Burbank Sportscards, a prominent player in the sports card market, has made waves with its exclusive agreement with Fanatics Collect. The deal will see the listing of an extensive inventory of 40 million sports cards on the newly established platform, just 11 days after Fanatics Collect’s grand launch. This monumental partnership is set to make a significant impact at the highly anticipated 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Established as a powerhouse in the industry, Burbank Sportscards has been a key seller on eBay since 2003, boasting an impressive track record of over 6.8 million items sold. The shop further solidified its position by transacting 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, cementing its status as a major player in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect, expressed admiration for Burbank Sportscards, stating, “We’ve got this kind of belief of working with the best, and Rob [Veres] was at the top of the list.” Lamontagne recounted the initial visit to the store and the immediate realization of the need for a collaboration, leading to the commencement of discussions that culminated in this exclusive partnership.
For Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, this alliance with Fanatics Collect represents a golden opportunity for business expansion. The strategic objective is to feature trading cards on Fanatics team shops alongside popular merchandise like caps and jerseys, ensuring a comprehensive representation of players and teams in the collectibles market.
Moving forward, Burbank is gearing up for growth by relocating to a new 14,000-square-foot facility. The upgraded space will incorporate in-store kiosks, offering customers the convenience of ordering cards on-demand. These kiosks will tap into a vast stock of 25 million cards that can be swiftly retrieved by staff while customers wait, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
The task at hand involves seamlessly integrating all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Burbank’s cutting-edge in-house inventory system will facilitate this process, with cards poised to start appearing on the platform in the coming month. Initially, cards purchased in-store at Burbank will enjoy a brief exclusivity period of one or two days before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
Setting itself apart from other sellers, Burbank will handle its own fulfillment rather than relying on Fanatics for shipping. Veres envisions a potential expansion of the current team comprising 25 retail and e-commerce staff to around 50 in the next six months to meet the heightened demand.
Amidst the forthcoming challenges, Veres exudes confidence in the strategic move, foreseeing curated card drops on the platform and a notable role in upcoming Fanatics events. He envisions limitless opportunities on this new platform, emphasizing the untapped potential for growth and visibility.
The collaboration between Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards is viewed as a dynamic, enduring partnership with ambitious objectives. Fanatics aims to attract and retain a fresh wave of customers, while Veres is focused on driving continuous sales growth. Alongside the addition of millions of low-end cards, Burbank plans to expand its inventory of high-end cards on the platform, effectively broadening its market outreach and appeal.
Veres expressed his enthusiasm for this progressive alliance, stating, “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.” The future looks bright for Burbank Sportscards as it steps into this transformative partnership with Fanatics Collect, poised to revolutionize the sports card industry at large.
