In a bold and groundbreaking move for the sports card industry, Burbank Sportscards has inked an exclusive agreement with Fanatics Collect, one of the most anticipated platforms in the trading card market. This partnership will see Burbank’s colossal inventory of 40 million sports cards made available on Fanatics Collect, which has been gaining significant traction since its recent launch at the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Burbank Sportscards, a powerhouse in the sports card world, has established its dominance over the years, with a strong presence on eBay where they have sold over 6.8 million items since 2003. Additionally, the shop has facilitated the trading of another 7.2 million cards via the Beckett Marketplace since 1999, solidifying its reputation as a major player in the card trading community.
Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect, expressed his excitement about partnering with Burbank Sportscards, highlighting Rob Veres, the owner of Burbank, as a key player in the deal. Lamontagne shared his admiration for Veres and his store, emphasizing the belief in working with the best in the industry and the undeniable synergy between the two entities.
For Rob Veres, the collaboration with Fanatics Collect signifies a significant opportunity to expand Burbank Sportscards’ reach. The plan includes listing trading cards on Fanatics team shops alongside popular merchandise like hats and jerseys, ensuring a comprehensive representation of players and teams that will resonate with a wider audience of collectors and fans alike.
Acknowledging the risk involved in moving away from eBay, which has been a major revenue source for Burbank, Veres expressed a mix of apprehension and excitement about the partnership. The decision to take this leap of faith was fueled by the belief in the potential for growth and innovation that comes with joining forces with Fanatics Collect.
To accommodate the influx of new orders and customers expected from the partnership, Burbank Sportscards is undergoing a significant expansion, moving to a new 14,000-square-foot facility. The new space will feature in-store kiosks that allow customers to order cards on-demand, drawing from a vast stock of 25 million cards that can be retrieved by staff members in real-time.
One of the key challenges ahead lies in seamlessly integrating all 40 million cards into the Fanatics Collect platform. Burbank’s advanced in-house inventory system is poised to streamline this process, with cards set to become available on the platform in the coming weeks. Initially, cards purchased at the physical store will have an exclusive window of one to two days before being listed on Fanatics Collect.
Unlike other sellers on the platform whose cards are shipped by Fanatics, Burbank will handle its own fulfillment operations. Veres anticipates a potential expansion of the current team of 25 retail and e-commerce staff to around 50 within six months to meet the escalating demand and ensure smooth operations.
Despite the challenges on the horizon, Veres remains optimistic about the partnership with Fanatics Collect, highlighting the vast opportunities for growth and exposure that it offers. The potential for curated card drops and active participation in Fanatics events is something that Veres is keen to explore, underscoring the unlimited potential he sees in this new platform.
Both Fanatics Collect and Burbank Sportscards view this collaboration as a long-term commitment with ambitious objectives. While Fanatics aims to attract and retain a new influx of customers, Burbank is focused on sustained sales growth and expanding its market presence. By diversifying its inventory to include a mix of low-end and high-end cards, Burbank plans to appeal to a broader audience and position itself as a go-to destination for sports card enthusiasts worldwide.
