6777 - Trading Card Specialist

Lids; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement plan

Uncapped monthly bonus potential

Employee discount

Job summary

Lids Sports Group seeks a Trading Card Specialist to serve as the in-store expert for trading cards and collectibles, delivering knowledgeable guidance to collectors and driving hobby-category sales.

The role requires passion for the hobby, familiarity with grading and authentication, and strong customer-service skills within a lively retail environment in Las Vegas. Growth opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package are provided.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of trading cards, singles, grading services, authentication standards.
• Understanding of hobby marketplace trends and pricing dynamics.
• Familiarity with live breaking, case breaks, repacks, hobby releases, and secondary market activity.
• Ability to identify counterfeit, altered, trimmed, or fraudulent cards and products.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary in-store expert for trading cards, collectibles, sports memorabilia, and hobby-related products.
• Educate customers on product releases, card values, collecting strategies, grading processes, authentication standards, and hobby best practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of major trading card brands and manufacturers, including Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Fanatics Collectibles, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and other emerging categories.
• Understand and communicate the differences between hobby, retail, blaster, mega, hanger, and premium product formats.
• Stay informed on current market trends, player performance impacts, product demand, chase cards, and hobby-related news.
• Assist customers with questions related to singles, rookie cards, autographs, relic cards, parallels, inserts, serial-numbered cards, and graded collectibles.
• Educate customers on grading services offered by PSA through Lids, including the submission and authentication process.
• Possess working knowledge of live breaking, group breaks, hobby community practices, and major hobby platforms.
• Maintain familiarity with leading hobby retailers and marketplaces including Dave & Adam's, Blowout Cards, Fanatics Collect, eBay, Whatnot, Goldin, and other significant industry participants.
• Drive category sales through customer engagement, relationship building, product recommendations, and exceptional service.
• Support merchandising standards, inventory management, visual presentation, and product protection for trading card merchandise.
• Maintain awareness of highly anticipated product releases and execute launch day procedures to ensure a positive customer experience.
• Partner with store leadership to monitor product availability, customer demand, and inventory opportunities within the category.
• Foster a welcoming environment for collectors, hobby enthusiasts, first-time buyers, and sports fans.
• Build relationships with local hobby communities and drive customer loyalty through expertise and engagement.
• Participate in training programs to remain current on industry developments, product knowledge, and company initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Trading cards

Collectors knowledge

Card grading

Authentication

Live breaks

Market trends

Counterfeit detection

Retail experience

Education

High school diploma

Tools

PSA

Beckett

SGC

eBay

Whatnot

Fanatics Collect

Job description

About Our Company

At Lids Sports Group, we don’t just sell hats — we fuel fandom. As the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, we bring sports, fashion, and culture together in more than 1,300 stores nationwide. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lids delivers premium, fan-driven products and unforgettable retail experiences.

Brief Description

Trading Card Specialist

About Our Company

At Lids Sports Group, we don’t just sell hats — we fuel fandom. As the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, we bring sports, fashion, and culture together in more than 1,300 stores nationwide. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lids delivers premium, fan-driven products and unforgettable retail experiences.

Our stores feature officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional teams, alongside top brands like Champion, Nike, New Era, Lululemon Athletica, and Mitchell & Ness. We’re also the industry leader in on‑demand customization, offering in‑store embroidery that turns everyday gear into one-of‑kind statements.

From specialty concept stores for the NBA and NHL, to iconic clubhouse destinations for the Yankees and Dodgers, we create immersive retail experiences that appreciate the teams fans love. Through collaborations with brands like Marvel, Peanuts, and The Walt Disney Company, Lids continues to redefine how fans represent their teams — in style.

General Position Summary

The Trading Card Specialist serves as the in-store subject matter expert for all things trading cards and collectibles. This role creates a best‑in‑class hobby experience for customers by providing expert product knowledge, educating collectors, maintaining category integrity, and driving sales within the trading card business. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the trading card ecosystem, including sealed wax products, singles, grading services, authentication, live breaking, hobby market trends, trading card manufacturers, distribution channels, and counterfeit detection. The Trading Card Specialist is passionate about the hobby, actively engaged in the collector community, and dedicated to helping customers of all experience levels build their collections with confidence.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary in-store expert for selling trading cards, collectibles, sports memorabilia, and hobby-related products
• Educate customers on product releases, card values, collecting strategies, grading processes, authentication standards, and hobby best practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of major trading card brands and manufacturers, including Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Fanatics Collectibles, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and other emerging categories.
• Understand and communicate the differences between hobby, retail, blaster, mega, hanger, and premium product formats.
• Stay informed on current market trends, player performance impacts, product demand, chase cards, and hobby-related news.
• Assist customers with questions related to singles, rookie cards, autographs, relic cards, parallels, inserts, serial‑numbered cards, and graded collectibles.
• Educate customers on grading services offered by PSA through Lids, including the submission and authentication process.
• Possess working knowledge of live breaking, group breaks, hobby community practices, and major hobby platforms.
• Maintain familiarity with leading hobby retailers and marketplaces including Dave & Adam's, Blowout Cards, Fanatics Collect, eBay, Whatnot, Goldin, and other significant industry participants.
• Drive category sales through customer engagement, relationship building, product recommendations, and exceptional service.
• Support merchandising standards, inventory management, visual presentation, and product protection for trading card merchandise.
• Maintain awareness of highly anticipated product releases and execute launch day procedures to ensure a positive customer experience.
• Partner with store leadership to monitor product availability, customer demand, and inventory opportunities within the category.
• Foster a welcoming environment for collectors, hobby enthusiasts, first‑time buyers, and sports fans.
• Build relationships with local hobby communities and drive customer loyalty through expertise and engagement.
• Participate in training programs to remain current on industry developments, product knowledge, and company initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Required Knowledge And Skills

• Strong passion for and knowledge of the trading card and collectibles industry.
• Understanding of sports card, Pokémon, and trading card game (TCG) products and terminology.
• Knowledge of singles, sealed products, grading services, authentication standards, and card condition assessment.
• Familiarity with hobby marketplace trends and pricing dynamics.
• Understanding of live breaking, case breaks, repacks, hobby releases, and secondary market activity.
• Ability to identify common signs of counterfeit, altered, trimmed, or otherwise fraudulent cards and products.
• Working knowledge of major hobby retailers, distributors, grading companies, and online marketplaces.
• Knowledge of current athletes, prospects, legends, teams, and hobby‑relevant storylines across professional and collegiate sports

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1‑3 years of experience in trading card retail, collectibles, sports memorabilia, hobby shops, card shows, live breaking operations, or related environments preferred.
• Personal involvement in the collecting hobby strongly preferred.
• Experience buying, selling, trading, grading, or evaluating trading cards preferred.
• Familiarity with industry tools and platforms such as PSA, Beckett, SGC, eBay, Whatnot, Fanatics Collect, Dave & Adam's, and major hobby marketplaces preferred.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan
• 100% employer‑paid benefits, including short‑term and long‑term disability, life and AD&D insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Generous employee discount and exclusive perks
• Ongoing career development, including discounted secondary education courses
• A collaborative, innovative, and team‑oriented work environment
• Early Wage Access options to provide added financial flexibility
• Uncapped monthly bonus potential

Physical Demands & Requirements

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to occasionally climb a ladder and work with hands overhead.
• Ability to constantly stand on shift.
• Ability to frequently walk on shift.
• Ability to frequently hear and communicate verbally with customers, employees, and other personnel.
• Ability to frequently visually observe the store and read written or digital information.
• Ability to frequently operate a computer and mobile Point‑of‑Sale system, as well as maneuver related software programs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. For inquiries related to reasonable accommodations, please contact [e-mail]

Employment Requirements

Candidates must possess the experience, skills, physical abilities, and qualifications, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential duties of the role and must be able to meet all applicable employment standards. Being legally authorized to work in the United States is a pre‑condition of employment for this position. Current or future employment‑based visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Applicants

In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to, or describes you ("Personal Information"). The categories of Personal Information we collect include your name, email address, mailing address, other contact information, employment history, and educational history. We collect and use this information for human resources and business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating candidates for employment or future contract opportunities, and maintaining recruiting and hiring records. Additional information collected may include government‑issued identification numbers, work authorization, emergency contact information, and other employment‑related information.

Need Accessibility Assistance?

Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application may email [e-mail]. A member of our Talent team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. This email address is only for individuals seeking reasonable accommodation when applying for a career at Lids.