Inside VeeFriends: How Gary Vee Is Building the Next $100B IP in the Hobby with Zachary Owings

In this episode of _Collector Nation,_ Ryan Alford sits down with Zachary Owings from VeeFriends to break down how Gary Vee is building one of the most ambitious new IPs in the collectibles space. From Topps Chrome releases to sold-out products and secondary market explosions, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the brand.
Zach shares how VeeFriends is positioning itself as a long-term player in the hobby, blending storytelling, collectibles, and community to create something that goes far beyond traditional cards. The episode also dives into the tension between flippers, collectors, and investors—and why all three are essential to the growth of the hobby.
Ryan and Zach also explore why fictional IP could outperform sports cards in the future, how Topps plays a critical role in distribution, and what collectors are still missing about where the market is heading.
If you’re in the hobby—or thinking about getting in—this episode gives you a front-row seat to what’s coming next.
*🔑 Topics Covered*
* What VeeFriends actually is and how it’s being built
* The Topps partnership and why it matters
* Why VeeFriends products sell out so fast
* Flippers vs collectors vs investors (and why all matter)
* The future of fictional IP vs sports cards
* Building the next “Pokémon-level” brand
* How scarcity and demand drive the hobby
* Why most collectors are thinking about the market wrong

*🤝 Connect*
* Ryan Alford
👉ryanalford.com 👉instagram.com/ryanalford 👉linkedin.com/in/ryanalford

* Zachary Owings
👉 instagram.com/zacharyowings
👉linkedin.com/in/zacharyowings

* VeeFriends
👉veefriends.com