How much would it cost these days to have a "Nationals Worthy" booth?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by notfast

If a dealer is only ending up with $3500 in sales over the entire week, they need to give up their spot and not take up space.

That number is probably accurate to break even for a single 10x10/10x15 booth with one person working, lives within a tank of gas driving distance, eating ramen and staying at the motel 6 20 miles away…if they dont value their time.


These events have gotten so big and costly. The average “simple set up” booth is going to need to make 5 figures to feel like it was a good week. That goes up exponentially when you scale up these booths that make up the majority of the show.

Just a reminder, we did not say $3500 in SALES we said $3500 in initial expenses. Unless you are in that small minority treating the NSCC as a vacation week and a way to break even to see friends, then no way $3500 in sales is sufficent.

[rand1com]

Expense depends on travel cost.

Here is an average breakdown if you are driving your own vehicle.

1 Booth $1295
Hotel $1500 (Decent 3 star hotel through Conference Housing)(If you stay on site at Chicago, the Hotel cost is much higher but my example is the budget minded cost)
Gas $ 200 (Based on driving 500 miles each way)

Total $2995

You have to eat so that is not an expense in my calculation. But, figure another $500 so all in $3495 as Leon and Rich surmised to spend the week there on somewhat of a budget.

You would be surprised how many dealers are retired and do the National for fun, not for sales.

Many like to show off their collection and could care less if they sell anything. Their prices reflect that attitude.

I would guess 20% of the booths would have a cost value inventory of $25K or less. If they sell $10K, they did OK.

Sales for the National by booth would range from next to nothing to 7 figures. I would guess 75% would sell less than $50K. That still leaves a lot of dealers selling between $50K and 7 figures.

All guesses of course but based on doing 15 Nationals.

Granted, in the earlier years when booths did not sell out (yes, there were years when they did not sell out), today's figures would dwarf sales.

[UKCardGuy]

Interesting topic. It really depends on what you consider National Worthy.

If I assume a National Worthy booth has a few display cases with pre and post war stars, maybe a dollar box too and some complete sets and maybe a bit of cool memorabilia...inventory might include something like this:

T206 stars (couple of cobbs, mathewson, etc)
Perhaps a smattering of T205, M101-4, e91s etc)
A stack of 1952 Topps including a Mantle or a Mays
A stack of 53T including Satchel and Jackie
A selection of Goudeys, Playball, postcards, etc
A further selection of topps stars from 1954 to 1972

There also has to be enough inventory to sell across 5 days. That means having inventory under the table to replace sold items.

If I assume there's at least 100 cards in each display case and a average price of $500 per card in the case then it's pretty easy to get to $300K.

I have no doubt you could set up with much less, but is that National Worthy?

[Rich Klein]

One of my old friends sold out of his $1 box inventory at AC back in 2022. The person who bought it got a great deal and got some help getting those cards shipped back to his home area.

But you don't need to have a vintage display to do well. If you have modern cards priced right (both showcase and value cards) and are willing to move them on, you can do just fine for yourself. When I was in Chicago in 2023, my friends from the Singles Club had yet another amazing show and they did expand to showcase cards but their bread and butter is still the 50-cent and up value box cards they specialize in.

The NSCC is the ONLY show they do and they do enough each year to keep their business going. And they are really nice people to boot so if you are interested in that part of the world, I recommend visiting them and you will have fun.

Rich