Burbank Sportscards, a dominant force in the sports card industry, has made a monumental decision to exclusively list its expansive collection of 40 million sports cards on the newly launched Fanatics Collect platform. This groundbreaking deal, announced a mere 11 days after Fanatics Collect’s debut, is poised to be a standout event at the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
With a robust presence on eBay since 2003 and over 6.8 million items sold, Burbank Sportscards has solidified its position as a top seller in the market. Additionally, the company has conducted transactions totaling 7.2 million cards on the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, cementing its reputation within the card trading community.
President of Fanatics Collect, Chris Lamontagne, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with Burbank Sportscards, highlighting the company’s stellar reputation in the industry. He emphasized the strong belief in collaborating with top-notch partners, with Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, being a prime choice for this exclusive venture.
For Rob Veres, partnering with Fanatics Collect presents a golden opportunity for business expansion. The plan is to showcase trading cards on Fanatics team shops alongside popular merchandise like caps and jerseys, ensuring a diverse array of players and teams are represented on the platform.
Despite the daunting prospect of moving away from the familiarity of eBay, which has been a significant revenue source for Burbank Sportscards, Veres views this partnership as a leap of faith worth taking. The company is gearing up for this new chapter by relocating to a spacious 14,000-square-foot facility, complete with in-store kiosks that enable customers to order cards on-demand.
One of the initial hurdles Burbank faces is integrating all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Leveraging its advanced in-house inventory system, Burbank anticipates that cards will be available on the platform within the coming month. Initially, cards purchased in-store will have an exclusive window at Burbank before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
In a departure from the standard practice of having Fanatics handle shipping, Burbank will manage its own fulfillment process. Veres foresees a potential expansion of his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to 50 members within six months to meet the escalating demand.
Despite the challenges on the horizon, Veres exudes confidence in this strategic move. He envisions curated card releases on the platform and anticipates a significant role for Burbank in future Fanatics events. Veres views the partnership as a gateway to limitless growth and market opportunities.
Both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards are optimistic about the long-term prospects of their collaboration. Fanatics aims to attract and retain new customers, while Veres sets his sights on continual sales growth. Alongside the vast collection of low-end cards, Burbank plans to expand its high-end card inventory on the platform, tapping into a broader market audience.
Veres envisions a scenario where sports enthusiasts from across the globe discover Burbank Sportscards through Fanatics, underscoring the immense potential he sees in this partnership. This exclusive agreement signifies a transformative moment for Burbank Sportscards, propelling the company into a realm of endless possibilities in the world of sports card trading.
