Sean Chaffin
Look for plenty of buying, selling and swapping Nov. 14-15 at the Premier Cards & Collectibles Show at the Roswell Mall. Area card collectors and fans of sports memorabilia can expect 80 vendor tables with a wide range of products.
This marks the third annual event after launching in 2024 and organizers are pleased to see how the show has grown in such a short time.
“Our very first show started with just 32 vendor tables, but the response was so overwhelming that we expanded to 60 tables,” co-organizer Julio Sanchez said. “Since then, we’ve continued growing, and our upcoming November show will feature 80 vendor tables, making it our biggest event yet.
“It’s been incredible watching the show grow in such a short time, especially seeing the support we’ve received from collectors and vendors throughout New Mexico and the surrounding areas.”
Something for everyone
At the Roswell show, visitors can expect a family-friendly event with a range of products for every type of collector. Some of those include baseball, basketball, and football cards, but also popular trading card games like Pokémon, One Piece, Magic: The Gathering, and more.
“One of our biggest goals is to make the event welcoming to collectors of all ages and experience levels,” Sanchez said. “You don’t have to know anything about cards to enjoy the show. It’s a great opportunity to meet other collectors, discover new items, and learn more about the hobby.”
In addition to the collecting fun, organizers will be giving away door prizes every hour for those in attendance. More serious collectors can check out graded cards, vintage collectibles, modern releases, sealed products, memorabilia and rare or valuable collectibles.
“One of the coolest things about these shows is that you never know what someone might bring,” Sanchez said. “Some vendors have incredible collections, including cards that are decades old, hard-to-find collectibles, and cards worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.”
Growing Industry
For those who may have collected cards growing up and left the hobby behind, trading cards continue resonating with many around the country. In an age of computers and mobile phones, the trading card industry has survived and now has an estimated value of $10 billion to $15 billion in the U.S. alone.
“I think a lot of people would be surprised by just how big the collecting hobby has become and how much variety there is,” Sanchez said. “Many people remember collecting Pokémon or sports cards when they were younger, but they may not realize how popular those hobbies still are today.
“I also think people will be surprised by the number of collectors right here in our area. There’s a much bigger collecting community in southeastern New Mexico than many people realize.”
Sanchez said one of his favorite aspects of the show is seeing someone get excited when they find something they remember collecting as a kid.
“It’s amazing how something as simple as a trading card can bring back so many memories,” he says.
Card-Collecting Journey
Like many Americans, Sanchez collected cards as a youngster. He and best friend and business partner Henry Perez now run Mothership Cards & Collectibles. Collecting has now become much more than a hobby.
“We’ve been able to build a business together while doing something we both enjoy,” he said. “It’s not every day you get the opportunity to work alongside your best friend and turn something you’re passionate about into a business that brings people together.
“For me, collecting has become much more than just buying and selling cards. It’s something I genuinely enjoy, and one of the best parts is being able to share that excitement with my own kids, especially my son, who has gotten involved in Pokémon.”
Collecting isn’t just about how much a card is worth, Sanchez said, but also about making memories and sharing the pastime with others.
“Being able to share this journey with my best friend, involve my family, and watch our collecting community grow here in Roswell is probably the most rewarding part of it all,” he said.
In launching the show, the business partners aimed to give the local collecting community a larger event where collectors could come together, meet vendors, trade cards, and enjoy the hobby without having to travel to bigger cities like Albuquerque, El Paso, or Lubbock. Sanchez and Perez now hope to make each show bigger and better.
“Henry and I both take a lot of pride in what we’ve built,” Sanchez said. “What started as an idea between two best friends has turned into something that brings collectors, families, and vendors together from across the region. Our goal has always been to create something positive for Roswell and give people another reason to visit our community.”
For more information on the show, visit Roswell’s Premier Cards & Collectibles Show on Facebook. Tickets are $3 for adults and free for children. The show runs from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.
