Holmdel Man Launches Online Sports Memorabilia Platform

HOLMDEL, NJ — You might one run into former NBA player Chris Mullin on the street and get the chance to ask him for an autograph. You might even happen to have a basketball on your hands, for some reason.

While odds of that happening probably aren't very high, if you're a fan of the two-time Olympic gold medalist, one sure-fire way to get an autographed basketball from him is to buy it directly from Signd, a website launched in November where customers can browse through their favorite icons and get an item signed personally for them.

"Most people are fans of music, sports, film and/or TV and do not have the opportunity to interact with their favorite icons," Signd founder Howard Margolies, 54, told Patch.

On the other side, Margolies also noticed that for some former athletes it wasn't easy to make money off of their sports careers once they retire.

"I have friends that played professional sports and know that sometimes opportunities for them to capitalize on their playing careers can be limited, depending on the players of course. So, thinking about the gaps in both areas, I wanted to bring that fan/icon connectivity to as many fans and Icons as possible," Margolies said.

The businessman partnered with NFL Alumni Ventures and other similar organizations in order to connect with former players.

"One of the strongest and passionate relationships exists between a player and a fan, and professional football has one of the most rabid and loyal fan bases on the planet," said Craig Richardson, Managing Director of NFL Alumni Ventures. "When a player retires, the relationship between the player and the fan can become fragmented as the player isn’t as visible anymore. Our partnership with Signd allows our athlete members to stay directly connected with their fan bases."

One other unique feature the website offers is that signed objects come paired with a personal video experience.

The list of celebrities on the website includes also musicians, different types of entertainers and actors. Among the growing list of icons are five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardway, former professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. and music artist Waka Flocka.

Margolies grew up in Long Island and moved to New Jersey 18 years ago. He lived in Red Bank for a few years and is now a Holmdel resident.

Although he hasn't worked with memorabilia before Signd, Margolies has been involved in different entrepreneurial opportunities. He spent most of his career in the health insurance industry and retired in June 2021.

"My first real business was a costume jewelry business I started in high school and had a booth at the local Flea Market in Commack LI," Margolies said. "Signd is a different business, as it provides great opportunities and memories for all involved."

Margolies is naturally a big sports fan.

"We are Jets season ticket holders and for us it is all about the tailgate, as that is what we can control," he said. "Our family and friends have been tailgating together for 20+ years. I enjoy memorabilia that has a special meaning or that I have a connection with."

Margolies said that one of his goals with the company is to be able to donate $1,000,000 to charities by the end of 2024.

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