Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Hoferer.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I was young, I’ve been obsessed with two things, filmmaking and baseball cards. I’m not sure which one I’m more passionate about! A few years ago I decided to combine the two loves of my life (filmmaking and sports cards) into a video series called PackGeek. Each episode is a poor man’s treasure hunt, a hobby adventure and a trip down memory lane! My goal is to grow this series into the most recognized sports card collecting show in the hobby.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely, not. Every day is a hustle. I grew up in Topeka, KS – not exactly a hub for the motion picture industry. So, I had to figure a lot out on my own through just going out a doing things! I lived in Los Angeles for six years, and being a young actor/writer in LA is definitely a struggle. But, I made some great friends and collaborators – and we got through it. My family is also super supportive – and I can’t downplay the importance of having a strong support group. They have instilled the courage in me to take risks with my career.
At this point, time is my biggest struggle. There’s just not enough of it. My family is always my number one priority, and in order to be a good husband and father (my wife is currently pregnant with our first child) – I have to be available for them. So, I continue to just figure things out by doing it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the PackGeek story. Tell us more about the business.
PackGeek is a sports card web series. The series is a poor man’s treasure hunt, a hobby adventure and a trip down memory lane. During each episode, we open old packs of baseball, basketball or football cards from the 70s, 80s or 90s. I’ve been very fortunate to have some really interesting guests on the show so far including TV hosts, radio personalities, and hobby experts. My goal is to track down packs of cards that the guest collected as a kid, ideally a year that has special sentimental value for them. We open the packs together, and sometimes we pull some really valuable cards, and sometimes we don’t pull anything interesting. But we always have fun, and more importantly, we get to revisit a piece of their childhood. We’re capturing something special with this show, and people really seem to be getting a kick out of it.
I’m most proud of the emails I get from fathers who are able to enjoy the episodes with their children. It makes me proud to know I’m creating fun, family-friendly content that I can hopefully share with my own kids someday.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
My father has always told me he’s the luckiest guy alive. I think I’m making a run at his title. I attribute every ounce of my success to prayer, hard work and LOTS of luck. With that said, if you don’t put yourself out there and take risks, you’re a lot less likely to get lucky. Same goes for dating! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: PackGeek.com
- Email: Jeff@PackGeek.com
- Instagram: @PackGeek
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PackGeek
- Twitter: @PackGeek
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/PackGeek
Image Credit:
Brad Herbert
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