Card Shows How-To Seller Tips
After dozens of card shows over the last year, here's everything BigJohnsCards24 packs for a typical 1-day setup. Skip the surprises — this is the kit list.
Display & setup
- Folding table — only if the show doesn't provide one. Confirm with the organizer first.
- Tablecloth — neutral color (black or dark blue). Hides scratches and looks professional in photos/video.
- Showcase risers — wood blocks or acrylic risers to angle slabs toward shoppers. A flat table is a missed-impulse table.
- Slab display stands — clear plastic, $10/pack for 20. Critical.
- Bright LED puck lights — most show venues are poorly lit. Battery-powered pucks under your tablecloth turn slabs into jewelry.
- Price tags or labels — every card visible should have a price. "Make offer" kills sales.
Inventory organization
- Top loaders + team bags for raw singles — pre-sleeve everything at home.
- 3-ring binder with 9-pocket pages for browseable singles ($10–$50 tier).
- Dollar box — sounds dumb, draws crowds, you'll sell hundreds. Cards under $5 in monster boxes.
- Hot slabs separate — keep your $500+ slabs in a locked case or in front of you, not in the buyer-facing display.
Tools & supplies
- Pricing gun or sharpie + masking tape
- Card sleeves (penny + premium)
- Top loaders in 3+ sizes (35pt, 55pt, 75pt for thicker cards)
- Team bags / Card Saver II for shipping fragile cards
- Scissors, tape, calculator, pen, notebook
- Phone tripod for vertical TikTok/Reels of pulls and crowd shots
- Power bank — outlets at shows are unreliable
Payments
- Cash float — start with at least $200 in small bills. You'll need to break $100s and $50s constantly.
- Card reader — Square or Stripe Tap to Pay on phone. ~3% fee, worth it for any sale over $20.
- Venmo / Zelle / Cash App — set these up in advance, signs posted at the table.
- PayPal G&S — for buyers who want protection on bigger sales.
Security
- Never leave the table unattended without a partner.
- Lock high-value slabs in a portable safe overnight if it's a multi-day show.
- Keep your phone-side at the back of the table — not next to walking traffic.
- Photograph your inventory before the show — if anything goes missing you have records.
Personal kit
- Water bottle and snacks (concession lines are long).
- Folding chair if not provided.
- Business cards or QR code linking to bigjohnscards.com — every interaction is a chance to grow.
- Comfortable shoes. You'll stand 8+ hours.
Quick wins
- Talk to your neighbors — they're your best lead source for trades.
- Walk the floor in the first 30 minutes before crowds — that's when the best deals are.
- Drop prices on slow inventory by mid-afternoon. Going home with cash beats going home with cardboard.
Related reading
About the author: John Isner runs BigJohnsCards24, a sports card and Pokémon TCG channel. Subscribe on YouTube or follow on Instagram.