Give us some background on your current involvement in the hobby.
JM: I’ve been around trading cards a solid 20-22 years of my life. Collector for all of them and then seriously selling them for about a decade now.
Our business is simple – we want the Meelypops brand to be everything that a MODERN sports card shop should be. Wax/Boxes/Packs, single cards, supplies, breaks, grading elements, memorabilia/autographs, educational, direct community involvement & most importantly genuine fun. Our mission is also simple in that Meelypops wants to grow the hobby in the unique way that each person interacts with it. There is no ONE way to be involved in this hobby, to each his/her own…that’s what makes it beautiful in my eyes. People collect in such unique ways and I love that.
What’s your earliest memory of Trading Cards?
JM: Easily the factory set of 1991 Topps Baseball my mother bought me back in St. Louis. Ozzie Smtih Stealing 2nd! Card #130!
Jameel with the famous “Purse LeBron” Rookie XFractor
How did you get started in the Hobby?
JM: I’ve always been around cards. As a young kid, I grew up outside St. Louis and loved the Cardinals. Collected from the late ’80s to later ’90s, took a break somewhere in high school and didn’t really get back into cards until after I finished my degree from the University of Florida (2008). It’s funny, online forums were what got me back into. I loved the idea of trading cards through the Internet and am thankful to Blowout Forums & Sportscardforums for the restart. I started selling at shows, doing more online, then started buying people’s collections and lots, then ventured to the National Sports Card show in 2015. Opened our shop in summer 2018…and the rest is really history.
One, I would have never dreamed I would open a card shop, and two, been in the midst of such a market explosion.
Who are you currently investing in?
JM: Who am I not investing in? The market is so hot right now. Focusing on the big 3 right now for me – Soccer, Basketball, Pokémon, Football & Baseball have the obvious as well. Sneaky value in hockey as well. PSA 10s seems to drive the market at the moment, but don’t ignore other options.
What is the biggest hit you’ve ever pulled?
JM: It’s funny, even in my early years I was a player collector and didn’t rip a lot. My biggest hits were probably Messi & Ronaldo autographs from the 2014 World Cup Prizm products and the 2015-16 Select Soccer products (I love soccer)! When those came out I did a few cases. Being a shop owner and running breaks has given me the feeling that I have had a part in all the big shop rips over these past 2 years in business. I have had the awesome opportunity to break for our loyal Meelypops breaking crew and we have hit some absolute bangers these past 6-8 months.
Contact Info
If you would like more information on what is going on with Jameel and The MeelyPops Shop feel free to visit him on social or send him a note!
