If you build it, they will come. Or maybe we should say, if you have it, they will come and trade for it.

Who would come to a Disney pin trading event in Dayton, Ohio? Over 200 people came from Southern California to Toronto, Canada and everywhere in-between to attend the second annual Pin Trading by the Pond, a two day event which was held this year on June 26-27, 2004.

After months of planning and outgrowing the original location, pin traders got to spread out in 10,000 square feet at the Town & Country Mall. The Dizpins boards had been lighting up for months with promises from lots of people that they would be attending. It all came true.

Pin Trading by the Pond began last year as a small gathering at the large pond in the back yard of Tom Tumbusch, the President of Tomart, the publisher of the Disney pin trading guides and the Disneyana Update Magazine. This year, groups of guests were afforded an opportunity to visit Tom’s house and trade with a special board out by the pond, froggies and lilies and fish and all.

Erin from Morehouse Collectibles

The event was hosted by Mar-c Berland of Collectible Memories. Several other major pin and disneyana dealers helped sponsor activities throughout the event, including Stepupdj Auctions, SACC Collectibles, Morehouse Collectibles, the Plane Crazy Chapter of the NFFC, Albert Family Jewelers, Disneyana.com, and Fantasy Treasure.com.

Saturday, June 26 was devoted primarily to pin trading and fun and games. Mar-c from Collectible Memories donated all of the pins for the kids’ trading area and the huge adult trading board at Tom’s house. If you were lucky, there were several prototype pins and hard to find limited edition pins to trade for. A few traders even found something on their holy grail list!

Guests checking in at Mar-c's table

By the 10:00 a.m. starting time, traders were lined up to get in. Everyone who came in the door was greeted by Mar-c, handed a specially made lanyard with itinerary, and a sheet of paper describing the Pin Pirates Scavenger Hunt. There was also an opportunity to purchase a specially made pin for the event.

Happy people trading

Everyone was thrilled with the amount of space and promptly spread out to begin trading. It was a very friendly atmosphere. No sharks here - not enough salt water! Before you knew it, there was constant laughter all over the room.

Let the games begin! At 11:00 a.m., the Plane Crazy Chapter of the NFFC sponsored Pin Lose or Draw, a Disney version of Pictionary with great prizes for the winners. Six brave groups of three people came forward with markers in hand to compete. The winners walked away with prizes from Tokyo Disney Sea.