Turning a Project for his Kids into Legendary Hobby Memorabilia | Reclaim Customs

What this episode is about

The main topic revolves around Eric Wagon Maker's journey in creating custom sports memorabilia, initially inspired by making relic cards for his sons, which unexpectedly gained popularity and led to a thriving business, Reclaim Customs. His passion for sports and collectibles, fueled by childhood experiences, played a significant role in the venture's rapid growth and success.

Key takeaways

• From hobby to business: a few viral posts can turn passion into a profitable venture.
• It's a family affair; nostalgia fuels collectible trends and drives new entrepreneurs like Eric Wagon Maker.
• Social media is the new marketplace; one tweet can elevate a small business to stardom overnight.
• Word of mouth still reigns supreme—customers become ambassadors, turning personal connections into business growth.
• Who knew movie parody cards could spark a collectible revolution? Humor sells when nostalgia meets creativity.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Ryan Alford (Host) · 8 min speaking
• Eric Wagon Maker (Guest) · 13 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Reclaim Customs, Collector Nation, Eric Wagon Maker, Eva Longoria
2. 10:00 – 15:00: Collector Nation, Card Life
3. 15:00 – 20:00: Grand Haven
4. 20:00 – 21:00: Reclaim Customs, Collector Nation

Notable quotes from "Turning a Project for his Kids into Legendary Hobby Memorabilia | Reclaim Customs"

• You. And I think part of the reason that happens is because we've got a great guest and we got one today. He is the CEO of Reclaim Customs, Eric Wagon Maker. Talk to me about…

  about Eric Wagon Maker · at 1:08

• Spend his money on, trying to build his mantle collection and all that back in the day. we do custom trading cards, but like I consider Reclaim Customs a custom memorabilia company. So we will take your memorabilia and we will.

  about Reclaim Customs · at 2:27

• Just blew up. And then you know I had Evan Longoria, MLB player. He got a hold of me to do some personal things for him and he started sharing some of my stuff.

  about Eva Longoria · at 4:59

• Recipe. you could, but they gonna give it to you. But like no, we were this summer we were on an episode of the card life on Google network and they kind of yeah it's pinned to the top of our Instagram profile if anybody wants to check that.

  about Card Life · at 10:26

• Being on here and yeah, for the opportunity to talk to you. It's great to meet you and yeah, come on out sometime to West Michigan and wait to warm spring or summer. It's it's it's pretty sweet out here in Grand Haven.

  about Grand Haven · at 19:40

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Eric Wagon Maker — Person · Main guest · 1 mention · first at 1:14
  Interview subject describing how he built Reclaim Customs and how his custom memorabilia/trading-card process works, including growth via social media and athlete/industry attention.
• Eva Longoria — Person · Referenced athlete client / amplifier · 1 mention · first at 4:59
  Mentioned as an MLB player who contacted Eric for personal custom work and shared it, helping validate and amplify Reclaim Customs' visibility.

Books & papers

• Becket Price Guide — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at 2:13
  Mentioned as a key reference in the host's early collecting days.
  Box out of the attic and going through his Mickey Manels and Hank Aarens and, I had the Becket Price Guide, in the, 1992, 1993 or whatever. And he's Oh man, that's what that thing's worth, or whatever. So then he got into.

Companies & orgs

• Reclaim Customs — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 1:14
  Primary company discussed in the episode, specializing in custom memorabilia and trading cards.

Concepts & topics

• Hank Aaron — Concept · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at 2:13
  Mentioned alongside Mickey Mantle as part of the host's childhood collecting memories.
  Box out of the attic and going through his Mickey Manels and Hank Aarens and, I had the Becket Price Guide, in the, 1992, 1993 or whatever. And he's Oh man, that's what that thing's worth, or whatever. So then he got into.
• Mickey Mantle — Concept · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at 2:23
  Mentioned as part of the host's childhood collecting experiences with his father.
  And so, it was a it was definitely a family thing. I remember the first time he pulled down his shoe box out of the attic and going through his Mickey Manels and Hank Aarens and, I had the Becket Price Guide,.

Places & events

• Grand Haven — Place · Headquarters · 1 mention · first at 19:49
  Mentioned as the location of Reclaim Customs' operations.

Media & podcasts

• Collector Nation — Media · Host platform · 4 mentions · first at 0:24
  The podcast platform hosting the discussion, focused on collectibles and sports memorabilia.
  Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast here on the Collector Nation Network.
• Card Life — Media · Featured media · 1 mention · first at 10:32
  Mentioned as a platform where Reclaim Customs was featured, giving a behind-the-scenes look at their processes.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 I made a couple of relic cards from my boys that posted them online. Immediately started getting orders and inquiries. So, I'm like, well, I guess this is a thing now. There came a point really quickly where I'm like, I can't do this other stuff. Like, I have to commit to this. And the collectibles guru shared one of our movie cards. All of a sudden, my followership just blew up. And then I had MLB player. He got a hold of me to do some personal things for him.

0:24 Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, we take you inside the hobby. Here's your host, Ryan Alford. Hello and welcome to Collector Nation here on the Collector Nation Network. We appreciate you for tuning in, watching, listening, wherever you are, whenever you are. We appreciate it. We know you got options, but we appreciate you for making us number four in all of sports this past weekend on Apple Podcast. That's not lost on us and we appreciate you. And you know, I think part of the reason that happens is because we've got a great guest and we got one today. He is the CEO of Reclaim Customs, Eric Wagon Maker. Talk to me about what you guys are doing in our audience and, you know, where the passion lies.

1:25 Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's kind of when it started. Um, just kind of fell into it. Like I said, I made a a couple of, uh, relic cards for my boys. They're soccer players and they were, you know, younger at the time. And like, "Dad, make us cards." I'm like, "All right, I'll try." So, I very crudely put a couple pieces together for my boys. I posted them online. Immediately started getting orders and inquiries. So, I'm like, "Well, I guess this is a thing now." So, um, it just kind of took off from there. So, you know, my passion for sports, um, grew up watching sports with my dad and then collecting. I grew up collecting with my dad, you know, going to the shows and the local card shops.

2:03 And so, it was a it was definitely a family thing. You know, I remember the first time he pulled down his his shoe box out of the attic and going through his Mickey Manels and Hank Aarens and, you know, I had the Becket Price Guide, you know, in the, you know, 1992, 1993 or whatever. And he's like, "Oh man, that's what that thing's worth, you know, or whatever." So then he got into it and he had way more money than I did. So like I had a great time watching him spend his money on, you know, trying to build his mantle collection and all that back in the day. I mean, we do custom trading cards, but like you know, I consider uh Reclaim Customs a custom memorabilia company. So um you know, we will take your memorabilia and we will reclaim its image and we will reclaim it and make it something even better than it was on its own. What was the time like the first project or whatever getting started where you're like this

2:53 is a not only is this this isn't just a hobby, this is a business and you know the first thing that I don't know get I'm sure you got excited on a lot of things whether they were business or not but like the first like oh moment

3:07 I think it was probably you know not too long after where you know I was like it was just a hustle you know for a while a side hustle um and I was doing other various artistic things at the time. I I really wanted to be self-employed. Um, so I was doing some like fake brick work like around like fireplaces and I was doing some furniture restoration and I had a booth at this like antique shop with all my furniture that I restored and trying to pedal that. Um, and while I'm doing the card stuff too and there came a point really quickly where I'm like I can't do this other stuff. Like I have to I have to commit to this. So, um I don't know if there was like one line in the sand where it was like, man, this was the project or this was the the contract that put me over the edge, but like it was a gradual thing. I wouldn't even say gradual cuz it happened quickly. Um but it was like a it was like a a roller coaster, man. All of a

3:57 sudden, man, I was going and I was whoosh, I was in, man. So, I had to drop that other stuff. I had other furniture clients and, you know, other stuff, you know, going on that I just had to be like, look, I got to commit to this and put my full attention on it. What was the turning point where like you felt like the name was out there and you guys like started maybe getting contracts beyond like because I know and I want to talk about you know what you can as far as like the contracts you have and some of the teams and things that you're working on the ones you can speak about that aren't super secret uh if there are such things. Uh, but like when did it turn from onesie twoosie independent stuff

4:36 as far as the one that kind of like I feel like put us or put before I hired anybody put me over the edge. I was doing some movie parody cards and just for fun and the collectibles guru on Twitter shared one of our one of our movie cards. I think it was a Tallaladega Nights card that we did. Silly silly thing but uh he's like could you imagine if this was real? And then like all of a sudden my followership just blew up. And then um you know I had Evan Longoria, MLB player. He got a hold of me to do some personal things for him and he started sharing some of my stuff.

5:08 Uh Golden uh Ken Golden shared a few of my things. Um so it's just been like a few a few breaks that I've gotten from people. It's all been social media driven to be honest. Uh and word of mouth. So and now like you know on forums and stuff like that. Hey, who are the custom card makers I need to go to? and to see people, you know, point to recline customs as man, it's just I it never it never gets lost on me uh how uh how special that is. That means a lot to me and that's you know, it's all about the customer. It's all about making them happy. And to see that just continue to to to elevate us is man, I feel blessed, man. I

5:48 What's the creative process for you? Like I know guys and girls or whoever comes to you clientwise, hey, I got a vision. and they might tell you exactly what they want, but generally speaking, when you guys are, you know, obviously you create some of your own things, like when you get access to things, what's that creative process?

6:06 Um, man, I don't, it's hard to explain how my brain works. It's kind of messed up sometimes, but like

6:14 most creative people, it is interesting. It's almost like I mean, have you seen that Robin Williams movie, What Dreams Make Come? It's almost like that that's my brain sometimes. It's just like things constantly moving and shifting and shaping and like um I get the you know it all it all depends on the artifact and it all works around that and I can just kind of visualize how we're framing this out. How we how are we um building in the foiling details? What are the foiling details going to look like? What colors can we use? And then um it's all like uh I work my brain and my mind work in like textures and layers and like depth of like I want like I want like even though we're printing like flat cards, you know, they're it's flat image and sometimes we have three dimensional things popping out of them. Uh like this Baker Mayfield piece we just did is got like a ring popping out of it. I don't

7:06 know if you saw that but Yeah, I did. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, that's threedimensional, like almost like art popping out of the card, but like, okay, we're printing flat images. How do we create that depth? So, my mind is constantly thinking in depth, colors, images, textures, layers. So, I don't know, it just kind of builds itself out in my mind as and it all starts around the the artifact, the piece. It's always fascinating to me that, you know, they throw a different color on it and they call it, you know, 10 of 10 and it's got value and then they got, you know, what you're doing, uh, which is everyone's pretty much one of one, right? It's an interesting thing to think about, especially as it relates when you about the physical card with memorabilia on it or whatever. I mean, they've now cheap their way out. It's not I'm not even sure, you know, if you know, the dog trainer wore the the jersey now. It's

7:57 like not worn by a specific person in a specific place or a specific time. It's like, okay, what the heck? What is this? What are we doing? But I don't know what's the what's the difference there like for you or how do you compare those things? I I know it's totally different. It's custom art versus mass-produced, but

8:16 Yeah. I mean, yeah. And I I recently wrote an article on this too, like perceived rarity. Yeah. that you know companies like you were just talking about card companies build out these different variations and rainbows and like you got you know the one of 100 and one out of $4.99 and then out of 20 so there's thousands of these pieces even though they've they've given you perceived rarity

8:37 manu I'd call that it's almost like engineered rarity manufactured rarity yeah yeah and that's fun like and that's you know

8:48 yeah guys are chasing the rainbows and like that's great man go like if that's what you want to do go do it. Um, but you know, it's it's hard to compare to that to what we are doing because every piece is one of a kind. Even if we get, you know, three Babe Ruth autographs in a row, like there's going to be different details, not only in our design and how we put it together, but like they're different. The the autos are going to be different sizes. It's going to require a different cut. It's going to require a new, you know, that just that um that process in my brain that I was just explaining. It's going to create new pathways and like all right there's a new challenge here. So like every piece that we do is truly one of a kind unique and

9:31 what's the workshop like? Like I I'm going to like hold I'm going to ask to come visit sometime and bring the video crew with I want to do that on a followup at some point. Uh because let me just say this. I have a passion for this. I make c I make custom cards for my kids and have

9:48 it is not we're talking if if you're in the big leagues I'm in like uh not single a wouldn't be even the right word. It's like I'm in uh little league but it's fun and I I am creative and and do have ability but I don't have the time or probably the patience to do this level of skill that you do. But I would love to see it from that aspect. But I also think it'd be fascinating just to see like what's the workflow, you know?

10:14 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, a lot of the like the secrets and how we do things I I hold pretty close to the vest and I

10:20 Okay. All right. We got some secret sauce. Yeah. No. Yeah. Exactly. Like, you know, you're not going to ask Coke for the recipe. I mean, you could, but they gonna give it to you. But like um no, we were uh this summer we were on an episode of the card life on Google network and they kind of yeah it's pinned to the top of our Instagram profile if anybody wants to check that out but it gives you kind of like a behind the curtains look of our processes and how we do that from design to print to assembly and um I show as much as I possibly can

10:52 uh without giving up too much the secret sauce. Where does the secret sauce come in? Is it in the materials themselves?

11:00 Some of it. Yes. Uh the the magic behind what Reclaim does is we've figured out how to get machinery and uh equipment to work with each other that was never meant to work with each other. So we had to engineer

11:17 certain processes um and uh fabricate a few things and uh really I mean it's been a you know almost a six-year process of continual refinement and like figuring out and Aaron before he worked here with me as a designer he worked in print world he was uh at a sign shop designing so he had a little more knowledge than I did with like printing and textiles and uh how to do some things so We've kind of put our brains together and we've been able to come up with figuring out processes and how we want to accomplish finishes and foiling and the, you know, all that stuff. Um,

11:55 we need some Collector Nation stuff, you know. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. And Collector Station, my store. I don't know if you can see these from where I'm at.

12:06 I see some Jordans, man. Yeah, Jordan Jordan rookies uh Jordan sticker and then an 84 star uh Jordan uh here. And I'm going

12:16 Would I cut the Would I let Eric cut these up and do something? I wouldn't crazy.

12:23 I'm crazy though. I'm crazy like that. I might get I might send you a Jordan rookie and let you just go to town with it. like turn it into something like cut him out and it would be I'd be like if we document the whole thing,

12:39 man. I mean, we could be man that'd be uh let you do that and the sticker. Let you do both of them.

12:49 What are your thoughts about the hobby in general these days? I mean, it's booming, man. I think and I I wrote an article about this, too. Um but uh you know with cultural icons, celebrities, and pro aletes getting in on the hobby has magnified it uh to a point where it's it's only getting more popular. You know, they've they put their spotlight on it with their brand and with their their reach and now other you know, it that that ripple effect in my opinion is astronomical. So I think I mean as long as that kind of thing and I I think that interest amongst you know celebrities and athletes and cultural icons you know I think that's only going to continue to increase because they got reaches with each other too and you see that trickle down effect with them and that just like so it's not going anywhere man. I think the hobby is in a really healthy place as far as that's concerned. Um my my big concern is the

13:49 fact that there's so much money behind the hobby now that you know you have you know collectors buying up you know Beck at PSA and SGC and you know conglomerates uh you know coming in and and doing things. I don't know how I mean it's going to make it uh harder for it to feel like a hobby I think to to where like there's going to be so much money in it. Um and things are going to it's going to drive up prices and I don't know that makes me a little nervous but overall the state of the hobby like man I think it's I think it's in a good place.

14:22 I have a business show. I'm a business guy first. I've been a hobbyist my whole life but let's just be honest that pays the bills and being a a business guy. So, it's like I was going, how does Eric scale and how does this scale when it's so custom and so unique?

14:39 Yeah. And I think through that every day. So, you know, with bigger with bigger runs, like if we're getting an order for like a thousand, um, we we have to lean on manufacturing. Um, so they're still going to get the same great design. And, you know, the manufacturers that we use are also used by some of the big card companies. Um, so we have access to to them to to still create great pieces with all the textures and finishes um that we want. Um, with that, um, now with the one-off stuff, like orders are always coming in fast and furious. Um, so uh, I do have I brought on another designer part-time um, to help sift through that. All production of the one-off stuff and the shorter runs are still here in house um at Reclaim at the Cardry Cave.

15:30 So, I'm someone listening. I go watch 5 seconds of video and I'm ready to order. What do I need to, you know, like me, I'm like, Josh Al's my favorite player. And you're like, oh, I have some golden, you know, foil stuff or whatever the shield. And do people come to you? They need to obviously probably have an idea of like a player or like how does that process work for getting something custom done?

15:57 Yeah. So, I mean a lot of it honestly starts with they they either fill out our contacts form or they get a hold of me on social media um and they start asking questions and usually I first place I direct them to is the frequently asked questions page because I'm constantly updating that. Like the more questions I get on the

16:17 That's a good question. No, but let me I don't want to answer that $100. So, all our pricing is there. Um all of you know all those questions that people ask, but then like um yeah, there's a there's an order form uh right on our website. Um they fill that out. It's pretty detailed. It's pretty thorough. Um and you know, they explain exactly what they want. Um and again, if they start, I got this I got this autograph, but it's like bigger than a trading card. It's you know, 4 in wide. Well, then we have jumbo options, you know, so then they can check that and then, you know, so our website is pretty thorough and and complete as far as what they can figure out there. But then if there's still questions, and that's the thing, like almost with every customer, we still have to have a conversation or a couple emails back and forth to dial in because like I said, like I don't want to miss any detail. And at the end of

17:05 the day, like this is g like my goal, like every customer that gets our final product in their hand, like they're gonna be blown away. like you are going to be blown away with what you have from us and that's my goal. Um so yeah it's that's that's kind of the process and then yeah if they sometimes they have you know very specific ideas about the design that they want um they want a little more creative control um which is totally fine. They can have as much or as little as they want. Most of the time they just pass it over to us cuz they've seen our work which is great. We thrive on that. Um, and then you know they're always going to approve the design, the mockup before it gets sent to print and then it's printed, photographed in our studio and shipped on its way.

17:46 And it goes to like the almost the heart of why I do this show and it's it's there's something about collecting and these treasures, you know, for whatever reason might be a favorite game play or favorite memory with a family member that is at the heart of us as human beings. Uh, I don't, you know, we all collect something and it's when someone ties together the magic of that with the talent that you have, it's really special.

18:20 Yeah, thank you. Um, yeah, like I said, it doesn't get lost on me. And there's a weight, there's a responsibility in that uh that uh like I said, I I hold I hold dearly and I don't take for granted. I don't. No, I don't take one second of this for granted. Um man, but I like I said, I man, we're in the we're in the business of of doing memorabilia pieces and trading cards and all that stuff, but man, we're in the people we're in the people business, too, you know? So, uh I love people. I love uh the collaborative the collaborative uh aspect of it and being able to rub shoulders with people and talk to people, hear their stories and why these why these pieces are memorable, whether it's a family heirloom piece or a Babe Ruth autograph that their grandfather left them or or you know a game that they went to and they got this ticket and they they got this whatever and you know piece of confetti or whatever. You know, it's it

19:13 all ties together to story and and humanity and and we're all on the same page and we're on the same team.

19:20 Hey man, I could talk to you all day. I really appreciate the time and you're breaking away from your incredible talent and, you know, building cards that are probably way cooler than this show. But, uh, I I just want you to know I I personally appreciate what you're doing in the hobby and hope to highlight that any way we can. Man, I appreciate being on here and yeah, for the opportunity to talk to you. It's great to meet you and yeah, come on out sometime to West Michigan and wait

19:47 to warm spring or summer. It's it's it's pretty sweet out here in Grand Haven. So,

19:53 all right. I'm going think about this, Jordan too. That in mind, too. Yeah, you let me know.

19:59 That could be something interesting. I need Brian who I'm on next with the CEO of Let toss me off the ledge, but we'll see. I don't know. It sounds like it could be fun. Yeah. Hey guys, you find us the collectornation.com. You'll find the full length episode today with Eric, CEO of Reclaim Customs, highlight clips, links to their stuff. Go get a custom card, man. Nothing like it. You can't pull. Look, this ain't in no pack. This is custom handmade

20:29 right by Eric and his team. And it's time you do something different. And that's what they're doing. We appreciate them. We appreciate you. We'll see you next time on Collector Nation.

20:38 Thanks for tuning in to the show. Be sure to follow us on your Goto podcast platform and catch the full video episode over on YouTube. Visit us at collectornation.com and follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Alford. Now get out there and collect yours.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Turning a Project for his Kids into Legendary Hobby Memorabilia | Reclaim Customs"?

Ryan Alford (Host), Eric Wagon Maker (Guest).

What is "Turning a Project for his Kids into Legendary Hobby Memorabilia | Reclaim Customs" about?

The main topic revolves around Eric Wagon Maker's journey in creating custom sports memorabilia, initially inspired by making relic cards for his sons, which unexpectedly gained popularity and led to a thriving business, Reclaim Customs. His passion for sports and collectibles, fueled by childhood experiences, played a significant role in the venture's rapid growth and success.

What is mentioned in this Collector Nation episode?

9 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Reclaim Customs, Eric Wagon Maker, Collector Nation, Eva Longoria, Card Life, Becket Price Guide. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Turning a Project for his Kids into Legendary Hobby Memorabilia | Reclaim Customs"?

The episode runs 21 min; the transcript is about 4,120 words in 46 timestamped sections.

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