Mint Musings: Topps Enhancing its Social Media Efforts – For better or worse, social media has significantly changed our lives, and the hobby is no different. Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Periscope or one of the several other platforms out there, all of the major entities in the hobby have taken advantage of them in order to spread awareness and news about their respective endeavors.
Topps has been no different, but there was some feeling among the collecting community that their efforts were 
lacking compared to some of the other trading card companies. In an attempt to rectify that, Topps has undertaken a major effort to enhance its efforts in the social media arena. Leading the charge is Marketing Communications Manager Susan Lulgjuraj, who joined the company in June of 2014. A collector herself, Lulgjuraj said Topps decided to increase its social efforts because, “It’s an important way for Topps to connect with its collectors. Many collectors use various platforms and we want to make sure that our collectors are heard.”
To achieve this, Topps has taken advantage of social platforms such as Periscope in order to give fans a live-view look of what is happening there. Their recently-created ‘Topps Talk’ podcast show also gives fans a variety of content to see, including interviews with athletes. Topps employees have also appeared on the show in order to provide information about their newest products. Taking advantage of the group-breaking craze, Topps has invited some trading card shops, including Blowout Cards, to break cases of some of its newest product in order to give collectors a sneak-peek as to what they can expect from the release. Even better, randomly inserted cards in 2015 Topps Series One Baseball, if pulled, give collectors the chance to win cards from those breaks.
While Topps has undertaken various measures to improve their social presence, Lulgjuraj believes the most crucial aspect to Topps’ plan has been interaction between the company and its fans on social platforms. When asked about this, she responded, “I think it’s been important to respond to people on social media, even if it’s to let them know that customer service can best address their questions. People like to know that there is a person behind the accounts and not some robot.”
Already achieving quite a bit, Lulgjuraj and Topps aren’t about to rest now. While she couldn’t go into specifics, she said the company actually wants to give fans an even deeper look. To do this, she said they are planning on more programs that will help to do that. Given the desire among collectors for more transparency and a better look at how trading cards are made, I have to think this will be welcome news to everyone. Given what they’ve done so far, I’m eager to see what else Topps has up its social sleeve in the future.
You can follow Topps on: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Periscope
Kelsey’s ability to bring hobby coverage to the mainstream sports fan as the producer of ESPN’s Mint Condition has been a true asset. GTS is happy to feature his thoughts on the hobby in Mint Musings. The opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of GTS Distribution.
- Hobby Musings: Signatures For Soldiers in Middle of Busy 2024 - April 11, 2024
- Hobby Musings: Busy and Exciting 2024 for Leaf - April 3, 2024
- Hobby Musings: Jason Vass Discusses Amazing Ken Griffey Jr. Collection - March 27, 2024