In a landmark move within the sports card industry, Burbank Sportscards has inked an exclusive deal with Fanatics Collect, bringing its vast inventory of 40 million sports cards to the newly launched platform. This partnership, announced just 11 days after Fanatics Collect's debut, could be the highlight of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Burbank Sportscards, a titan in the trading card world, has been a top seller on eBay since 2003, with over 6.8 million items sold. Additionally, Burbank has moved 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, solidifying its reputation as a major force in the market.
"At Fanatics, we believe in working with the best, and Rob [Veres] was at the top of the list," said Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect, in an interview with cllct. "Visiting the store and seeing Rob's operation firsthand left no doubt that we needed to collaborate."
For Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, the collaboration with Fanatics Collect represents a strategic opportunity for growth. The plan is to feature trading cards alongside team merchandise such as caps and jerseys on Fanatics team shops, ensuring a comprehensive selection of players and teams.
"Discussing exclusivity away from eBay was daunting," Veres admitted. "eBay has been a substantial part of our revenue, and we've built valuable relationships there over the years. But sometimes you need to take a leap of faith."
As part of this leap, Burbank is relocating to a new 14,000-square-foot facility that will offer in-store kiosks for on-demand card purchases. These kiosks will provide access to 25 million cards, which staff can retrieve while customers wait.
The immediate task is to integrate all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Burbank’s sophisticated in-house inventory system will play a crucial role in this process, with cards expected to start appearing on the platform within the next month. Initially, cards bought in-store at Burbank will be exclusive to the shop for one or two days before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
Unlike other sellers on the platform, Burbank will handle its own fulfillment. Veres expects his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to potentially double within six months to meet the increased demand.
Despite the challenges, Veres is optimistic about the move. He envisions curated card drops on the platform and plans to be a key participant in upcoming Fanatics events.
“There’s always been a glass ceiling on other marketplaces,” Veres explained. “No matter how much inventory we added, it didn’t always move the needle. For the first time, I feel like there’s unlimited potential on this platform.”
Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards see this as a long-term partnership with clear objectives. For Fanatics, attracting and retaining new customers will be a primary focus, while Veres aims for consistent growth. Burbank also plans to expand its inventory of high-end cards on the platform, enhancing its market reach.
“I want sports fans from around the world who didn’t know we existed to discover us,” Veres said. “I believe Fanatics is the only company capable of making that happen.”