Card Shop Insider

By Card Shop Insider

News and industry insight from a local game store (LGS). Long-time store owner, John, teams up with a life-long gamer to discuss the operation of card stores as a business and to provide updates on yo... more

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FAQs about Card Shop Insider:

How many episodes does Card Shop Insider have?

The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.

Card Shop Insider episodes:

April 22, 2025 E40: Spotting Fake Cards
John owns a small local game store and shares his opinions about how fake cards can impact your LGS.
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30min
February 12, 2025 E39: How Weather Impacts Your Local LGS and More
E39: John flies solo and discusses how recent winter weather impacted his small local game store. He also discusses upcomming news from around the TCG industry with updates on Gundam, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic. Additionally, John reflects on significant historical events that occurred on January 13th, providing listeners with a blend of gaming insights and historical context.
00:00 Introduction and Context
01:00 Gundam TCG
02:24 Yu-Gi-Oh News
07:19 Impact of Weather on Business
14:12 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
23:25 Closing Remarks and Future Plans
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25min
February 07, 2025 E38: Should you be loyal to your LGS?
E38: John and Noah discuss various aspects of running a local game store, including pricing strategies, customer loyalty, and the impact of online shopping on local retailers. They explore the importance of maintaining relationships with customers and the challenges posed by online competitors. The conversation also touches on the significance of local retailers in the gaming community and concludes with interesting facts about winter weather.
00:00 Introduction and Technical Setup
01:10 Scrye Magazine
03:27 How to Price Cards in 2025
05:11 Haggling... Yes or No?
08:36 How to get TCG News in the Modern Age
10:30 Customer Loyalty and LGS Obligations?
26:30 "Three E's" - Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
34:13 Closing Thoughts
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37min
February 05, 2025 E37: When and how to change direction with your gaming business
In this episode, John discusses the card shop business, sharing insights on market trends, product offerings, and strategies for success. He emphasizes the importance of pivoting in response to customer needs and market changes, while also sharing fun New Year's facts to engage listeners.
Takeaways
Owning a card shop offers numerous opportunities to pivot.
You have to make decisions on the fly in business.
Expanding product offerings is essential for success.
Hosting events drives foot traffic and sales.
Creating an e-commerce website can broaden your audience.
Emphasizing nostalgia can attract older collectors.
Branded merchandise can be a good revenue stream.
Themed cafes can enhance the gaming experience.
Trade and consignment services can be a hassle.
Engaging with customers through loyalty programs is beneficial.
00:00 Introduction to Card Shop Insiders
00:58 News from the Gaming Industry
07:13 Pivoting in the Card Shop Industry
20:13 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
27:21 Closing Thoughts
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29min
January 30, 2025 E36: Reflections on Post-pandemic LGS Ownership
In this episode of Card Shop Insiders, John and Noah discuss the latest news in the card gaming industry, including updates on Magic: The Gathering, theft in the card grading industry, and the challenges of insurance for card shops. They also explore the current state of Star Wars Unlimited and Pokemon card demand, reflecting on the post-COVID landscape of card gaming. The conversation wraps up with a light-hearted segment on Christmas facts.
00:00 Intro, Welcome, and Disclaimer
01:14 News: Magic B&R Follow-up A Week Later
03:25 News: Card Theft at Grading Warehouse!!
10:53 News: Star Wars Unlimited OP and Release Schedule
16:16 News: Pokemon TCG Availability and Distribution
29:53 Main Topic: Reflections on Post-pandemic Gaming
34:14 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
42:53 Conclusion
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45min
December 26, 2024 E35: TCG News + End of Year Business Tips
In this episode of Card Shop Insiders, hosts John and Noah discuss various aspects of running a local game store, including community engagement, trading card market trends, and end-of-year retail strategies. They share insights on product availability, customer feedback, and the importance of maintaining a clean and inviting store environment. The episode also features fun holiday facts and a discussion on the significance of maple syrup and Christmas traditions around the world.
00:00 Welcome and Intros
00:45 Social Media Comments and Response
03:45 News: Crime, MTG Bans, Yu-Gi-Oh Demand, and New Set Announcements!
21:19 Main Topic: End-of-year Retail Practices
37:26 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
46:16 Closing Thoughts
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48min
December 24, 2024 E34: AI Solves Card Shop Problems??
John and Noah cover the latest TCG news on 12/4/2024 including new packaging for MTG, OP Details for Lorcana, and a potpouri of gaming news from around the industry. For this weeks business topic John used AI to generate a list of challenges that local game stores face and discusses his perspective on some of the top issues.
00:00 Intros
00:26 Listener Comments and Response
01:25 News: Elon Musk and Hasbro
09:28 News: Star Wars: Unlimited
11:57 News: Disney Lorcana
19:43 News: One Piece: Card Game
20:47 News: Magic: The Gathering
32:42 News: Yu-Gi-Oh TCG
34:53 News: Pokemon TCG
51:53 Main Topic: AI Identifies Challenges for an LGS
58:07 Strategies for Competing with Online Retailers
01:05:15 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
01:16:44 Wrapping Up and Patreon Recognitions
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1h 19min
November 26, 2024 E33 Latest and Greatest LGS TCG News PLUS inside the business re: what we do when the shop is closed
In this episode of Card Shop Insiders, hosts Noah and John delve into the latest news and updates from the world of collectible card games, including Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Pokemon, and Magic: The Gathering. They discuss community engagement through charity events, tournament announcements, and product updates. The conversation also touches on quality control issues, theft incidents in card stores, and a lawsuit against Hasbro. Additionally, the hosts share fun facts and trivia, emphasizing the vibrant community surrounding card gaming.
00:39 News: Yu-Gi-Oh TCG
06:03 News: One Piece Card Game
09:13 News: Pokemon TCG
15:15 News: Magic: The Gathering
33:28 News: Disney Lorcana
46:00 News: Star Wars: Unlimited
50:55 News: Gaming Adjacent News - Thefts, Hasbro Sued, and Cards are worth money
56:28 Main Topic: Secret Meetings and Problem Solving
01:06:27 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
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1h 19min
November 14, 2024 E32: Off Days and More
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1h 7min
November 13, 2024 E31: Saving Money at Startup
Podcast E31
In this episode of Card Shop Insiders, hosts Noah and John discuss various topics related to the gaming industry, including recent news in collectible card games, market trends, and the challenges of running a card shop. They delve into specific games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering, sharing insights on product releases, grading, and inventory management. The conversation also touches on the impact of digital gaming and the importance of being resourceful in store setup. Additionally, John shares interesting facts about daylight savings time, highlighting its history and effects.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:14 NEWS: $8k Profit on Pokemon Card Turns Into Engagement Ring
04:27 News: Flesh and Blood World Championship
05:54 News: Yu-Gi-Oh TCG
07:45 News: One Piece TCG - Ranting and Raving
12:06 News: Pokemon TCG
21:21 News: Magic: The Gathering
32:27 News: Disney Lorcana
34:19 News: Star Wars: Unlimited
36:36 Main Topic: Saving Money on Startup Costs
54:41 Three E's: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain
01:00:34 Close Out and Patreon Thank You
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1h 3min

FAQs about Card Shop Insider:

How many episodes does Card Shop Insider have?

The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.