The RealReal to offer comic book, trading card grading services

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Jul 28, 2022

Luxury consignment retailer The RealReal announced on Wednesday a partnership with Beckett Collectibles to offer comic book and trading card grading services.

Through the partnership, The RealReal customers will be able to benefit from expedited grading services, an integrated consignment experience, a discounted rate, as well as a commission on sales including earnings of up to 85% on the item’s final selling price.

“We’re excited to be expanding our services within the collectibles sector, a category we see endless potential and growth possibilities in. We’re committed to a seamless, frictionless selling process and since the launch of our collectibles category last year, we knew that we wanted to expand into grading services,” said Mayank Hajela, senior director of men’s merchandising, The RealReal. 

“Beckett is a highly respected, innovative industry leader and we couldn’t think of a better partner to co-develop a unique grading and authentication experience for collectors nationwide. We’re looking forward to refining and elevating the standards of luxury consignment for both our and Beckett’s customers.”

The move follows the launch of its collectibles category in 2021, which welcomed items from comic books and trading cards, to figures and skate decks. 

It also follows a surge in search demand. In 2022 alone, search demand within the collectibles category has more than doubled, with consignments increasing by more than 48 percent since the start of the year.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with The RealReal and bringing our trusted grading services to a new audience,” added Kunal Chopra, CEO of Beckett Collectibles. 

“What’s powerful is the values our brands share: A shared belief in the power of technology and the importance of authentication and verification. We’re especially excited to be launching with them at the National, and hopefully this is the first of many activations, both online and in-person.”

Earlier this year, the New York-based company revealed 'Vision 2025', a financial strategy for the next three years, which includes registering gross merchandise value (GMV) of more than $5 billion and recording total revenues of more than $1.5 billion.

The RealReal is one of several digital-first platforms currently reshaping the resale landscape.
In December, competitor Rebag raised $33 million in a Series E funding round, bringing the company’s total funding up to $101 million as it plans further expansions, with a study from ThredUp predicting that the U.S. apparel resale market alone could be worth $77 billion by 2026.