We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bailey Claunch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bailey below.
Hi Bailey, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
From Storage Units to Success In the Trading Card Business: The Power of Resilience, Opportunity, and Adaptability
Success isn’t just about talent or luck—it’s about relentless hard work, resilience, and the ability to pivot quickly when the market shifts. It requires surrounding yourself with the right people—self-motivated individuals who understand the mission and push beyond expectations. It’s about failing fast, learning even faster, and making decisive moves—whether that means adapting to new opportunities or letting go of things that no longer serve your vision.
My journey into the collectibles world didn’t start traditionally. I began in liquidation, fascinated by the thrill of finding hidden value—whether in pallets, truckloads, or storage units. Shows like Storage Wars had always intrigued me, and I saw real potential in sourcing inventory this way. But one particular deal in 2019 changed everything.
A local seller in a Facebook group was looking to offload a storage unit filled with various items, including sports cards and signed memorabilia. At the time, the sports card market was gaining steam, fueled by the hype around Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. I wasn’t an expert in sports cards then—I was just getting back into collecting and selling after a childhood love of the hobby. But something about this deal told me I needed to check it out.
When I arrived, I scanned the unit, not entirely sure what I was looking for. The seller pointed me toward a few binders filled with sports cards. As I flipped through, something caught my eye—a PMG, or Precious Metal Gem, one of the most sought-after cards in the collecting world. I kept flipping… and found another. Then another. By the time I was done, I had uncovered four red PMGs featuring Byron Russell, John Stockton, Dell Curry, and Luc Longley.
I quickly researched the cards and saw that just one of them could be worth around $2,000. I turned to the seller and asked if he was sure he wanted to sell the unit. He was ready to move on and hoped I made a lot of money from it.
Without hesitation, I bought the unit. Over the next few months, with the help of a friend, I got the cards graded by PSA. When they finally came back, I knew I had hit something big. We ended up selling them for around $30,000. That single deal opened my eyes to the massive opportunity in this space, and from that moment forward, I was all in.
But achieving greatness in any field isn’t just about seizing a single opportunity—it’s about recognizing when to pivot and adapt to changing trends. What proved successful yesterday may not be effective tomorrow. As the sports card market surged, I adjusted accordingly. We later discovered the potential of online live streaming, initially launching on Whatnot before expanding to TikTok and now establishing a strong presence on eBay Live. Additionally, our business has evolved from operating solely as a sports card shop to offering a diverse selection of Pokémon cards, memorabilia, and a wide range of collectibles to better serve our growing customer base.
We’ve also expanded significantly in terms of space. What started as a small 100 sq. ft. office dedicated to streaming has now grown into three dedicated streaming offices and a full-scale storefront. This growth has allowed us to create a better experience for our customers while scaling our operations to meet increasing demand.
But being successful isn’t just about working hard—it’s about working smart. It’s about staying ahead of trends, recognizing shifts in the market, and making bold moves when opportunities arise. The people who succeed aren’t just the hardest workers; they’re the ones who adapt the fastest.
What do you think it takes to be successful? Have you ever had to pivot quickly to seize an opportunity?
Bailey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Meet Bailey: The Vision Behind Crave Collectibles, Solace Shipping Protection, and More
For those who may not have heard about me before, my name is Bailey, and I’m an entrepreneur with a deep passion for collectibles, commerce, and innovation. Over the years, I’ve built multiple businesses, each of which was born from recognizing opportunities and having the resilience to pivot when the market demands. From running Crave Collectibles, a thriving sports cards and memorabilia business, to launching Solace Shipping Protection, a software company that helps businesses safeguard their shipments, to my latest ventures in international trading and coffee, I’ve embraced a mindset of adaptability and growth.
What We Do at Crave Collectibles
Crave Collectibles started as a sports card shop, but we’ve since evolved into a multi-faceted business offering a diverse range of products, including Pokémon cards, memorabilia, and other collectibles. We cater to collectors, investors, and trading card game enthusiasts by providing top-tier products, live-streamed shopping experiences, and exclusive hobby finds.
A key part of our growth has been adapting to the digital space. We started live-streaming on Whatnot, then expanded to TikTok Live, and now focus heavily on eBay Live, where we engage directly with customers, offer exclusive deals, and build a real sense of community. What started as a small 100 sq. ft. office for streaming has now expanded into three dedicated streaming offices and a full-scale storefront.
Beyond Collectibles: Solving Real Problems
As we scaled Crave Collectibles, I recognized another issue in the industry—shipping protection. Many collectors were receiving damaged, lost, or stolen packages, and traditional shipping carriers weren’t providing an adequate solution. That led me to create Solace Shipping Protection, a software company that integrates seamlessly with e-commerce platforms to offer an easy, reliable way for businesses to protect their shipments. With Solace, merchants can provide their customers with peace of mind while also benefiting from a revenue-sharing model.
What Sets Us Apart?
The biggest thing that separates me and my businesses from others is the ability to pivot quickly and move with the times. Markets change, trends shift, and businesses that don’t evolve get left behind. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow, and I’ve built my success on recognizing when to adapt. From identifying new product categories to jumping into live-stream commerce before most, I’ve always been willing to make bold moves.
On top of that, everything we do is built on authenticity and transparency. I believe in putting people first—whether it’s my customers, my team, or my business partners. We’ve created a culture where success isn’t just about selling products; it’s about building a community of collectors and enthusiasts who share a passion for the hobby.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of the businesses we’ve built, but more than that, I’m proud of the team behind them. Success isn’t a solo journey—it takes a dedicated, self-motivated group of people who understand the vision and are willing to push limits to achieve it. It’s why I believe in the hire slow, fire fast mentality—you need the right people in place to ensure growth and success.
I’m also proud of my personal journey—starting from flipping storage units to now running multiple businesses, expanding internationally, and continuing to learn and evolve every day.
What I Want People to Know
If there’s one thing I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know, it’s this: hard work, resilience, and adaptability are the keys to success. No matter what industry you’re in, you need to be willing to put in the work, take calculated risks, and move quickly when opportunity knocks. The world doesn’t wait for those who hesitate—it rewards those who take action.
But success isn’t just about what you can do alone—it’s also about surrounding yourself with the right people. Finding a team that not only understands your vision but also pushes you to be your best self is essential. You need people who are self-motivated, driven, and open to leadership—people who don’t just want to show up, but want to excel. When you have a team that believes in growth, in pushing limits, and in constantly improving, you create an environment where winning isn’t just the goal—it’s the standard.
Whether you’re a collector, an entrepreneur, or someone just looking for inspiration, I hope my journey shows that success is possible if you’re willing to chase it—and even greater when you have the right people by your side.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
The Power of the Pivot: Adapting, Growing, and Thriving in an Ever-Changing Market
Success isn’t a straight path—it’s a constant series of adjustments, decisions, and pivots. No matter how well you plan, the landscape of business is always shifting, and those who don’t adapt get left behind. Looking back on my journey, I can pinpoint multiple times when a pivot wasn’t just an option—it was a necessity.
Pivoting Through an Oversaturated Market
When we first started live-streaming, it was a goldmine. We saw incredible growth on platforms like Whatnot, where collectors engaged directly with sellers in real time. But as with any emerging space, it didn’t take long before the competition skyrocketed. More and more sellers flooded in, the market became oversaturated, and standing out became harder.
We had a choice—either stay the course and hope to hold our ground or pivot and find a new edge. Instead of waiting for the platform to dictate our success, we expanded. We explored other streaming platforms, giving us multiple streams of exposure rather than relying on just one. That shift allowed us to continue growing, reaching new audiences, and staying ahead of the wave instead of drowning in it.
Pivoting After a Co-Founder Split
One of the toughest pivots in business is when leadership changes. At one point, we had a co-founder who was instrumental in helping shape the business. But over time, as visions diverged and the company’s needs evolved, we had to make the difficult decision to move forward without them.
Moments like these test everything—your leadership, your resilience, and your ability to keep the mission alive even through change. Instead of letting it slow us down, we used it as an opportunity to refine our goals, improve our structure, and build a stronger foundation for the future. The business didn’t just survive—it thrived because we were willing to adapt and step into new roles.
Pivoting into Pokémon
Originally, Crave Collectibles was a sports card-focused business. That was our lane, our expertise. But as we continued to study the market and listen to our customers, we saw another massive opportunity—Pokémon cards.
At first, it wasn’t a space we had planned on expanding into. But when you recognize a market demand, you can either watch someone else take advantage of it, or you can pivot and make it yours. We dove into Pokémon with the same energy and strategy that helped us grow in sports cards. We started carrying a huge selection of Pokémon products, expanded our inventory, and became a trusted source for collectors.
That pivot didn’t just add a new revenue stream—it expanded our customer base and solidified Crave Collectibles as more than just a sports card shop.
Pivoting to Keep Up with Demand
One of the best problems a business can have is needing more product because demand is outpacing supply. That’s exactly what happened as we continued to scale. At first, we were ordering conservatively, focusing on what we knew would sell. But as we gained more customers and expanded into Pokémon, memorabilia, and live-streaming sales, we realized we needed to go bigger.
This wasn’t just about buying more—it was about buying smarter. We had to find better suppliers, negotiate better deals, and ensure we were sourcing the right products at the right price to maintain profitability while growing. That shift allowed us to stock more inventory, serve more customers, and never miss a sale due to low supply.
The Lesson: Adapt or Get Left Behind
Every successful business reaches critical moments where the decision to pivot or stay stagnant determines the future. Every time we faced a challenge—whether it was market saturation, leadership changes, expanding into new products, or scaling inventory—we didn’t hesitate to make the necessary moves to keep growing.
Pivoting isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign of intelligence, resilience, and a willingness to evolve with the times. The businesses that win aren’t always the ones with the best products; they’re the ones that are willing to change, willing to adapt, and willing to take risks when the moment calls for it.
That’s what has set us apart—and it’s what will continue to fuel our success.
Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?
Yes, my business has multiple revenue streams that complement and support each other. We generate sales through online live streaming, a physical storefront, Amazon, eBay, and our website. Additionally, we monetize through conventions and wholesale distribution. Social media also plays a role, as we earn from content monetization and affiliate marketing. Diversifying our revenue ensures stability, scalability, and the ability to pivot with market trends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cravecollect.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CraveCollect
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cravecollectibles/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cravecollect
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cravecollect
