Panini’s World Cup sticker factory – São Paulo’s mecca for collectors

 

"Over 65 million Panini sticker albums have been published for this World Cup. “What other publishing company prints 65 million copies of anything?” he says. “Except the Bible, maybe. We are the Bible!” News stories reflecting South America’s biblical love for Panini stickers became as common in the runup to the World Cup as anguished sports pieces about the fitness of various players: there was the heist of 300,000 stickers in Rio (“Something always happens in Rio!” laughs Martins), and the tale of the teacher in Colombia who was caught stealing stickers from his own students. One misguided soul tried to sue Panini for £50,000, claiming that his son had suffered “depression and illness” after failing to receive a sticker he ordered. “That was a nuisance,” tuts Martins."

read story by Hadley Freeman

Panini’s World Cup sticker factory – São Paulo’s mecca for collectors | Football | The Guardian: