In a thrilling deal for sports card enthusiasts, Burbank Sportscards has sealed an exclusive agreement with Fanatics Collect to list its massive inventory of 40 million sports cards on the newly launched platform. This strategic partnership, coming just 11 days after the official launch of Fanatics Collect, is poised to be a highlight of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
As a prominent player in the industry, Burbank Sportscards has been a dominant force on eBay since 2003, having sold over 6.8 million items. Additionally, the shop has facilitated the sale of another 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, solidifying its position in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the collaboration with Burbank Sportscards, stating that working with Rob Veres was a top priority for Fanatics. The decision was solidified after Lamontagne visited the store and felt an immediate connection. The vision is to showcase trading cards on Fanatics team shops alongside other merchandise like caps and jerseys, providing a comprehensive offering of players and teams.
For Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, this partnership represents a significant opportunity for business expansion. While acknowledging the risk of moving away from eBay’s established platform, Veres sees the move as a necessary leap of faith to explore new avenues for growth.
To prepare for this transition, Burbank is relocating to a new 14,000-square-foot facility, equipped with in-store kiosks for on-demand card orders. These kiosks will grant customers access to a stock of 25 million cards that can be retrieved by staff members while customers wait.
The primary challenge ahead lies in seamlessly integrating all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Burbank’s sophisticated in-house inventory system will streamline this process, with cards expected to appear on the platform within the next month. Initially, cards purchased in-store at Burbank will enjoy a brief exclusivity period of one or two days before becoming available on Fanatics Collect.
In a departure from other sellers, Burbank will manage its own order fulfillment rather than relying on Fanatics. Veres anticipates an expansion of his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to about 50 members within the next six months to accommodate the surge in demand.
Despite the upcoming challenges, Veres remains optimistic about the transition. He envisions opportunities for curated card releases on the platform and anticipates actively participating in future Fanatics events.
This collaboration marks a long-term partnership with ambitious goals for both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards. Fanatics aims to attract and retain a new customer base, while Veres is focused on sustaining sales growth. Alongside the millions of low-end cards, Burbank plans to enhance its inventory with high-end cards on the platform, expanding its market outreach.
Veres envisions a future where sports fans from around the globe discover Burbank Sportscards through Fanatics, stating, “I think the only company we can pull that off with is Fanatics.” This exclusive deal between Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in the world of sports card trading.
