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Tasteful Pin-Ups are Back! Bench Warmer Revamps Childhood Nostalgia with a Modern Twist…and Gum!

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Written by Kara Tornquist
Whether your childhood memories are of collecting baseball cards or of sharing old cards with your dad, getting that pack of baseball cards brought excitement to every little boy’s heart: Tearing that wrapper open, chewing that piece of gum and seeing whose card you now held in your possession.  In today’s world, die-hard sports fans love to collect those old cards of the past.  Los Angeles-based novelty trading card company, Bench Warmer, is about to introduce a new set of trading cards featuring trademark pin-ups girls with a modern twist.   Tasteful nostalgia is back!

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas Edison

Bench Warmer founder and president Brian Wallos quoted Edison when he recalled his journey from his first pack of baseball cards at the age of six to the starting of Bench Warmer in 1992.  “I started Bench Warmer to bring back the nostalgia – to combine entertainment and sports,” said Wallos.  “I’m so proud of what has been accomplished and I’m living the American Dream.  To have a career in your childhood hobby, to be surrounded by beautiful, talented women, to bring a clean and tasteful nostalgia back to the people – it’s a great feeling!  I’m doing what I love!”

In bringing back the classic pin-up, Brian Wallos had a hunch and ran with it.  Besides giving his audience beautiful women, the women are finding a respectable network in which to launch their careers.  “The girls absolutely love it,” said Wallos. “Bench Warmer has served as a launching pad for many girls’ careers.  I can count at least 60 Bench Warmer girls that went on to become Playboy Playmates.  It’s almost become like a sorority for these girls and a great networking opportunity.”  Some recognizable names that Bench Warmer has featured are: Gina Lee Nolin, Brooke Burke, Cindy Margolis, and Jaime Bergman.

You may think of card collecting as an old past time for kids, retired men, or with a passing fad associated with the fickle love for a new animated character.  No matter what you think, collecting trading cards is still a fun and, at times, profitable pastime.  Bench Warmer is making great progress in the Ebay market.  Some recent collectable cards have sold anywhere from $300-$700.  In May 2010, an extremely rare 2009 Bench Warmer International Mary Riley card sold for $1,349.00 to a collector in Australia.

The new series featuring classic bubble gum is a 100-card set sold for $1.99 that will be found in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Spencer’s.  “Going from the collectable market to the mass market is the only way to grow,” said Wallos.  “It becomes less esoteric and I want it to be a novelty that reminds adults of their childhood.  These cards are for guys of all ages who go to a convenient store for a bag of chips and soda.  If I put a smile on their face, it’s all worth it.”  The addition of bubble gum was an idea that came to Wallos a year ago.  The only thing difference is the gum will come in a wrapper, so no stained cards in these packs!

Besides being in the collectables market, Bench Warmer is also ready to give back.  “Regardless of money, I’d like to do something good with all this,” explained Wallos.  Since 2006, Bench Warmer has gathered over 5,000 toys for charities like the Children’s Hospital and Toys for Tots.  They have also raised money for organizations like Children of the Night. “There are so many good causes out there,” said Wallos, “and even though we are small now, we still want to make a big difference.”

For more information about Bench Warmer please go to www.benchwarmer.com.

About the author

Kara Tornquist