
    importantly to have fun and meet some sport celebs.
    
    thanks again for your time and input
    
                                   Frank Hodgson