Burbank Sportscards has shaken up the sports card market by sealing an exclusive deal with the newly launched platform, Fanatics Collect. This groundbreaking partnership will see Burbank Sportscards listing an extensive inventory of 40 million cards on the platform, marking a significant milestone in the trading card industry.
Renowned as a dominant player in the industry, Burbank Sportscards has been a stalwart on eBay since 2003, with an impressive track record of over 6.8 million items sold. Additionally, the company has facilitated the trading of another 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, cementing its status as a key player in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, the president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with Burbank Sportscards, citing the store’s reputation as a driving force behind the partnership. Lamontagne credited Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, as one of the best in the business, emphasizing the mutual belief in working with top-tier partners.
Rob Veres acknowledged the risks involved in shifting away from eBay exclusivity but viewed the venture as a compelling opportunity for Burbank Sportscards to evolve and expand its reach. The vision includes listing trading cards on Fanatics team shops, aligning cards with merchandise such as caps and jerseys to provide fans with a comprehensive selection of players and teams.
To accommodate the influx of listings on Fanatics Collect, Burbank Sportscards is gearing up for the transition by relocating to a new 14,000-square-foot facility. The revamped space will feature in-store kiosks enabling customers to order cards on-demand, drawing from a stock of 25 million cards that can be retrieved by staff promptly.
The integration of all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform poses a formidable challenge, but Burbank’s sophisticated in-house inventory system is poised to streamline the process. Cards are anticipated to be available on the platform in the coming month, with an initial exclusivity period for in-store purchases before being listed online.
Unlike other vendors whose cards are fulfilled by Fanatics, Burbank will handle its own order fulfillment, a move that necessitates potential growth in its workforce. Veres foresees expanding his team of 25 retail and e-commerce employees to 50 within six months to meet the surge in demand resulting from the partnership.
Veres envisions a plethora of opportunities stemming from the collaboration with Fanatics Collect, including the possibility of exclusive card drops and active participation in Fanatics events. This strategic move opens up new horizons for Burbank Sportscards, providing an unparalleled platform for growth and exposure.
Both parties are optimistic about the long-term prospects of this partnership, with Fanatics Collect aiming to attract and retain a diverse customer base while Burbank Sportscards sets its sights on sustained sales growth. In addition to bolstering its inventory of low-end cards, Burbank plans to expand its collection of high-end cards on the platform, diversifying its market influence globally.
By aligning forces with Fanatics Collect, Burbank Sportscards is poised to make waves in the sports card market, captivating enthusiasts worldwide and reshaping the trading experience for fans of all stripes.
