News

Beckett Associates completes acquisition of Steeds Marketing (October, 2006):

Beckett Associates, which distributes trading cards and gaming products into more than 4,500 mass-market retail stores in the U.S., has purchased Canadian-based Steeds Marketing. The acquisition gives Beckett access to more than 2,500 retail locations in Canada with such chains as Wal-Mart, 7-Elven, Mac's, Petro Canada, Giant Tiger, and Rogers Video.

Beckett Associates, located in Bedford Park, IL, currently manages the sports and gaming card category U.S. outlets such as Wal-Mart, Meijer, NEXCOM, 7-Eleven, Duane Reade, and Kroger.

"I look forward to combining the knowledge of Steeds' employees of the Canadian marketplace with the additional resources available at Beckett Associates to accelerate the pace of sales growth", said Matthew Bayer, President and CEO of Beckett Associates.

Beckett Associates Purchases Midland Hobby (October, 2005):

Beckett Associates has purchased the retail distribution business of Midland Hobby Supplies, which will allow Beckett to become the largest distributor of trading cards and gaming products within Wal-Mart stores.

In addition to Wal-Mart, Beckett Associates - located in Bedford Park, IL - distributes cards and gaming products into retail outlets such as Meijer and Kroger stores. Beckett describes its other product offerings at retail as "impulse and collectables products."  With the acquisition of Midland's retail business, Beckett Associates expands its retail presence in Wal-Mart by an additional 258 stores. The company now services the gaming and trading card offerings for approximately 1.850 Wal-Mart stores.

"My thanks extend to both Doug Owens and Lisa Walt whose superb knowledge of the gaming/trading card category led them to build a solid business foundation from which Beckett Associates will escalate to the next level of sales", said Matthew Bayer, President and CEO of Beckett Associates.

Collector digs up a jackpot with Mantle Pull:

From Sports Collectors Digest, 2006:

A Wal-Mart customer turned a $20 investment into nearly $20,000 and a store to share for a lifetime. In the Crowley, Louisiana Wal-Mart, a purchase of the Tristar Hidden Treasure with a picture of a 1952 Mickey Mantel on the outside wrapping.

When the customer returned home to open the package, to his surprise was indeed a replica 1952 Mickey Mantel card able to be transferred for the original. It was a grand presentation day, when President Jeff Rosenberg presented the original 1952 Mickey Mantel for the redemption card.

Matthew Bayer, president and CEO of Beckett Associates whose company distributes trading cards and collectable products to over 1,400 Wal-Mart stores added, "Its is such a great feeling when I heard that one of our customers in a Wal-Mart store found the 1952 Mickey Mantle Rookie card Grand Treasure. The Tristar Hidden Treasures product line has quickly become one of the most popular sports items we distribute, and with so much excitement surrounding the Mantle rookie card find. Its great that we had a customer make such a great find in a Wal-Mart Store".