Assets

<div class="assets-links"><a class="assets-link" href="https://www.ebay.com/usr/mirrorsportscards"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Mirror Sports Cards eBay Store</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mirrorsportscards"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Mirror Sports Cards TikTok</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://linktr.ee/mirrorsportscards"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Mirror Sports Cards Linktree</div></a></div>

Gallery

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Student & Mentor

Student

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Max</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Riverdale</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Grade 9</div></div>

Personality

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Entrepreneurial</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Outgoing</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Analytical</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Adaptable</p></div></div>

Interests

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Sports Card Collecting</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Baseball</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Entrepreneurship</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Music Production</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Digital Marketing</p></div></div>

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Mentor

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Matthew</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Cornell University</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Philosophy & Cognitive Science</div></div>

Personality

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Collaborative</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Goal-oriented</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Structured</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Supportive</p></div></div>

Interests

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Entrepreneurship</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Digital Marketing</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Business Development</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Social Media Strategy</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">E-commerce</p></div></div>

What They Set Out To Do

Max entered this mentorship with prior experience running a sneaker reselling business, but was eager to expand into sports card trading and develop a more comprehensive entrepreneurial skill set. With a natural talent for identifying value and building relationships, Max wanted to transform his casual interest in sports cards into a structured business. Starting with inventory from his sneaker business profits, Max and Matthew set out to establish a multi-platform presence across TikTok, eBay, and in-person card shows to build a sustainable business model.

The Perfect Match

<div class="case-study-match-wrapper"><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Shared Entrepreneurial Mindset</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Both Max and Matthew have hands-on experience in starting and scaling online reselling businesses, allowing Matthew to provide relevant, actionable guidance based on real-world experience.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Digital Marketing Synergy</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Matthew's experience in social media marketing perfectly complemented Max's need to establish his online presence across TikTok, Instagram, and e-commerce platforms.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Balanced Structure and Creativity</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Matthew's structured approach to business planning balanced with creative problem-solving helped Max transform his passion for collecting into a profitable venture with systematic tracking and growth strategies.</div></div></div>

Project Milestones

Business Foundations

September 2024 - October 2024

Max transitioned from sneaker reselling to sports cards, establishing his brand identity as 'Mirror Sports Cards' and developing a business model that included social media marketing, online sales, and in-person events.

Digital Presence Launch

October 2024 - November 2024

Created comprehensive social media strategy with themed content schedules for TikTok and Instagram, launched professional eBay listings, and developed inventory tracking system to monitor profits and sales.

First Card Show Success

November 2024 - December 2024

Successfully participated in his first card show, selling multiple cards and establishing connections with other dealers. Implemented market analysis tools like Card Ladder to make data-driven purchasing decisions.

Scaling Operations

January 2025 - February 2025

Surpassed $900 in sales with a 75% profit margin. Began investigating professional card grading services to increase inventory value and expanded his reach through strategic content creation across platforms.

Expanding Investment Portfolio

February 2025 - March 2025

Acquired several high-value cards including a $1,500 card and started professional grading services with Beckett Grading to maximize card values. Successfully grew his inventory to over $2,500 in estimated value.

Skills Developed

Financial management and profit tracking
Social media marketing across multiple platforms
Market analysis and strategic inventory acquisition
Sales negotiation and pricing strategy
Inventory management systems
Brand development and customer relationship building
Professional card grading and valuation
Content creation and audience engagement

Challenged Overcomed

Transitioning from sneaker reselling to sports card business model
Gaining confidence in creating on-camera content for social media
Developing systematic approach to inventory management
Balancing school commitments with growing business demands
Learning to make strategic investment decisions based on market trends

What’s Next

Max plans to expand his sports card business by completing professional card grading for his high-value inventory, establishing a regular presence at regional card shows, and growing his social media following to drive online sales. He aims to explore card break operations as a new revenue stream and leverage his impressive profit margins to further scale his business. With his growing inventory now valued at over $2,500 and his recent acquisition of several cards worth $500-$1,500 each, Max is positioned to transform his entrepreneurial passion into a substantial business that could fund future educational opportunities while balancing his commitment to baseball and academics.

From Sneakers to Sports Cards: How a 9th Grader Built a Thriving Resale Business