
In a game-changing move for the sports card market, Burbank Sportscards has made waves by striking an exclusive deal with Fanatics Collect. This groundbreaking partnership will see Burbank’s extensive inventory of 40 million sports cards listed on the newly launched Fanatics Collect platform. The announcement of this deal comes just 11 days after the official launch of Fanatics Collect, setting the stage for one of the most significant transactions at the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Burbank Sportscards, a dominant player in the industry, has been a force on eBay since 2003, with an impressive track record of over 6.8 million items sold. Additionally, the shop has facilitated the sale 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, President of Fanatics Collect, expressed the company’s excitement about collaborating with Burbank Sportscards, highlighting Rob Veres’ reputation in the industry. Lamontagne mentioned, “From the perspective of Fanatics, we’ve got this belief in working with the best, and Rob was at the top of the list. There was just this feeling of, ‘OK, we need to be in business together,’ after visiting the store.”
For Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank Sportscards, this partnership with Fanatics Collect represents a golden opportunity to expand his business horizons. The goal is to have trading cards listed on Fanatics team shops alongside popular merchandise like caps and jerseys, offering a comprehensive selection of players and teams to customers.
Veres admitted that considering exclusivity away from eBay was a daunting thought, given the platform’s significant role in their revenue stream. However, he emphasized the importance of taking a leap of faith in pursuit of growth opportunities in the evolving market landscape.
To prepare for this new venture, Burbank is moving to a spacious 14,000-square-foot facility that will feature in-store kiosks enabling customers to order cards on-demand. These kiosks will grant access to a stock of 25 million cards, which staff can pull while customers wait for a seamless shopping experience.
The immediate challenge for Burbank lies in seamlessly integrating all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Leveraging Burbank’s advanced in-house inventory system will facilitate this process, with cards expected to be available on the platform within the next month. Initially, cards purchased in-store at Burbank will be exclusive to the shop for a brief period before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
Unlike other sellers whose cards are fulfilled by Fanatics, Burbank will manage its own fulfillment process. Veres anticipates that the current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff could potentially double to 50 within six months to meet the heightened demand.
Despite the hurdles ahead, Veres exudes confidence in this strategic move. He envisions curated card drops on the platform and anticipates playing a significant role in future Fanatics events, fostering an exciting and dynamic relationship.
Both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards envisage a long-term partnership with ambitious objectives. Fanatics focuses on attracting and retaining new customers, while Veres aims for continuous sales growth. In addition to expanding its inventory of low-end cards, Burbank plans to enhance its selection of high-end cards on the platform, aiming to broaden its market appeal.
Veres expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “I want people from all over the world who are sports fans and did not know I existed to come to me. I think the only company we can achieve that with is Fanatics.” This partnership between Burbank Sportscards and Fanatics Collect marks a significant milestone in the sports card industry, setting the stage for a new era of growth and innovation.