Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Online sales mean customer base is global—no island disadvantage
• •Cards are lightweight—shipping costs are minimal regardless of location
• •Estate sales and thrift stores occasionally yield vintage finds others miss
• •Pacific Northwest sports teams (Mariners, Seahawks) create regional collecting interest
• •Card shows require mainland travel but provide networking and buying opportunities

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Choose your focus: sport, era, player type, or trading card game

   • •Each market segment has different dynamics, knowledge requirements, and buyer bases
   • •Deep expertise in one area beats shallow knowledge across many
   • •Your existing fandom and knowledge provide competitive advantage
2. 2
   Learn grading standards and when professional grading adds value

   • •Condition determines value—a PSA 10 can be worth 10x a PSA 8
   • •Grading fees and turnaround time must factor into your investment decisions
   • •Knowing when NOT to grade (common cards, lower conditions) saves money
3. 3
   Study market trends, player performance, and hype cycles

   • •Player performance directly affects card values—injuries, trades, breakout seasons
   • •Social media hype creates short-term price spikes—know when to buy and sell
   • •Long-term value vs. speculation requires different strategies
4. 4
   Build presence on trading platforms and social media

   • •Community reputation is currency—feedback and references matter
   • •Social media is where trends start and collectors gather
   • •Direct sales to collectors avoid platform fees

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Buy cards needing cleaning or light restoration (whitening, deglossing) and do it yourself
• •Wait for grading service sales and bulk submission deals
• •Use eBay auction sniping at low-traffic times to win cards below market
• •Trade with other collectors instead of buying at retail
• •Start with lower-value cards to learn before investing heavily in graded high-end pieces

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Cards at grading services tie up capital for weeks or months during turnaround
• •High-value cards can sit for months waiting for the right buyer
• •Quick-flip common graded cards provide cash flow while waiting for grails to sell
• •eBay new seller holds (21 days) can significantly delay access to funds

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Specialize in what you know—your existing fandom is valuable expertise
• •Diversify across players—injuries and scandals can tank single-player portfolios
• •Set loss limits on speculative buys—not every prospect becomes a star
• •Buy the player, not the hype—social media pumps often precede dumps
• •Grade conservatively when buying raw cards—assume one grade lower than it appears
• •Build relationships in the community—other collectors are your best source of deals and knowledge