In a groundbreaking move within the sports card industry, Burbank Sportscards has embarked on an exclusive partnership with Fanatics Collect to list its vast collection of 40 million sports cards on the newly established platform. This strategic collaboration, announced shortly after Fanatics Collect’s inception, is anticipated to be a highlight of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention, marking a significant shift in the realm of trading cards.
Burbank Sportscards, renowned for its prominent presence on eBay since 2003 with over 6.8 million items sold, has solidified its status as a key player in the market. The company has also transacted an additional 7.2 million cards via the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, further reinforcing its position in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, the president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his admiration for Burbank Sportscards and its owner, Rob Veres, highlighting the exceptional quality of the partnership. Lamontagne’s visit to the store left a lasting impression, culminating in a mutual decision to collaborate. The agreement represents Fanatics’ commitment to working alongside top-tier entities within the industry.
For Rob Veres, the collaboration with Fanatics Collect presents a valuable opportunity for business expansion. The initiative aims to feature trading cards on Fanatics team shops in conjunction with merchandise like jerseys and caps, ensuring a diverse representation of players and teams within the platform.
Acknowledging the transition away from eBay to exclusive listing on Fanatics Collect, Veres acknowledged the apprehension surrounding the decision. While eBay has been a significant revenue source for Burbank Sportscards, the potential for growth and innovation presented by the new partnership outweighs the uncertainties.
Burbank Sportscards is gearing up for the transition by 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, retrievable by staff members while customers wait, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
The integration of all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform poses a primary challenge that Burbank is prepared to tackle head-on. Leveraging its advanced in-house inventory system, Burbank anticipates a seamless transition, with cards set to appear on the platform in the coming month. Initially, cards sold in-store will retain exclusivity for a brief period before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
In contrast to other sellers who rely on Fanatics for shipping, Burbank will handle its own fulfillment operations, emphasizing control over the customer experience. Veres foresees potential growth within his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce professionals, projecting an expansion to 50 members within six months to meet the escalating demands.
Despite the anticipated challenges, Veres maintains a positive outlook on the future prospects of the partnership. Envisioning curated card releases and active participation in forthcoming Fanatics events, Veres views the collaboration as a gateway to limitless opportunities within the platform, unbound by traditional marketplace limitations.
Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards look towards a long-term partnership with shared objectives of customer acquisition and revenue growth. While Fanatics targets the attraction and retention of new clientele, Veres envisions continual sales expansion, with plans to augment the platform’s inventory with a broad range of high-end cards alongside the existing low-end selections.
“I want people coming from all over the world that are sports fans that did not know I existed,” articulates Veres with optimism. “I think the only company we can pull that off with is Fanatics.” This sentiment encapsulates the mutual ambition and drive driving this collaborative effort towards reshaping the sports card market landscape.