The Argentine government is stepping in to help ease public concern over a shortage of World Cup stickers across the country. With the soccer tournament just two months away, the decal shortage couldn’t come at a worse time.
Collecting World Cup cards is a long tradition. Panini, the manufacturer of these stickers, released them in the early 1960s. Within the first year, the company sold millions of packs of stickers within the first year. The Italian company initially began producing World Cup decals for the 1970 tournament in Mexico.
Most recently, Panini was making around eight to 10 million sticker packs a day ahead of the 2018 World Cup. Now, the company says demand for these items is up 40% from the previous tournament.
Shortage of Argentine World Cup cards
The Argentine publication La Nación reports that Panini cannot handle the massive request. This incredible pressure on the Italian company far exceeds its production capabilities. Despite this, the kiosk unions, the ones that sell these stickers in Argentina, demand that Panini give them enough product.
The report also suggests that completing an entire sticker album would cost around $923. These kiosks often sell sticker packs at a cheaper price than online retailers. At stalls, packs are usually around $1 each, while companies on websites sell larger packs of 10 for a higher price.
The meeting began to assess the situation of the World Cup figurines market. From @ComercioArg we open a dialogue channel between @ukraok and @PaniniArg, making our legal and technical teams available to collaborate in the search for possible solutions. pic.twitter.com/upeLAtg4cD
– Secretary of Commerce (@ComercioArg) September 20, 2022
The Argentine government is intervening as a kind of mediator between the manufacturer and the stores. Its commercial department announced the measure on its official Twitter account. “We have opened a dialogue and committed our legal and technical staff to collaborate so that we can find solutions,” the statement read.
At the moment, collectors are disappointed. “It’s frustrating not being able to find any,” said Exequiel Claverie, a father of three. “I come home every day to (my kids) saying, ‘Hey dad, did you buy stickers?’ There are none!”
PHOTO: IMAGO / Belgian
