Marcel Bilak, owner of Legacy Sports Cards, Las Vegas, Jan. 7, 2015.
Describe your business.
We are a full-service sports card and memorabilia store. We sell single sports cards, new boxes of sports cards, gaming cards, gaming boxes, memorabilia, all trading card supplies, and we do appraisals.
Who are your customers?
Mostly men between the ages of 20 and 55 with household annual incomes ranging from $50,000 to $150,000.
What makes your business unique?
We operate in a very exclusive and small market.
What is your business philosophy?
We treat all customers fairly and with respect.
What’s the most important part of your job?
People often come to us to sell or place value on their collectibles. We take a great deal of pride in being absolutely forthright in those and all other situations.
Legacy Sports Cards
Address: 8125 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 160
Phone: 702-341-6525
Email: [email protected]
Website: legacysportscards.com
Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Owned/operated by: Marcel Bilak
In business since: 2007
What is the hardest part about doing business in Southern Nevada?
We do not have a local (major professional) sports team to support our business. When a team or player gets hot in other markets, it can really drive business, but not here in Las Vegas.
What is the best part about doing business in Southern Nevada?
The number of visitors who come through our shop is probably unlike any other market. Las Vegas is a very popular destination, and we reap the benefits with customers coming to visit our shop from all around the world.
What obstacles has your business overcome?
We opened four months before the economy crashed. It couldn’t have been a harder time to own a collectibles shop. Discretionary income was at an all-time low, and all collectibles, not just sports cards, were crushed. Long-standing businesses in my industry closed all across the country, but with a lot of hard work, we persevered.
How can Southern Nevada improve its business climate?
I think a professional sports team would bring more visitors and create jobs. It would be a good outlet for family fun and make Las Vegas a more attractive place to live.
What have you learned from the recession?
Every penny counts. Every decision is an important decision, and most important, before opening a small business, be aware of the global marketplace and take notice of national trends.