Archive for Collectors
Collectors Sound Off About Why They Love Upper Deck Football!
Posted by: | CommentsCollectors frequently stop into their local hobby shop and casually ask, “What’s new?” For football collectors however, they circle a date on their calendar every year and plan to be their shop to be the first to crack Upper Deck’s annual football release. It signals the start of football collecting season as it is the first licensed release of the year loaded with hundreds of rookies and autograph cards.
Every fan has different reasons about why they love the release however. Recently we asked fans on Facebook and Twitter what they love most about the annual release and here is what they had to say!
@SportsCardCollec: THE ROOKIES! It always releases at a good time before the draft. I like to watch the draft to see where my UD rookie players land!
@PeeWee5555: In my opinion it is getting to see your favorite college players in their college uniforms for the last time before the NFL Draft. And of course the AMAZING VARIETY OF ROOKIES!
@Double_Z_Sports: Autograph Hits Like This!!!!
@ThatGuyTaz: I like busting Upper Deck Football to see how the first autographs rookies sign compare to how they sign 5 years later. Usually tons of difference.
Matthew Gilman: The photography and the rookie cards.
Richard Procter: The rookie cards and the design are great.
@highendsports: Love the base card photography!!!! Incredible card!
Shop owners will be busy today as 2014 Upper Deck Football arrives in stores. So far collectors are digging the release and some of the cards they are pulling are just awesome!
Collectors Share Well Wishes to Upper Deck for the Company’s 25th Anniversary
Posted by: | CommentsMost business don’t make it through their first year , let alone 25. For Upper Deck to still be going strong 25 years after the company released the first trading card product is a testament to how much collectors enjoy Upper Deck products. With fans being so critical to the success of the company, Upper Deck issued a challenge to fans with a $2500 shopping spree at the Upper Deck online store up for grabs. The challenge was to make a fun video congratulating Upper Deck on the company’s anniversary while incorporating Upper Deck products into the video.
Here are a few of our favorites that we received in from fans:
Ultimately the winner did something a little out of the ordinary. He brought the Upper Deck logo to life and took it on a cruise to celebrate the anniversary, take a look!
And recently we shared another video where fans, celebrities and industry insiders wished UD a happy anniversary while sharing some of their favorite moments from the last 25 years, check it out!
Michael Doffing is One of Ken Griffey Jr.’s Biggest Fans
Posted by: | CommentsMaking the decision of which player you are going to choose to collect is a difficult one. You know that once you make that decision, you are making a commitment to search high and low for their collectibles. So when Michael Doffing decided to make one of the hottest prospects in the game the subject of his personal collection, he committed to chase down almost everything he could for “The Kid.”
Collectors online know Doffing as Magicpapa and he started his collection back in 1991 thanks to his son. He has made a name for himself for helping out other collectors and being one of the good guys in the hobby. Most of his collection is from the 1990’s and here are some cool images of his favorite cards.
As part of Upper Deck’s new Random Acts of Kindness program, we put something special together for Michael for his loyalty not only to Junior, but to Upper Deck over the years. We appreciate your support Michael, look for something from Upper Deck shortly!
Bryan Berg is a very extraordinary individual to say the least who is passionate about building amazing structures out of playing and trading cards. One of his favorite parts of the process however is the demolition of his incredible creations. Known as the Cardstacker, Bryan creates a variety of impressive structures at events around the world.
Bryan has worked with Upper Deck in the past and he has an appreciation for our products. As we discussed the 25th Anniversary of Upper Deck, he had an idea of a cool build he wanted to do that would involve a fun demolition, and like that he was off to work on this creation. He was good enough to get the entire build, demolition and rebuild all on video, check out his tribute to Upper Deck’s 25th Anniversary!
Can you believe it has been 25 years since Upper Deck delivered the first case of 1989 Upper Deck Baseball to a hobby shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma? How much innovation has Upper Deck brought to the industry since those first packs back then? From autograph inserts to memorabilia cards to video trading cards, the journey Upper Deck has taken collectors on as the hobby has evolved has been amazing to watch.
One constant that has made collecting Upper Deck trading cards a hobby that has endured over the last 25 years is the kindness of collectors. We have talked before about how collecting trading cards is one of the friendliest hobbies in the world. It is important for the future of the hobby that we do things to encourage that kindness in the collecting community, especially as we look to develop the next generation of collectors through kids. Upper Deck has spent a lot of time working to make the hobby of collecting cards something kids will be interested in, but as we look back at our 25-year history, we think it is important to thank the good guys (and girls) out there who helped make this hobby so kind.
Throughout Upper Deck’s 25th Anniversary Celebration (beginning now through the end of 2014) we are excited to announce Upper Deck’s Random Acts of Kindness program (#UDRAK) where we will surprise loyal fans and supporters with packages that contain trading cards, packs, boxes, Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia, personalized collectibles, UD apparel or tickets to events. And when we say “surprise,” we mean it. These special packages will be sent out as a surprise to collectors meaning that FANS CANNOT REQUEST THEM FOR THEMSELVES OR HAVE OTHERS REQUEST THEM ON THEIR BEHALF.
Upper Deck is watching hobby message boards, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube while also talking with loyal shops about who some of their best customers are. We are not necessarily looking for the collectors that spend the most with those shops, but rather fans who have been positive advocates for Upper Deck and the hobby throughout the last 25 years. We want to tell some good stories of giving back to great fans. Upper Deck’s Customer Care, Sales and Marketing teams will be the primary eyes and ears for the program who will work to share that nice collectors finish first by sending out these surprise mail days.
Upper Deck Certified Diamond Dealers are invited to nominate one (1) customer or family they feel is worthy to receive a Random Act of Kindness package from UD. To do so they simply need to email us and share the following information:
- Contact information for the individual (Name, home address, email and phone number).
- Why they are deserving of a Random Act of Kindness package and what they like to collect.
- The Certified Diamond Dealer contact information for the customer referring them.
Upper Deck will review those submissions and schedule worthy requests between now and the end of the year. There is no telling when it will happen or what will be contained in this special mail day from Upper Deck, but it will be fun to watch throughout the year. Fans who receive a package will find an Upper Deck Random Acts of Kindness sticker on the outside and are encouraged to share what they receive using #UDRAK on Twitter in particular.
In the meantime we encourage fans to also look at how they can make the hobby better by helping other collectors. If you hear of a collector who is one card short of completing a set and you can help, reach out to them. When you hear of a kid who could use a wholesome hobby, share some of your extra cards with them. If you can help a shop run an event to get more collectors excited about the hobby, do so. Give back to the hobby you love and you may be surprised by how good you feel about what you get back. And maybe, just maybe, you may earn a surprise mail day from Upper Deck’s Random Act of Kindness program. Imagine the difference you could make and remember, we are watching!
