Are you looking for a cool gift for a new graduate but can’t figure out what to get? Most people will probably give him new sheets, towels or other items he needs for his dorm room, but those types of graduation gifts are bland and lame. How excited can a teenage boy get opening a new pillowcase?

For a first-rate gift that he will love and that will look great in his dorm room, give him sports memorabilia. If the new graduate will be going to school in a different state, give him a collectable from his favorite team as a reminder of home. Or if he will be going to a school known for its sports programs, get him a gift that represents a memorable moment from the new college team he will be cheering for.

When choosing college sports memorabilia, do a bit of research by the school name on Steiner Sports. You’ll find items celebrating Duke’s and North Carolina’s rich basketball traditions (Christian Laettner’s jumper comes to mind) along with football memories from Notre Dame, Michigan and Alabama. Your new grad will definitely appreciate these gifts a whole lot more than a new bathmat.

Labels: Gift_Ideas

The most dedicated sports memorabilia collectors started when they were kids, so it only makes sense to pass this tradition down to the next generation. Here are some tips for how to pass the torch:

1. Decide when he is ready to take on the responsibility of caring for his collectibles. He might want to start as soon as he realizes he could have his own memorabilia, but make sure he is ready and responsible before you give in.
2. Educate him on the types of memorabilia available. This will help him to start thinking about the areas he wants to focus in and give him a goal.
3. Start small, with unsigned items like bobble heads or framed photos. If he proves he can care for these items, he is ready to move onto his first autographed collectable.
4. Make him work for it. Don’t just give him what he wants, make him earn each and every item so he will feel proud and better appreciate the value of his collection.

Labels: Collecting