When we first started talking about Replay Sports Cards, we weren’t setting out to reinvent the hobby. We were simply collectors who loved the experience of opening packs, trading with friends, and building connections through cards. But what we noticed was a gap: collectors across the country wanted trustworthy, approachable, family-oriented shops where they felt welcomed, supported, and connected.
What began as a single card shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, has since grown into a first-of-its-kind national sports card shop franchise. And while Replay is expanding rapidly, at our heart we remain dedicated to the same mission that inspired our first store: making card collecting accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for everyone, especially the next generation of collectors.
From Collectors to Founders
Replay’s story began in 2021 under the name One Stop Sports. My fellow co-founders, Brent Schepel and Mike Martin, and I all shared a deep love for the hobby. Each of us grew up with the thrill of ripping open packs with our fathers and the lessons that collecting taught us: patience, value, history, and community.
We quickly realized that while passion for sports cards was surging, the retail experience wasn’t always keeping pace. Too often new collectors, especially kids and families, felt intimidated or priced out. Shops varied wildly in quality, trust, education, and consistency. That’s where Replay was born.
In 2024, we rebranded to Replay Sports Cards which is a name that better reflects our vision of the generational core memories of the joys and bonds of collecting. Shortly after, we launched the Replay franchise program. For the first time, collectors could turn their passion into a professionally supported business model, backed by both franchise and cards experts in a proven retail concept. Today, Replay is the nation’s first sports card shop franchise, and our commitment remains simple: create spaces where collectors of all ages feel like they are home.
Replay Gives Back: Sharing the Joy of Collecting
Of course, Replay has always been about more than transactions. We believe that collecting is about community and connection. That’s why we launched our Replay Gives Back initiative in 2024, a program designed to put trading cards in the hands of kids who don’t have access to cards and otherwise never experience the thrill of ripping a pack.
Since then, Replay Gives Back has distributed over 1.5 million donated cards, carefully packaged into 25-card packs with awesome hit and chase cards included. We’ve partnered with national organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs to ensure these cards reach kids who deserve them most.
At this year’s National Sports Card Convention, our goal was ambitious: collect 1 million cards to distribute to more than 40,000 children across Chicagoland. And the response has been overwhelming. Collectors, partners, and industry leaders have rallied behind the campaign because they understand the magic of that first pack.
For us, Replay Gives Back isn’t just charity. It’s about investing in the future of the hobby and doing what is right. If kids don’t get that spark early, they may never discover the joy and community that comes with collecting. This initiative ensures no one is left on the sidelines.
Scaling Through Franchising
Replay isn’t just about growing our shops; it’s about growing the entire hobby. By creating a replicable, supportive franchise model, we’re empowering entrepreneurs to bring card shops into their own communities with confidence.
Each Replay shop is designed to be a trusted hub: bright, clean, family-friendly, and staffed by passionate collectors who are trained to serve with integrity. We’re not just selling cards, we’re teaching the history of sports and their respective cards, the value of a dollar, and even the basics of investing.
Through franchising, Replay is building consistency in an industry that’s often fragmented. Franchisees gain the backing of a national network, robust training, and the expertise of leaders who have scaled major brands across multiple sectors. And just as important, they’re able to build businesses rooted in passion by making a living while contributing to something they love.
Our expansion plans are bold but focused. We’re targeting major and secondary markets alike, seeking partners who share our values of integrity, community, and accessibility. With Replay shops, collectors can expect the same high-quality experience whether they’re in Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, or beyond.
Looking Ahead
The sports card industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, and while the market will always evolve, one truth remains constant: people crave connection. Whether it’s opening a pack with your child, trading with a friend, or joining a live stream break, collecting brings people together. Replay is here to make sure that continues not just for today’s collectors, but for the next generation.
Our vision for the future is clear:
- Expand our national footprint. By franchising, Replay will bring trusted shops to neighborhoods nationwide, giving more collectors local access to the hobby.
- Grow Replay Gives Back. We’re committed to scaling our donations so that millions of children across the U.S. can experience the joy of collecting.
- Embrace innovation. From live streams to partnerships with top card brands, Replay is building a modern hobby experience that blends tradition with technology.
As I reflect on our journey, I’m struck by how much Replay mirrors the hobby itself. Collecting is about the circle of life, a “replay,” if you will. Maybe you missed a card as a kid, maybe you’re rediscovering the hobby now, or maybe you’re introducing it to your own children. Replay is here to be that bridge.
At Replay, we often say we’re in the business of memories as much as cards. And as we continue to grow, our goal is to make sure that magic is available to everyone.
By Mike Weinberger, Co-Founder & President of Franchising, Replay Sports Cards