Fanatics Preps New Products, Discounts Outdated Jerseys After Flurry Of NBA Trades

For Fanatics, the busiest trade deadline in NBA history "means opportunity for new jerseys, not liability on old ones," as the largest retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise "has physical inventory on just five" of the league-record 39 players that were dealt Thursday, according to Eben Novy-Williams of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Fanatics President of Merchandising Jack Boyle said that the company is "prepared to sell new jerseys for all players who moved teams as soon as numbers are announced." Outdated jerseys with players' former teams "will be marked down a minimum" of 40%, and other player-specific products, like bobbleheads and plush toys, "will also be discounted." Boyle said that remaining inventory on some players "will sell out quickly," while other players "have less demand." He added that he "isn't worried about being permanently stuck with unwanted shirts." Boyle: "Some take longer than others. We find a price that will eventually move it and we do sell it" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2/20).