10/12/2026
𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞?
Before Fanatics took control of sports card distribution, there was a path into the industry through independent distributors such as Peach State, Southern Hobby, Alliance, GTS, and others. But getting access to wholesale pricing wasn’t easy. Distributors wanted proof that you could sell at least $500,000 worth of product annually before they would sell to you at wholesale.
How did you prove it? You had to spend a year buying product from them at retail prices, a process that could inevitably cost you $100,000–$150,000 in losses. Yes, the products sold quickly, but in a market where consumers could find virtually anything online, competing on price was essential—and that made it nearly impossible to avoid substantial losses.
Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Fanatics now controls distribution of licensed products, and the path for a new store to enter the market has become far more difficult. You may need several million dollars in capital and a location that isn’t already served by a licensed store. Fanatics grants geographic exclusivity to participating stores, making it difficult for new competitors to gain access to licensed inventory.
Our store was among the last to establish itself while independent distributors still offered access to licensed products, giving us the opportunity to build the sales volume needed to compete.
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫.
𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
Here is a rare opportunity to acquire an established hobby and collectibles store with excellent community goodwill, strong supplier relationships, experienced management, and significant growth potential.
Established in 2020, the store sells sports cards, trading card games, LEGO, comics, games, and collectibles. Approximately 90% of current sales come from sports cards and TCG products, making this an excellent opportunity for an enthusiast who has dreamed of owning a card shop.
I am open to either a complete sale or, under the right circumstances, bringing in a qualified operating partner.
𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫
This has never been my full-time job. I have operated the store primarily as an absentee owner. An excellent store manager currently oversees its daily operations, and he is willing to stay on for the next owner.
I generally work at the store only on Saturdays, when I handle much of the purchasing and restocking. With retirement approaching, plans to travel more frequently, and a new home being built in North Carolina, I am ready to pass this opportunity to someone who can take it to the next level.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
In 2023, before Fanatics transformed the sports-card distribution landscape, we purchased products through Peachstate Hobby Distribution and Southern Hobby Distribution.
At that time, distributors used an allocation system: stores that purchased greater overall volume received better access to highly desirable licensed Panini and Topps products. To maintain our allocations, we purchased substantial quantities of unlicensed products and used online breaks to move that inventory.
During 2023, we purchased approximately $940,000 in products and operated both the retail store and two Whatnot channels to support that volume. Not really a large volume considering that it is a $50 billion industry.
After Fanatics changed the distribution model, the previous allocation system became less relevant. I chose to discontinue online breaks, reducing our current sales volume to approximately one-third of its former level. For a motivated owner, this represents a significant opportunity to rebuild online sales and breaking operations using systems that have already demonstrated strong volume.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡:
Fanatics
Peachstate Hobby Distribution
Southern Hobby Distribution
LEGO USA
TriStar Productions
Super Break Sports
BCW Supplies
Historic Autographs
𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡
In addition to restarting online sports-card breaks, a new owner could reintroduce organized TCG events. This is really a must as getting TCG product is becoming more difficult, and they prioritize stores that provide events. We previously hosted TCG games but discontinued them when our focus shifted more heavily toward sports cards.
I stopped these activities because I did not want the additional responsibility of managing breakers and organized gaming—not because they were unsuccessful or lacked potential. An owner who wants to be actively involved in the hobby should strongly consider bringing back both programs. It will greatly increase the amount of TCG products you can buy.
𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚
We began purchasing directly from Fanatics in 2024. Newer stores enter the program as “Prospect” stores and work toward “MVP” status, which provides greater access to more highly sought-after products.
At our most recent review, the store ranked within the top third of Prospect stores. Based on its current trajectory, MVP status may be achievable within the next one to two years, provided the new owner continues developing the account.
Fanatics determines direct-store access based partly on geography and population. As a result, the store benefits from an excellent market position, with no competing sports-card shop located within approximately 30 minutes in any direction.
𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
The asking price is $250,000, which includes at least $150,000 in inventory at retail value, we are currently doing a hard count of all inventory and we'll have a specific number soon.
For a qualified buyer, I am willing to consider a minimum down payment of $100,000. Owner financing for the remaining balance.
I will provide qualified buyers with relevant purchasing history and supporting business information, although personal and business tax returns will not be included.
Any financing or partnership arrangement will be offered selectively and will require verification of relevant experience, credit history, financial qualifications/guarantees, such as home equity security.
𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
I also own the shopping plaza where the store is located. The plaza will eventually be offered for sale.
A favorable long-term lease can be made available to the store’s buyer, providing stability and the opportunity to continue operating from an established location. The Fanatics license will continue with the new owner, but they will not be allowed to move the store a substantial distance without Fanatics approval.
𝐀𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫
This business is well suited to an energetic owner who understands the sports-card and TCG communities and wants to build upon an established foundation.
The store offers an experienced manager, valuable supplier relationships, a direct Fanatics account, strong purchasing history, an established customer base, exclusive area limiting competition, owner-financing potential, and several clear paths for growth.
Serious and financially qualified buyers may request additional information. Please respect the confidential nature of the sale and a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement will be necessary.
