Signed Up For Action: Steiner Sports CEO Profiled In SI

Steiner Sports, “the world’s largest sports-collectibles company,” is profiled by SI’s Chris Mannix, who writes the $50M corporation “has deals with some 5,000 athletes and holds exclusive rights to create memorabilia” with teams like the Mets and Yankees and colleges like Syracuse and Notre Dame. Steiner Sports CEO Brandon Steiner has over $25M in merchandise in his 25,000-square-foot N.Y. office. The company has a customer base of over 50,000, and 20% of its sales comes online at steinersports.com. Tuff Stuff Editor Rocky Landsverk said, “They have revolutionized the industry with their ability to get an athlete or an autograph at a moment’s notice.” Mannix notes Steiner sold the company in September ’00 to Omnicom for about $25M, with the clause he would stay on as CEO. Steiner: “We had hit a lull with our marketing. Omnicom gave us access to hundreds of new clients. I saw them as someone who could help me do what I’m doing better.” Mannix notes Steiner took some of the proceeds from the sale to open Last Licks, a chain of ice cream parlors in N.Y. with sports memorabilia that he describes as “sports bars for kids” (SI, 11/13 issue).