MarketWatch:
Artfest International, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company is targeting the $835 Million virtual sports memorabilia and social gaming market with the launch of its new e-commerce website www.artfestdirect.com on March 8, 2010.
For the first time, Artfest International’s new website will enable consumers to purchase fine sports art as well as sports memorabilia and collectibles directly from their favorite teams, players, and athletes. Sales in the Sports Memorabilia market as a whole declined by approximately 20% last year. However, according to a January 2010 report by the research firm, Inside Network, the U.S. market in 2010 for virtual goods is expected to reach $1.6 Billion, with $835 Million of which will be from social gaming and sports memorabilia.
Artfest International is launching this program through its call center, online, and directly through the Company’s partnership agreements with the Major Stadiums, as well as the hundreds of other professional and NCAA division I college sports teams across the country. Earlier this year, Artfest International opened a call center based on the direct marketing performance of companies including Herbalife, Mary Kay, Avon, and Tupperware Inc. Artfest International expects to increase its call center to over 2,000 members based on the expected revenue generated from the Artfestdirect.com program.
“We are excited about the launch of our new ‘Artfest Direct.com’ on March 1. With the way the direct sales market is heading in the sports memorabilia and fine art sector, consumers, teams, and the athletes will all benefit from our program,” stated Edward Vakser, CEO of Artfest International, Inc.
“Now, major athletes and celebrities can use their following and fans to sell and promote their products, by using our sports catalog to create a cash flow property for themselves,” explains Angie Tassan, Artfest CMO.
Logo from Artfest International