SAN JOSE, Calif., July 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- eBay, one of the
world's most dynamic marketplaces, is partnering with PROVA Group
and founder Emmitt Smith to
officially offer its witnessed authentication services to the
marketplace's 182 million global shoppers. Starting today, sellers
can use PROVA Group's services to verify their items as legitimate,
and buyers can rest assured they are getting exactly what they pay
for. To further demonstrate the authenticity and legitimacy of
PROVA Group's SmarTag™ technology, the partners are hosting an
exclusive auction event at ebay.com/Emmitt22, now through
7pm PT on August 5, featuring a breadth of verified sports
cards and memorabilia from Smith's own personal collection.
A majority of proceeds will go to Smith's charitable
organization, Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, and their efforts to
support underserved children with a focus on leadership
development, school readiness and college scholarships.
"By partnering with PROVA Group, eBay is taking collector
confidence to a whole new level by ensuring the value and
historical information associated with each PROVA-tagged
collectible is legit," said Smith. "The marketplace's values of
trust, value and selection squarely align with PROVA Group's, and
it was only natural to bring our verification services to eBay's
customers. Together with eBay, we can connect millions of sports
memorabilia enthusiasts with an amazing selection of one-of-a-kind
collectibles verified by our service."
"As a preferred shopping destination for collectors of sports
memorabilia looking for a wide variety of rare and desirable
inventory, it's incredibly important to eBay that we can verify
those items are legitimate," said Steve
Halupka, Vertical Manager, Sports Memorabilia at eBay. "This
commitment is shared by Mr. Smith and the PROVA Group team, and
together, with PROVA Group's modern witnessed authentication
process, we're able to expand eBay's authentication services and a
shopper's confidence when they turn to us for that special addition
to their collection."
How PROVA Group authentication works
When purchasing
a signed jersey or game-used football for their collection, fans
want to trust that the item is as expected. To meet that need, eBay
welcomes PROVA Group as an official authentication partner to
provide verification in these easy steps:
- Tag it - Each authenticated item receives a PROVA
SmarTagTM placed by an authorized PROVA team member; the
tag is then linked to a PROVA SmartCOATM, an item's
document of authenticity.
- Scan it - After tagging, PROVA Group scans the SmarTag to have
associated authentication data stored securely in the cloud.
- Authenticate it - Authentication is as easy as a quick look-up
via provagroup.com.
- Sell it… Or don't - Whether keeping or selling the item,
collectors can track their memorabilia via the LEGIT by PROVA app
and share an item's authenticity anytime, anywhere.
Explore sports fans' dream shopping event
In
celebration of the partnership, eBay and PROVA Group are curating
an exclusive selection of authenticated memorabilia, gear and merch
sourced directly from Emmitt Smith's
own collection. From trading cards and limited edition coins to
game-issued helmets and more, shoppers can find that rare item they
are looking for at ebay.com/Emmitt22. PROVA-tagged merch curated
directly from Smith includes:
- 1993 NFC Championship touchdown ball
- Game-used blue Cowboys jersey
- Cardinals vs. Patriots game-used jersey
- Salvino Prestige Series figure
- Autographed, Super Bowl XXX issue of "Sports Illustrated" from
February 1996 when the Cowboys beat
the Steelers
In addition to finding a piece of football history, shoppers can
rest assured they are supporting a good cause, as proceeds go to
sustaining programs that are at the forefront of Smith's charitable
organization, Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities.
Go LIVE! with Emmitt Smith
during a one-of-a-kind NotableEvent
For mega fans,
Emmitt Smith is hosting a virtual
meet-and-greet on Sunday, August 2
via his mobile Events platform, Notable Live, where participants
can ask questions about his new partnership with eBay and bid on
even more LIVE! Auction items from his personal collection.
Fans can register for the LIVE! with Emmitt Smith & eBay Event
at events.notable.live, and download the Notable Live app from
the App Store or on Google Play to join the conversation on the day
of the Event. For more information about the LIVE! Auction items
that will be available via Notable Live and details about how it
works, visit www.notable.live/events.
Shoppers can head to ebay.com/Emmitt22 now to shop authenticated
items for auction, and follow @eBay on Twitter, Instagram and
Facebook to see the latest sports merch and memorabilia offerings.
Fans can also follow Smith at @emmittsmith22 on Twitter, Instagram,
and Facebook.
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global
commerce leader including the Marketplace and Classifieds
platforms. Collectively, we connect millions of buyers and sellers
around the world, empowering people and creating opportunity for
all. Founded in 1995 in San Jose,
California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most
vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique
selection.
About Notable Live
Notable Live was founded in 2018
by Mike Antonucci, a fan, and
Emmitt Smith and Pat Smith, a pair of notables, to create
face-to-face, virtual interactions between fans and their favorite
notables via a one-of-a-kind LIVE! interactive platform. Notable
Live is a mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play
that grants fans real access to notables by putting them "in the
room" together for unforgettable virtual experiences. Connect with
Notable Live at www.notable.live or
on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
About PROVA Group, Inc.
PROVA Group, Inc. was founded
by NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Emmitt Smith, a man with first-hand experience
with the effects of fraud in the collectibles marketplace. Using
modern technology, PROVA Group has developed a lifetime provenance
system that closes the gaps in today's witnessed authentication
practices and adds accountability where little to none currently
exists. It strives to build fan loyalty by empowering the
consumer with real answers, legit experiences, and assurance in a
marketplace where the leading options are no longer the best
options. Connect with PROVA Group, Inc. at www.provagroup.com.
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SOURCE eBay Inc.