In a groundbreaking move for the sports card industry, Burbank Sportscards has struck an exclusive deal with Fanatics Collect. The partnership will see Burbank’s vast inventory of 40 million sports cards listed on the newly established platform, marking a significant moment in the trading card market. This announcement comes just 11 days following the official launch of Fanatics Collect and is poised to be a highlight at the upcoming 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Burbank Sportscards, a prominent player in the industry, has been a key seller on eBay since 2003, having sold over 6.8 million items to date. Additionally, the shop has facilitated the sale of an additional 7.2 million cards through the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, solidifying its position in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his excitement about partnering with Burbank Sportscards, citing owner Rob Veres as a top choice for collaboration. Lamontagne shared his admiration for Veres’ operation, noting that the decision to work together was driven by a mutual understanding of the potential success of their partnership.
Owner Rob Veres sees the alliance with Fanatics Collect as a prime opportunity to expand Burbank Sportscards’ reach in the market. The plan is to list trading cards on Fanatics team shops in conjunction with merchandise such as hats and jerseys, ensuring a diverse representation of players and teams across the platform.
Despite the gravity of moving away from eBay exclusivity, Veres acknowledged the necessity of taking this leap of faith to propel his business forward. The establishment of a new 14,000-square-foot facility equipped with in-store kiosks for on-demand card orders signals Burbank’s commitment to enhancing customer experience and adapting to the evolving demands of the market.
The integration of all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform poses a challenge, but Burbank’s sophisticated in-house inventory system is poised to streamline this process. Cards are expected to be available on the platform in the coming month, with in-store purchases at Burbank initially enjoying a short exclusivity period before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
In contrast to other sellers whose cards are fulfilled by Fanatics, Burbank will manage its own fulfillment processes. Veres anticipates a surge in demand, prompting potential growth in his current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to accommodate the increased workload effectively.
Veres remains optimistic about the transition and envisions curated card releases and active participation in upcoming Fanatics events. He sees this partnership as an opportunity to surpass previous limitations experienced on other marketplaces and is eager to explore the boundless potential offered by the Fanatics Collect platform.
Both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards are committed to a long-term partnership with ambitious goals. Fanatics aims to attract and retain new customers, while Veres looks forward to continuous sales growth. In addition to expanding its collection of low-end cards, Burbank plans to diversify its offerings with high-end cards on the platform, catering to a broader audience of collectors worldwide.
Veres’s aspiration to attract sports fans globally aligns with his confidence that Fanatics is the ideal platform to achieve this objective. This partnership signifies a new chapter for Burbank Sportscards, with the potential for unprecedented growth and exposure in the competitive world of sports card trading.