College athletes, team managers and gear seem to have always had a good relationship. Now some entreprenurial managers have found a smart, simple, and growing way…and with more probably coming when NIL kicks in, to help athletes unload excess gear as they clean out the lockers and head put the door. Meet The Player’s Trunk, and colleague Michael Smith at Sports Business Journal had the group’s latest expansion move…
The athlete brand-builder, INFLCR, has reached a partnership with The Players Trunk, an online marketplace where former college athletes sell their old gear, such as game-worn jerseys, shoes and practice wear. Players Trunk will gain access to INFLCR’s network of athletes, while the athletes using the INFLCR platform will find ways to monetize and preserve gear from their playing days.
This is another step by INFLCR to provide its athletes with more ways to make money off their brand, just as INFLCR did with Cameo, an online tool for athletes to create content for their fan clubs. These online marketplaces aren’t yielding income for current athletes yet, but it is preparing them for the start of name, image and likeness rights when that time comes.
As a former manager back in the day I have often been amazed by where these dedicated folks go in their careers, and how they see, and act on opportunities in business and beyond that may otherwise fall by the wayside. The Players Trunk will probably have some issues scaling, but the idea…a simple one…is smart and worth following.
Well done.
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