eBay is leaning into the massively popular trading card business. Trading cards experienced a surge in popularity during the pandemic—Target even had to stop selling Pokémon cards due to “scorching hot” demand—and eBay is cashing in on the trend with Card Clout, a series hosted by DJ Skee that offers trading card tips from athletes and celebrities who are successful collectors. The show’s first season (which has garnered 36 million views) debuted in February, and now sports media company Team Whistle is sponsoring Card Clout’s second season. Spencer Dinwiddie is featured in the new season’s first episode, and the basketball star is currently auctioning a signed card on eBay with proceeds from the sale being donated to City of Hope—a nonprofit research medical center. eBay experienced a surge in sales for trading cards with the category seeing a 142% increase in 2020, and in the first quarter of 2021 the ecommerce platform sold an average of 139 cards per minute. (Adweek)
