Is Topps Taking Over the Hobby? FIFA, WNBA, and What’s Next
5/8/202639 min
In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer discuss the latest trends and developments in the trading card and collectibles market. Brian shares insights from the Toronto card show and how the hobby continues to expand across sports and non-sports categories. They also explore major industry developments, including Fanatics’ continued expansion, PSA grading growth, and evolving retail dynamics. The conversation provides a practical look at what’s working in the hobby today and what collectors and store owners should be paying attention to. 🔑 Topics Covered Card show insights and hobby expansion PSA grading trends and volume growth Industry consolidation and major players Retail and store-level challenges Product trends and collector behavior 🤝 Connect Ryan Alford 👉 https://www.ryanisright.com 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford Brian Ludden 👉 https://www.ludex.com 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp Bella Shafer 👉 https://www.instagram.com/isabellashafer 👉www.thecollectorstation.com Collector Station 👉https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/a-drive-thru-window-a-railway-line-and-a-pack-bar-make-collector-station-a-unique-experience-for-hobbyists Shop now at onitathlete.com and use code COLLECTORNATION at checkout to receive 15% off your first order!
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsBella Shafer· Co-host0:00
I'm curious if Topps would like, if they bought Panini, if they would keep the Panini brand alive or if they would just rebrand all of like the odds in prison- I think, I think the only way it happens is it just dies probably.
Ryan Alford· Host0:13
[laughs] Topps Chrome Football, the, uh, first football fully licensed by Topps in a while. Their jumbo boxes are selling for 2K on the secondary market, 4X what they came out at. So yeah, it's all good. GameStop trying to buy eBay. When I first read that I thought it was like a joke. Are they in position to buy eBay?
Bella Shafer· Co-host0:31
It could be CardStop buy GameStop. I would not be surprised if they rebranded.
Ryan Alford· Host0:35
Maybe.
Brian Ludden· Co-host0:36
That would be hilarious.
Ryan Alford· Host0:37
I'm gonna call it HardStop.
Speaker 40:39
[laughs] [laughs] Welcome to the Collector Nation Podcast here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, we take you inside the hobby. Here are your hosts, Ryan Alford and Bryan Lutz.
Ryan Alford· Host0:58
What's up, guys? Welcome to Collector Nation. Ryan, Bryan, and Bella right here. We got the RBB, BRR, BRB.
Bella Shafer· Co-host1:12
Yep, BRB.
Ryan Alford· Host1:12
It's the BRB.
Brian Ludden· Co-host1:13
BRB.
Ryan Alford· Host1:14
[laughs] [laughs] BRB back in town. Uh, Bryan's in Dallas getting the hell out of there, headed back to Chi-town I hope. He's been on the road a lot so, you know, if he sounds like he's traveling i- it's because he is. The, the man's- Yeah ... a busy