Q&A with Terry Wilson from ESP

[Matt26]

Hi everyone,

Last week I asked members to put forward any questions they had for a Q&A session I was having with Terry from ESP this week. Terry had a read of this thread and answered some of these questions for us.

I spoke with Terry for about 40 minutes on the phone today on a variety of subjects which I hope will go some way to answering some of the questions you have.

1) ESP will be launching a website around March 2013 which will serve as the website for card releases/communication whilst also being used in conjunction with a NRL Power Play card game which will be released next year. This card game will be aimed at collectors between the ages of 6-11.

2) The initial feedback regarding the release of Limited has been good (about 80% sell through rate) and some of the comments they have received is around numbering (which was debated and they decided not to number the cards - they will do so in future) and the value for the boxes that dont contain a hit by adding greater value (additional sets) in to next years release of limited which will be at the same price per pack but a much more limited production run.

(Updated) ESP policy is to not dump product on the market at the end of each season, instead ESP will either destroy unsold product or will engage in a sampling program with Australia Rugby League Development (ARLD) encouraging young people to start collecting Trading Cards.

Limited this year was a release to introduce ESP to the market in a short time frame they had to get the cards out in the marketplace. It was an introductory set.

3) There has been a deal put in place to have packs/cards sold through vending machines in NZ. There also plans for some distribution through Progressive Supermarket Chains as well.

4) The jersey signature cards will now be signed on the cards rather than the jersey pieces to ensure the quality of the signatures is consistant. There are plans in place to have club game used jersey cards however representative jersey cards are too difficult to come by.

There are plans to have game used ball cards also with a combination ball/jersey/signature cards.

5) The Redemption cards for things like Toyota Cars is a marketing plan to increase interest in getting people into retailers that stock the cards and creating a buzz around the products. Its no different to other producers that offer the chance to win holidays/prizes etc to get you in buying products. These prizes will be done in conjunction with NRL sponsors.

6) There are other types of cards being investigated, one idea is for a USB style card where you could plug it into your computer and watch NRL content of the player featured on the card.

7) Rookie signatures/Top Prospects will be part of releases going forward.

8) A range of bobbleheads will be released along with other memorabilia one example being legend signed footballs.

9) Most importantly Terry has joined Ozcards as a member and will come on here from time to time. Please dont bombard Terry with messages just yet but its great to have buy in from ESP into our community.

I have to say from my chat with Terry have a lot of good things planned and no doubt will be releasing lots of great cards in future!

Finally I wanted to say a huge thanks to Terry for taking the time to chat with me and for being so open an honest with us! ESP are very keen to hear what we as collectors want and will work towards creating these cards we love to collect!

Cheers
Matt

 

[tak35bne]

Thanks Matt.

 

[Dragon_Fire]

Many thanks Matt and Terry

 

[thenamesgould]

Thanks Matt and Terry!

There are plans in place to have club game used jersey cards

Awesome news.

 

[Brplat]

Cant wait for these ideas to become reality Thanks Matt and Terry. Great to have ESP onboard at ozcards
Cheers
Brplat

 

[mischap123]

Great job Matt and thanks for listening Terry

 

[Wellsie]

Thanks Matt and Terry and yay to cards in NZ!!

 

[ooneil]

Good one Matt.

 

[ooneil]

Any stock not sold and returned to ESP will be given to the NRL to distribute to kids through their community programs.

This is the only thing i question. I cant say im very enthused to be shelling out premium money for boxes when unsold stock is just going to be given out for free.

Good initiative but perhaps needs some more thought put into it.

 

[BoondasH1]

This is the only thing i question. I cant say im very enthused to be shelling out premium money for boxes when unsold stock is just going to be given out for free.

Good initiative but perhaps needs some more thought put into it.

Yeah it's still technically dumping stock, but this time around in the name of charity.

 

[ch0pzta]

Awesome stuff.

Based on this, the future definately looks bright for NRL trading cards.

 

[thenamesgould]

Giving kids free cards and getting them into the hobby? Sounds like a great idea to me!

 

[tak35bne]

This is the only thing i question. I cant say im very enthused to be shelling out premium money for boxes when unsold stock is just going to be given out for free.

Good initiative but perhaps needs some more thought put into it.

For once we are in complete agreement Owen, I feel that giving the cards away is disrespectful to the collectors who have spent thousands of dollars on buying an 'introduction to the market' product from ESP. So far I am into this set about $1150 with none of the signature cards I wanted for my PC. The two Greg Inglis Jersey Sigs I pulled have gone back to ESP for replacement and the Benji and duel sig sold off for well under their potential value because of an up and down card market.

 

[Dragon_Fire]

Back in July I spoke to Terry at the Penrith show he really emphasized on that very fact. That ESP is very passionate About getting kids back into card collecting.
But i suggested That $7.95 a packet may make that very difficult to Achieve.
So It's great to see that ESP has made an attempt to to This.

 

[Matt26]

Hi Guys,

Following on from this Terry shot me a message and clarified the product returns policy:


Its ESP policy to not dump product on the market at the end of each season, instead ESP will either destroy unsold product or will engage in a sampling program with Australia Rugby League Development (ARLD) encouraging young people to start collecting Trading Cards.

Hope this clarifies it!

Cheers
Matt

 

[Dragon_Fire]

For once we are in complete agreement Owen, I feel that giving the cards away is disrespectful to the collectors who have spent thousands of dollars on buying an 'introduction to the market' product from ESP. So far I am into this set about $1150 with none of the signature cards I wanted for my PC. The two Greg Inglis Jersey Sigs I pulled have gone back to ESP for replacement and the Benji and duel sig sold off for well under their potential value because of an up and down card market.

I have the same problem with the Inglis jersey sig you can hardly make out the signature.
I thought they would of picked up on that when signatures were being done in the first place.one would think they had some sort of quality control.
I must look up ESP and send my own cards back.

 

[tak35bne]

Hi Guys,

Following on from this Terry shot me a message and clarified the product returns policy:


Its ESP policy to not dump product on the market at the end of each season, instead ESP will either destroy unsold product or will engage in a sampling program with Australia Rugby League Development (ARLD) encouraging young people to start collecting Trading Cards.

Hope this clarifies it!

Cheers
Matt

Thanks Matt, that statement however is also not encouraging. The one good thing about Select is they did not dump their product and they, through, JHL did not slash the wholesale price and as we all know the wholesale price actually increased over time. To destroy unsold product at the end of each season really limits the window for a collector to finish their sets.

I am still chasing cards from the 2000 NRL release and the good thing is I can still get those cards, how would it have been if Select had of destroyed any of the left over product at the beginning of the next year.........we would all be stuffed.......lol

 

[ooneil]

Thanks Matt, that statement however is also not encouraging. The one good thing about Select is they did not dump their product and they, through, JHL did not slash the wholesale price and as we all know the wholesale price actually increased over time. To destroy unsold product at the end of each season really limits the window for a collector to finish their sets.

I am still chasing cards from the 2000 NRL release and the good thing is I can still get those cards, how would it have been if Select had of destroyed any of the left over product at the beginning of the next year.........we would all be stuffed.......lol

Its an agree-a-thon between me and Tak today. Well said.

 

[rowdy7070]

For once we are in complete agreement Owen, I feel that giving the cards away is disrespectful to the collectors who have spent thousands of dollars on buying an 'introduction to the market' product from ESP. So far I am into this set about $1150 with none of the signature cards I wanted for my PC. The two Greg Inglis Jersey Sigs I pulled have gone back to ESP for replacement and the Benji and duel sig sold off for well under their potential value because of an up and down card market.

hi so its possible to return the inglis jersey card ,as this is probably the worst signature of the lot very hard to see.what do you get in return ie a better inglis sig maybe white or gold pen would have helped

 

[footypugs2011]

I noticed i posted a comment on the facebook page and it was deleted. I'm not happy with the ESP cards. If we have to pay $7.95 a packet for the same 18 packets again i will not buy these cards. I perfer to buy a packet of cards for $3 or dearler for the dynasty but the quality and the odds were better then ESP.