10/12/2026
๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐?
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 wasnโt 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 $100,000โ$150,000 in losses. Yes, the products sold quickly, but in a market where consumers could find virtually anything online, competing on price was essentialโand 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 isnโt 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.
๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ก๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐
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.
๐๐ง ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ
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.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ
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.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก:
Fanatics
Peachstate Hobby Distribution
Southern Hobby Distribution
LEGO USA
TriStar Productions
Super Break Sports
BCW Supplies
Historic Autographs
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก
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 gamingโnot 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.
๐
๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐
We began purchasing directly from Fanatics in 2024. Newer stores enter the program as โProspectโ stores and work toward โMVPโ 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.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐
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.
๐๐จ๐ง๐ -๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
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 storeโs 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.
๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ
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.
