TODAY'S HEADLINES
HOME PAGE
SECTIONS
• NEWS
• SPORTS
• BUSINESS
• LIFESTYLES
• NEON
• Dining
• Showguide
• Nightlife
• Transportation
• Movies
• TV Listings
• OPINION
• Columnists
• IN-DEPTH
• CLASSIFIEDS
• WEATHER
Recent Editions
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday
• Archive
Fun Stuff
• Crosswords
• KIDS AREA
• Gallery
• Buy Tickets
• LV Links
• Site Index
• Newspaper Subscription
• News Tips
• Contact Us
• Corrections
• Rate us
|
Tuesday, July 28, 1998
A sports memorabilia dealer knows about hard work
By Hubble Smith
Review-Journal
Born in Romania, educated in Germany and made in the U.S.A., Joe Kaufenberg exemplifies the mantra of America as the land of opportunity.
He emigrated to the United States with his parents at age 14, living in Aurora, Ill., and learned how to make a buck by cutting grass and baby-sitting.
"Whatever it took to make money. In those days, you were lucky to make $3 a day," said Kaufenberg, owner of Legends Sports Memorabilia at 4301 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 11.
The company deals in autographed sports collectibles and publishes a magazine featuring artist-drawn covers. Legends Sports Memorabilia magazines are sold in major bookstores for $10, with autographed versions available by special order going for $75 to $500.
The magazine is distributed throughout the United States and in 35 countries. Legends prints about 158,000 copies per issue.
Kaufenberg's entrepreneurial spirit prevailed at the Las Vegas Invitational golf tournament after he was turned down for autographs by PGA star Tiger Woods.
Not to be denied, he hired a few cocktail waitresses and other women who dressed for the occasion, and Woods was more than happy to sign for them. One of the ladies went through three changes of clothes, getting another signature each time before Woods finally recognized her.
Kaufenberg wheels and deals on the telephone in his unembellished office with the NFL, sports stadiums, collectors and other parties interested in his stock.
His inventory includes autographed footballs, baseballs, helmets, lithographs, plaques and a few specialty items such as Babe Ruth's contract with the Yankees. A football signed by Dan Marino goes for $300. Joe DiMaggio's autographed baseball costs $215. An official NFL helmet with Joe Montana's autograph is listed at $450.
Kaufenberg's story is sadder than Oliver Twist, but he's not shedding tears or embracing pity.
"I came into a country of opportunites," he said. "My family never had anything. My mom and dad both died of lung cancer within a week of each other, so I had to take care of five brothers and sisters. It's something that's expected in European families.
"I want people to remember me as a guy who made the most of the opportunities he had."
Kaufenberg joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and sprouted his roots in business by opening a restaurant while on active duty in Japan.
After a stint with a chemical company in Long Beach, Calif., he started a distilling and bottling company on $27,000, manufacturing ceramic decanters. He developed a Las Vegas connection by peddling them to hotels here.
He sold the company for $1.9 million and founded Kaufenberg Enterprises in 1972, becoming known as "T-shirt Joe." Again, he supplied Las Vegas hotels with promotional apparel such as silk jackets.
In his first 10 years in business, Kaufenberg said he worked 14 and 16 hours a day, six and seven days a week.
"There's no eight-hour days when you go into business," he said. "You don't go out and hire executives and drive big expensive cars."
Kaufenberg gets to know every aspect of his business by getting involved in the everyday operation of it.
"There's nothing in my business that I would ask somebody else to do that I wouldn't do and couldn't do myself," he said.
"I've got people that call up and say they can't get the check out to me because their secretary's out. That's usually just an excuse. You lose confidence in people when they pull something like that on you."
Honesty and hard work go a long way in building a successful business, Kaufenberg believes.
He also advises business owners to stay on top of expenses. "In other words, don't spend more than you can bring in."
Give us your FEEDBACK on this or any story.
Fill out our Online Readers' Poll
|
Joe Kaufenberg, owner of Legends Sports Memorabilia, poses next to some of the collectible items in his Las Vegas store. Kaufenberg was born in Romania and built a successful career in the United States.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
|
