I am considering selling at a coin show sometime soon, and I am wondering where do dealers obtain the supplies necessary to sell coins at coin shows, especially cases and trays. Also, how much should I expect to pay for these supplies? (wholesale or retail) Thank you for your time in advance. - Brandon S.
Most shows I go to here the person running the show will help you out with a case if needed. These are small shows 20 to 30 tables rent around $100 @ show for a 6 foot table.
I never could understand how dealers can make a profit. The last two shows I set up at didn't have enough sales to even cover table fee and expenses.
I really hate those flat cases. My back starts hurting from leaning over to look at the coins. I think this is where a lot of dealers fail at coin shows. Everybody's table looks the same. Seriously, if this hobby is to grow displays at shows have to come out from the 1950's. At the very least have a link to a website that shows the coins you have available at the show. Come on let's get a little more creative for these shows. Boring.
I've felt that same way at times. However, one thing that does happen at shows is face time with dealers. If positive, a connection might be established that leads to a customer being loyal for many years. That is how I've gotten to know and work with a few select dealers and auctioneers.
It can sometimes be a battle. You never know which shows will be good and which will not. That depends on what you have to sell, what the weather is like, if there was another show the week before, when auctions occur, if it's tax season, if there's a holiday that weekend, if it's during the Christmas shopping season, etc. Eventually - perhaps ten years hence - I hope to have many more regular visitors to my website, but that depends on my ability to photograph and list fresh material much more frequently, which I cannot afford the time to do pre-retirement. Right now, any losses I experience, I chalk up to subsidizing the growth of my customer base. I don't have to make a lot of profit right now, as long as I build my business successfully. That means selecting the right kinds of coins for my customers, and offering excellent customer service. For those whose sole goal is to sell off their coins at a near term profit, the above approach obviously does not work.
Thank you for the advice above, what do you all think if I attempted to improve the already, seemingly standard coin case (displays coins better, unlocks quicker with same security measures, stackes better, scratches less, ect.) Do you think that dealers would buy?
Some shows rent cases and lights, check with the show promoter or bourse chairman. New cases are a little on the expensive side, http://www.allstatemfgco.com/ Good luck, let me know if I can help, alan@coinzip.com
If you are ok with wooden display cases. I had 6 of them made by a local Mennonite with the dimensions I wanted. They only ran me about $45 each.
