RSR Autographs Brings Innovation to Card Collecting with Unique Trading Card Autograph Holder
RSR Autographs Brings Innovation to Card Collecting with Unique Trading Card Autograph Holder
In the world of sports memorabilia, securing autographs while protecting prized trading cards has long been a challenge—until now. RSR Autographs, a veteran-owned small business, is making waves in the card collecting community with a one-of-a-kind product: the Trading Card Autograph Holder.
The company was founded by Connor Shepherd, his uncle Allen Ruggles, and friend Trevor Roton. Together, they turned a simple idea into a growing brand that’s quickly gaining traction with collectors and athletes alike.
“It all started originally with my Uncle Allen Ruggles,” said Connor Shepherd, Owner of RSR Autographs. “He invented the Trading Card Autograph Clipboard. He wasn’t really doing anything with it because he worked full time and traveled often—he just enjoyed making things that could be useful.”
When Ruggles gave his prototype to Shepherd, it sparked an idea.
“I told him we could totally turn this into a business,” Shepherd said. “We redesigned the clipboard and turned it into what you see today—the Trading Card Autograph Holder.”
With Roton building the website www.rsrautographs.com, the trio launched RSR Autographs—an acronym drawn from the first letter of each of their last names: Ruggles, Shepherd, Roton. Collectively, they bring over 50 years of experience as collectors in the trading card and memorabilia world.
“What makes our product stand out is that it’s one of a kind,” said Shepherd. “Most graphers either use a cardboard cutout and painters tape to get their autos. Our holder is a simple but sleek design that most athletes and celebrities aren’t used to seeing.”
The innovation isn’t just in presentation—it’s in protection. The Trading Card Autograph Holder helps shield cards from the potential wear and tear of in-person signing.
“It protects your card from any unwanted damage that handing a card over can cause,” Shepherd explained. “Having the ability to hand over our holder and have no worries if it gets dropped—or anything random that can happen—is appealing to all collectors that care about their cards.”
The response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our customers have been truly phenomenal,” said Shepherd. “We’ve only received positive feedback from people who have used our holders.”
Even athletes themselves have taken note.
“The feedback we’ve gotten from guys like Matt Strahm (Phillies All-Star pitcher) and Justin Morneau (former Twins MVP) has been super positive,” said Shepherd. “Many athletes say they’ve never seen anything like it and how easy it is for them to sign the cards and keep it moving.”
One common request from customers has been for holders that can accommodate more than two cards at once. While that feature is still a goal for the future, Shepherd says the cost and complexity of production and patents means patience is required.
“Unfortunately, it isn’t exactly a cheap process to create and patent an invention,” Shepherd said. “We’re just a few guys building this from the ground up. But if we keep growing and developing our brand, hopefully someday soon we can make holders that hold more than two cards at a time.”
In addition to their innovation and passion for the hobby, RSR Autographs takes pride in being veteran-owned.
“Myself and my uncle are both Army veterans,” said Shepherd. “We feel blessed to be able to make someone’s day whenever they buy a holder and put it to use.”
From protecting collectibles to changing how autographs are gathered, RSR Autographs is leaving its mark on the hobby—one signature at a time.
“It’s all about the autograph,” said Shepherd. “Thank you so much simply for the opportunity to share our story and to help us get the word out about our little business in the hobby of card collecting.”
To learn more or to shop the Trading Card Autograph Holder, visit www.rsrautographs.com.
