North Bay sports cards store sees major success throughout pandemic
For more than 20 years, Robert Collins has owned Ultimate Sports Cards on Cassells Street in North Bay, and recently the store has undergone a massive three-month makeover.
“For years we’ve wanted to expand the store it just took time. We needed more room, definitely needed more room for the inventory and collections we purchase from customers, so now we have the bigger store, said Collins.
“We are literally the only ones in the north so to have a central hub, it’s a good thing.”
Collins told CTV News he consistently has customers who come from as far north as Timmins and from down south as well.
While many businesses have struggled to get through the pandemic, Collins said for him, fortunately it’s been the opposite.
“Everybody was ordering stuff, it was great. We were shipping tons of items, thousands of items during covid, so that really helped us. People wanted to finish their sets and that’s what we have here,” said Collins.
It isn’t just sports card collector stores that have taken off in the pandemic, Collins said it’s any store that offers hobbies.
“Everybody was bored at home, first thing they did was started a hobby and this was one of them that really worked out.”
“Everything from puzzles, to buggies, any kind of things for hobbies took off, didn’t matter what is was.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.