In what can be only described as a monumental shift in the dynamic sports card market, Burbank Sportscards has made a strategic maneuver by entering into an exclusive partnership with Fanatics Collect. This groundbreaking agreement will see Burbank Sportscards listing its vast inventory of 40 million sports cards on the recently launched Fanatics Collect platform. The announcement of this deal merely 11 days after the official launch of Fanatics Collect has sent ripples of excitement throughout the sports card collecting world, with many eagerly anticipating the impact it will have at the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Burbank Sportscards, a formidable force in the industry, has a storied history of success dating back to 2003 when it first established itself as a top seller on eBay. With an impressive track record of over 6.8 million items sold on eBay, coupled with another 7.2 million cards moved through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, Burbank Sportscards has solidified its reputation as a major player in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, the president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his admiration for Burbank Sportscards, stating, “From the perspective of Fanatics, we’ve got this kind of belief of working with the best, and Rob [Veres] was at the top of the list.” Lamontagne recounted his experience visiting the store and the immediate feeling of synergy that compelled him to forge a partnership. The sentiment was mutual, as Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, views this collaboration as a golden opportunity to expand his business horizons. The plan is to integrate trading cards onto Fanatics team shops alongside popular merchandise like caps and jerseys, ensuring a comprehensive representation of players and teams.
While acknowledging the magnitude of transitioning away from the familiar terrain of eBay, Veres expressed a mix of trepidation and excitement. He recognizes the necessity of taking this leap of faith to unlock new possibilities for growth and innovation. To prepare for this significant leap, Burbank Sportscards is in the process of relocating to a sprawling 14,000-square-foot facility that will house innovative in-store kiosks. These kiosks will give customers the convenience of ordering cards on-demand, tapping into a stockpile of 25 million cards that can be swiftly retrieved by staff.
The primary challenge on the horizon is the seamless integration of all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Leveraging Burbank’s sophisticated in-house inventory system, this monumental task is expected to unfold within the upcoming month. Initially, cards purchased at the physical store will enjoy exclusivity for a brief period before being made available on the Fanatics Collect platform.
In a departure from the norm, Burbank will manage its own fulfillment process instead of relying on Fanatics for shipping. Veres envisions a potential expansion of his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to 50 within the next six months to cope with the surge in demand. Despite the foreseeable challenges, Veres remains optimistic about the unlimited potentials presented by the Fanatics Collect platform, including the prospect of curated card releases and active involvement in future Fanatics events.
Both Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect are viewing this partnership as a long-term endeavor with ambitious objectives. Fanatics aims to attract and retain new clientele, while Veres is keen on achieving sustained sales growth. In addition to the vast collection of low-end cards, Burbank is looking to bolster its inventory with high-end cards on the platform, expanding its market footprint to a global scale.
Veres encapsulated his vision by 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.” This alliance between Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect signals a monumental shift in the sports card trading landscape, setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead.