Panini America officials on Wednesday began revealing the specifics of an exclusive new hobby-shop rewards program that will grant qualifying members a guaranteed seat at the prestigious Panini Roundtable. Qualifying brick-and-mortar hobby shops will receive substantial benefits associated with their membership, including special in-store "Sneak Peek" opportunities days before a product's national release.
Panini America officials on Wednesday began revealing the specifics of an exclusive new hobby-shop rewards program that will grant qualifying members a guaranteed seat at the prestigious Panini Roundtable. Qualifying brick-and-mortar hobby shops will receive substantial benefits associated with their membership, including special in-store “Sneak Peek” opportunities days before a product’s national release.
Hobby shop owners interested in taking their seat at the Panini Roundtable can register directly with Panini America or by going through their preferred authorized Panini distributor. Direct accounts are encouraged to register by emailing [email protected] and using “Panini Roundtable” in the subject line.
“The Panini Roundtable program is our way of rewarding the foundation of our business, which is the brick-and-mortar store,” said Tim Franz, Panini America Sales Director. “This is just the beginning of something that I think will be revolutionary; the support that we will provide at the store level will be unprecedented in this industry.”
Other benefits of Panini Roundtable membership (in addition to and an exclusive welcome kit that includes a polo, Panini Roundtable poster, box-cutter, flash drive, bags and T-shirts) include:
- Panini Hobby Shop of the Month – Starting in October, Panini will name a Roundtable Shop of the Month. The winning shop will be featured on The Knight’s Lance and will receive prizes such as autographed memorabilia, boxes, packs and other giveaways
- Panini Knights of the Roundtable – Panini will select 20 hobby stores on a quarterly basis to participate in a Roundtable discussion with the company’s product development team; each conference call will provide store owners with direct access to future products
- Panini Confidential – Roundtable members will receive select product information, checklists and other key information before it’s released to the public
- In addition, Roundtable members will be able to take advantage of Panini America’s exclusive hobby store promotions such as Panini NFL Player of Day, Panini NHL Player of the Day, Panini NBA Starting 5, Black Friday, Father’s Day and more
Below, we’ve provided a brief glimpse into the Panini Roundtable welcome kit. If you’re a shop owner, be sure to register for your place at the Roundtable today either by emailing [email protected] or by contacting your preferred authorized Panini distributor. If you’re a collector, be sure to let your LCS know about the Panini Roundtable program today.
Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance in the coming days for the announcement of a few special promotions tied directly to Panini Roundtable membership.
uhg, now the checklists are going to be VIP to get access to, thats great news…..
Everyone will still have access to the checklists and other product information.
Very cool idea. Is that first picture a sign? It would look awesome hanging on the wall of our shop!
Cool to reward the brick and mortar stores. Not as many around as there used to be.
Another nice reward for stores. Way to go Panini!
I think this is awesome, as a new store owner, I need all the support I can get, as I am finding out that the hobby shops have to really dig in and work to make it, as it seems there are so many people on the internet who have access to the products to sell on line. I am looking forward to this program and am excited. As for my store, I am exclusively direct with panini as I feel they have everything I need to satisfy my customers. May seem like a bad model for some, but I feel to survive I have to be unique and being a panini only direct store, is how i feel, I can set myself apart from others.
The only “props” are for the brick and mortar stores….bummer
Great work Panini. I wish I was a hobby shop owner now 😀
GREAT IDEA! I sent in my application.
Saw the box cutters at the national, had a feeling they’d be put to use. Would love to get my hands on one. Great idea.
That’s a sweet knife you guys should have a contest and give some away to people with no shops. Still cool either way!
Excellent program, too bad all the good local stores in my area are gone though 🙁 Thanks Tracy!
I can’t tell you how badly I want a Panini boxcutter
And who is looking out for the collector or the show dealer?
Can I buy one of those “Roundtable Cutters”?