Two moms in a car park have a crazy idea
Susan Wright and Kim Pople are two Moms who decided that our kids need real, meaningful, South African heroes to look up to – not foreign sportspeople and cartoon characters! They launched BIG-BALL Rugby Trading Cards to bring this vision to life
We’re the moms in the picture. Kim is in pink and Susan in red.
It was sparked by the two of us, just chatting in the car park about how rampant school crazes get. ‘The kids don’t seem to be able to get enough’. (A seed was planted.)
A few months later…kids eagerly poring over and excitedly trading player cards…being able to name numerous foreign players and clubs…the Collectables Virus had taken hold. ‘We all need heroes to look up to’, we agreed. But…something didn’t feel right, ‘Where are our local heroes?’ we wondered. (What if…?)
So…we put together an exciting plan to make South African heroes accessible. To bring our idea and plans to life, BIG-BALL Rugby Trading Cards were born! We launched our Collection on 1 September and it is available until December 2009 – or until stock lasts! It’s an exciting brand new card collection and is the only one that celebrates South African sportspeople. The BIG-BALL Collection of over 150 Rugby trading cards features rugby players from 5 of South Africa’s top provincial Rugby Unions – Blue Bulls, Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Sharks and WP Rugby.
Our crazy ambition? To use the Collectables Virus to:
- make excellence a part of everyday life
- make South Africa’s Heroes easily accessible
- provide role models that are meaningful
- give Dads something they know about to share with their kids
- let kids have ‘Good Clean Fun’
On the front of each card is an action photo of the player with gold star ratings in recognition of being chosen to play for South Africa.
On the back are the player’s stats – how tall he is, how much he weighs, what school he went to, when and where he was born and how many times he has played for his Province and his Country. (Everyday people who through motivation, hard work, opportunity and a measure of talent, have excelled in their chosen field.)
There is also a binder to keep the treasure safe and to share, swop and enjoy the cards. Plus, every pack stands the chance of containing a special Golden Token – one of 5 which will win the holders the signed rugby jersey of the player of their choice. And, last but not least, we have developed an interactive, educational website that features all of the cards and incorporates a quiz to test and keep track of everyone’s rugby knowledge – www.bigballcards.com
Our BIG-BALL Rugby Trading Cards are available from CNA, selected Spar, Pick n Pay, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Exclusive Books stores and the Rugby Union shops. We know the kids will love our cards – what’s not to love! (Everyone we have connected with from the Rugby Unions, to the Designers, Printers, Distributors and Retailers are as excited about this project as we are.)
But, as important to us, is that people understand how it started and why we did it because then, next time you buy a loaf of bread, a litre of milk and a couple of packs of BIG-BALL Rugby Trading cards, you can know that you are actually buying so much more!
Rugby. Love it, Live it
Susan and Kim
(The two Moms in the car park with the crazy idea, who started it all.)
Awesome ladies – you should be so proud of yourselves. My son and daughter are hooked and carry their collections everywhere. I am amazed that they remember so many stats and it has provided talking points between them and us (their parents).
Hi Isabelle
Thanks for the feedback – so glad we’ve been able to add value!
can you please tell me if and where i can get hold of cards and a book, my son is driving me mad!! Do you know if the stores is going to get new stock?
Thank you
I also want to know if there will be cards available again, my son will be so happy, want to get it for his birthday.
Thanks
The cards proved to be so popular that they flew out of the stores and stock is now in short supply! These 2009 Collection cards are now only available from our website SHOP http://www.bigballcards.com – you can order packs, albums and the last 10 individual cards that you need to finish your Collection. Prices are the same as they were in the shops and postage costs just cover the packaging and stamps. There are also 3 shops in Gauteng that we are supplying directly with stock – they are listed in the newsflash on the website. We are busy with an awesome 2010 Collection that will be in stores from early August 2010! Lots of completely new cards including Legends and Coaches and new stats on the original players. Thanks for your support!