Panini America brings David Robinson to San Antonio card store
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9jHKBbwk88[/youtube]
By Stephen Laroche | Beckett Basketball Editor
Last season, Panini America held a contest where the trading card shop who accumulated the most wrappers from its NBA trading card products would win a makeover for their store and be able to host a party featuring a basketball legend.
Sports Cards Plus in San Antonio, Texas, won the contest due to the support of its loyal customers and store owner Charlie DiPietro went to great lengths in order to win. On October 26, Panini stopped by the renovated shop with Hall of Famer and local icon David Robinson to meet customers as part of its grand re-opening.
“First of all, the contest put on by Panini and the NBA was a terrific opportunity for any card shop and when I saw there was a $75,000.00 shop makeover, I decided I was going to give it a big try,” he said. “I ran all kinds of promotions here in the shop, including giving away a box of Flawless Basketball, a box of National Treasures, and a box of Paramount. I had three winners and what I did was invited customers to bring back their wrappers. They gave me $100.00 worth of wrappers, and they got one ticket for the drawing, and I had a terrific response. As you can see, we ended up winning the contest.
“The hobby shop makeover was a terrific opportunity,” DiPietro continued. “I didn’t expect to win, but I thought I would give it a shot. There are so many great shops in the United States that I didn’t envision myself winning, but I thought, who knows, maybe I can make the top 10 or something like that.”
Panini’s Tracy Hackler represented the company at the event and recognized the effort of both DiPietro and his customers made in order to win.
“The level of support Charlie’s customers gave to this event was off the charts. In fact, it was that same level of loyal support that helped Sports Cards Plus win the promotion in the first place — and Charlie couldn’t say enough good things about his customers.”
DiPietro estimates that 500 collectors came through the door and loved having one of his favorite players at the store.
“Even as great as (Tim) Duncan is, the greatest Spur of all-time is David Robinson,” he said. “Tim Duncan is a quality individual. David Robinson, he is something. He is truly a role model, somebody that everyone should look up to and try to be like. He’s just a great individual. He couldn’t be nicer.”
Hackler also gave his thoughts on the crowd’s reaction to Robinson.
“David Robinson is an icon and a hero in San Antonio and the fans there have a genuine reverence for him — as a player and as a person — and what he helped build with the Spurs. The reaction was respectful and a little quieter than you might expect — but I think that had more to do with the fans being in awe.
“Simply watching the interactions was an incredible experience,” he continued. “David took time with each fan to talk to them, to hear their stories, to shake their hands. Watch David for 10 seconds and you’ll come away better for having done so.”
Robinson enjoyed his return to San Antonio and also commented on his working relationship with Panini.
“It’s just a great way to reconnect with the fans,” Robinson told Hackler for a Panini promotional video. “You know, this is a great community. San Antonio is a big city, but a small town, and it just reminds me of all the great years I spent here playing basketball.
“It’s been a fantastic relationship, a long-term relationship with Panini. For years, I’ve been signing cards and it really kind of stems out of me growing up with cards. I remember my baseball and football cards and I used to keep them in little shoeboxes and I just remember how it kind of connected me to the athletes and it gave me things to shoot for. I remember my little Paul Warfield cards. I was a Miami Dolphins fan, so I had Larry Czonka and Bob Griese and I ended up not playing football, but still very inspirational. So, I can see how people connect to the cards nowadays.”
The man known as “The Admiral” also spoke to the power of basketball cards.
“If anything, it’s just intensified over the years. For us as athletes, it’s a phenomenal way to interact with the fans and feel connected to the fans. Panini has done a great job in building that up.”
Panini also gave Sports Cards Plus customers a special opportunity to crack open boxes of a new product before it was released to stores as 2015-16 Panini Contenders Draft Picks.was set to arrive nationwide the next day.
“Charlie’s customers made really quick work of the two cases we brought for the sneak peek,” said Hackler. “Everything I heard from customers about the product was really favorable. With five autographs per box and some great photography, there’s a lot to like.”
DiPietro’s son, Jeff, also works at the store. He is an artist and put together a special piece commemorating Robinson’s career.
“He did 50 copies. I gave 30 of them away to my best customers and 20 of them we sold. They were all gone the day of the signing. I had them serial-numbered and gave David number one and number 50. He talked to my son for a few seconds to talk about what media he used and that kind of stuff. My son spent about 50 hours doing it.”
At the end of the day, DiPietro and his customers were able to enjoy a memorable experience together and he genuinely appreciated their support in making this event happen.
“It was my customers that made it possible for me to win this contest. Without them, I couldn’t have won. I appreciate everything that my customers do. I’m a retired engineer and I do this because I love to do it, and it’s people like my customers that keep me going and make me want to go to work every day.”
My son, Jeff and I thank Panini America and The NBA for this amazing honor. Most of all, we thank our customers for their support and making it possible for us to win this contest. It is an understatement to say this is the highlight of Sports Cards Plus 24 years in the hobby.