Exploring Life & Business with Robert Hensley of Gem city collects sports cards and memorabilia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Hensley.

Hi Robert, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
How I Got Started with My Business

First of all, I never thought I’d open a sports card shop. My journey started back in 2016 when I got back into the sports card world. I came across a guy named Nate Burns from Grand Slam Collectibles doing live card breaks on Facebook, and I remember thinking — wow, cards have changed big time since the 90s and early 2000s, when I stopped collecting around 2002.

That moment pulled me back in. I started collecting again and selling the cards I didn’t want on eBay as a side hustle. From there, I tried doing my own card breaks on Facebook in 2020. After about a year, I had the opportunity to join the breaking platform Loupe, and that’s when things really started to take off.

I was grinding — doing breaks at night while still working my day job. Eventually, I got tired of working for someone else and decided to go all in and open my own shop. I told myself, the worst that can happen is I fail and go back to a regular job — but if I succeed, I’ll be doing something I love.
If you love what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.

We started from the bottom and just kept reinvesting everything back into the business. In just a year, the shop completely transformed. After three years in our first location, we upgraded to a bigger building right in the center of town, next to Foy’s Halloween Store. I’ll admit, I was hesitant — bigger space means bigger overhead — but it ended up being the best decision I’ve made. Our sales tripled, and so did our foot traffic.

Now we offer a huge variety — from low-end to high-end singles, hobby boxes, and retail boxes for sports like basketball, football, baseball, and hockey, plus non-sports sets like Disney and SpongeBob, and TCG favorites like Pokémon, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh.

As of today, we’ve been in our new location for a year and a half, with a full-time and a part-time employee, and we’re still growing as the hobby gets bigger every day. We’re constantly meeting new collectors and first-time buyers who remind me why I started this in the first place.

Come check us out at
22 E.Main st
Fairborn,OH
45324
Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 7pm

If I could give one piece of advice — go for your dreams. You only live once. Don’t let yourself look back with a “what if.” Just do it, grind, and believe in yourself.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been easy. I put in countless hours where it felt like I practically lived at the shop. My kids were starting to hate the shop.When we first opened, we might have only had 3–5 people come through the door in an entire week.

On top of that, I had to build allocations with distributors because I didn’t have direct accounts with Panini or Topps at the time. With distributors, your allocation is based on how much you spend — which often meant buying at or above market prices just to secure future products. In other words, I lost money before I ever made money.

It was not easy in those first couple of years. I found myself comparing my progress to others who seemed to succeed faster, and there were moments I seriously thought about giving up. But I kept grinding, pushing through the tough times and trusting the process of building the business.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gem city collects sports cards and memorabilia ?
passion, and the love of the hobby. We’re a full-service sports card and trading card shop offering everything from low-end to high-end singles, hobby and retail boxes across all major sports — basketball, football, baseball, and hockey — as well as non-sports like Disney and SpongeBob, and TCGs such as Pokémon, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh.

What really sets us apart is the experience. We don’t just sell cards — we build relationships. Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a new hobbyist, or a parent bringing in your kid for their first pack, we take pride in creating an environment that’s welcoming, genuine, and fun. We’re always ready to share knowledge, talk cards, or help you find that one special piece to add to your collection.

We also host trade nights, , and community events that bring collectors together. It’s about more than just cards — it’s about connection. That’s what we’re known for, and it’s what makes Gem City Collects different.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown organically. We started small — a few customers a week — and built everything through hard work, consistency, and staying true to the hobby. Now we have a strong local following and a growing online presence, all while staying true to our mission: keep the hobby fun, fair, and accessible for everyone.

At the end of the day, I want people to know that when you walk into Gem City Collects, you’re not just walking into a shop — you’re walking into a community that loves what it does and cares about every collector who walks through the door.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I still remember the day I pitched my first no-hitter and hit my first home run — both on the same day. I went absolutely crazy! The sky was a perfect blue with bright white clouds, and it was hotter than an iron skillet. It’s one of those moments that sticks with you forever — everything just clicked that day, and I can still feel that rush every time I think about it.

Pricing:

• Singles range from .10 cents to $1,000+
• Hobby boxes range from $150 to up to $10,000
• Retail boxes range from $15-$80
• Retail packs $5-30
• Single Hobby packs range from $4-$100

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Gemcitycollects.com
• Linktree: http://linktr.ee/gemcitycollects