In a groundbreaking move for the sports card industry, Burbank Sportscards has struck an exclusive deal with the newly launched platform Fanatics Collect. With an impressive inventory of 40 million sports cards, Burbank Sportscards is set to revolutionize the way collectors access their favorite cards.
The partnership between Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect comes at a pivotal time, just 11 days after the official launch of the platform. This deal is expected to create ripples in the sports card market and is anticipated to be one of the highlights of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Known for its dominance on eBay since 2003, where it has sold over 6.8 million items, Burbank Sportscards has established itself as a major player in the industry. Additionally, the shop has facilitated the sale of another 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, the president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with Burbank Sportscards. Lamontagne highlighted the shop’s reputation in the industry, mentioning, “From the perspective of Fanatics, we’ve got this kind of belief of working with the best, and Rob [Veres] was at the top of the list.”
For Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, this partnership represents a significant opportunity for growth. The plan is to list trading cards on Fanatics team shops alongside merchandise like caps and jerseys, ensuring a comprehensive representation of players and teams.
Acknowledging the risks involved in moving away from eBay, Veres noted, “Having a conversation that included exclusivity away from eBay, that’s a terrifying thought.” However, he emphasized the importance of taking a leap of faith to explore new avenues for expansion.
To facilitate this expansion, Burbank Sportscards is relocating to a new 14,000-square-foot facility. The new space will feature in-store kiosks that allow customers to order cards on-demand, accessing a stock of 25 million cards that can be pulled by staff while customers wait.
One of the immediate challenges for Burbank Sportscards is integrating its extensive inventory into the Fanatics Collect platform. The shop’s advanced in-house inventory system will streamline this process, with cards expected to be available on the platform within the next month.
Unlike other sellers on Fanatics Collect whose cards are fulfilled by the platform, Burbank will manage its own fulfillment. Veres anticipates that the current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff may double to 50 within six months to meet the increased demand for their cards.
Despite the hurdles ahead, Veres remains optimistic about the move. He envisions curated card drops on the platform and expects to play a vital role in upcoming Fanatics events, presenting an opportunity for unlimited growth and visibility.
Both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards foresee a long-term partnership with ambitious objectives. Fanatics aims to attract and retain new customers, while Veres is focused on achieving continuous sales growth. In addition to expanding its inventory of low-end cards, Burbank plans to increase its collection of high-end cards on the platform to appeal to a broader market.
Veres expressed his aspirations by saying, “I want people coming from all over the world that are sports fans that did not know I existed. I think the only company we can pull that off with is Fanatics.”
This exclusive partnership between Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect marks a significant milestone in the sports card industry, promising to reshape the market landscape and capture the attention of collectors worldwide.
