Building Authentic Conversations in The Hobby
Hailing from Queens, New York, Tiffany Bux has built her career around connecting sports fans and collectors through community and storytelling. Now serving as a Community Manager for Social Media at Fanatics, Tiffany brings over a decade of experience in live sports entertainment, event production, and digital engagement.
Today, Tiffany focuses on engaging with collectors across social platforms, amplifying the voices of the Hobby community, and helping shape authentic conversations that bring fans closer to the game and the cards they love.
Tiffany Bux is a Community Manager for Social Media at Fanatics, helping connect collectors with Topps and the trading card hobby online. Her background in live sports entertainment — including roles with the Mets, Knicks, and Rangers — shaped her approach to building authentic fan engagement across social platforms.
RIPPED: As a Community Manager of Social Media at Fanatics, what did your path to this role look like, and were there any pivotal moments that shaped your career in sports and collectibles?
Tiffany Bux: “I took a very interesting road to become the Community Manager for Topps Social Media. Before Topps, I worked in live sports and arena event presentation, specifically for the New York Mets, Knicks, and Rangers. I am a former MLB mascot performer, as well as an in-game host for the Westchester Knicks.
“Through these fan-forward and production-based roles, I developed relationships with fans and became a representative for their communities. Eventually, the perfect fit became the Community Manager role. Over the last year and a half, I’ve made many personal connections with collectors in the same way I did with fans in the arenas.”
How did you first break into this field, and what steps did you take early on to build a career in sports, social media, and The Hobby?
“I began working at Madison Square Garden and Citi Field on their hype teams and eventually moved more toward the production side rather than strictly fan-facing roles. I helped produce major events, including one that was very near and dear to my heart as a lifelong Rangers fan — Henrik Lundqvist’s jersey retirement at Madison Square Garden.
“After leaving arenas and live sports, I began freelancing for the YES Network social media channels, managing and posting across all accounts during games. This included clipping pregame, in-game, and post-game content to give fans live updates. I also worked several live events and conventions. Several of those events were for Topps, including NY Comic Con 2023, Fanatics Fest 2024, and NY Comic Con 2024. Working those events began my journey into The Hobby and helped form my foundation in trading card knowledge.”
What does a typical day look like for you as Community Manager, Social Media at Fanatics? What platforms, priorities, and conversations take up most of your time?
“A typical day for me involves heavily engaging with collectors and other high-level accounts, including our license partners and top athletes. Instagram is the biggest priority for engagement, with TikTok being a close second. Engagement helps bring in a new audience and grow our accounts.
“I also closely monitor conversations collectors are having about their collecting journeys and experiences. I generally see those conversations on X and Facebook. If I see a conversation continuing to gain traction or go viral, I escalate those moments internally in hopes that we can address any concerns and make positive changes.”
From a social media strategy standpoint, how do you decide what content will resonate most with collectors in The Hobby, and what type of interactions do you usually have?
“Generally, collectors love seeing other collectors win. For example, a young collector pulling a 1/1 in a hobby shop, or a collector completing a rainbow. These moments resonate with our audience because they understand the emotional significance of those experiences.
“I always engage with these moments when they’re first posted, and we often share them across our newer, account-specific Instagram pages. I also love commenting with GIFs on front-facing accounts. One of my most successful GIF comments received 27K likes with the WWE audience because it was timely, appropriate, and connected emotionally with the audience.”
How do you balance real-time engagement, brand voice, and community expectations across social platforms?
“Balancing real-time engagement, brand voice, and community expectations comes down to being authentic, timely, and attentive. Collectors value genuine interaction, so it’s important that our voice feels human and rooted in The Hobby rather than overly corporate.
“My background in live sports helps me react quickly to big moments while keeping the tone consistent and emotionally resonant. At the same time, I actively monitor conversations across platforms to understand feedback and escalate concerns when needed. Ultimately, it’s about showing up as part of the community while representing the brand with integrity.”
How do you stay ahead of trends while still protecting the integrity of the brand?
“Social media moves fast and comes in waves, so staying ahead of trends requires constant monitoring and understanding what will genuinely resonate with our audience. I pay close attention to platform trends, viral moments, and conversations within The Hobby to identify opportunities that feel natural for the brand to join.
“At the same time, not every trend is the right fit. Protecting brand integrity means only participating in moments that align with our voice, partners, and community values. It’s about being timely without being forced and making sure everything we post still feels authentically Topps.”
How important is representation in sports and The Hobby, and how do you reflect that through Fanatics’ and Topps’ social channels?
“Representation is incredibly important because visibility helps grow the game and The Hobby for the next generation of collectors and fans. When people see athletes, creators, and collectors who look like them being celebrated, it reinforces that they belong in these spaces.
“Across Fanatics and Topps social channels, we prioritize highlighting women athletes, creators, and collectors — not just during Women’s History Month, but year-round. It’s about telling authentic stories, amplifying real voices, and making sure our platforms reflect the full diversity and passion of the community.”
For women looking to build careers in sports, The Hobby, or social media, what advice would you give them — and what skills are most important to develop right now?
“My biggest advice is to confidently pursue every opportunity that excites you and focus on building meaningful relationships along the way. This industry thrives on passion, creativity, and connection, so being dependable, adaptable, and proactive will set you apart.
“Strengthening your communication skills, staying current with platform trends, and understanding how to interpret engagement data are all incredibly valuable right now. Most importantly, believe that your voice belongs in these spaces. The sports and Hobby communities grow stronger, more innovative, and more dynamic when diverse perspectives help lead the conversation.”
Topps Women’s History Month FAQs
- Who is Tiffany Bux at Fanatics?
- Tiffany Bux is a Community Manager for Social Media at Fanatics who helps manage engagement across Topps social media channels and interacts directly with collectors across the trading card hobby.
- What does a social media community manager do in The Hobby?
- A community manager monitors conversations, engages with collectors, responds to trends, and helps amplify collector stories across social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
- How did Tiffany Bux get into sports and collectibles?
- Bux began her career working in arena entertainment for the Mets, Knicks, and Rangers before moving into social media production and eventually joining Topps and Fanatics.
- What platforms are most important for trading card collectors?
- Instagram and TikTok are key discovery platforms, while X and Facebook often host deeper community discussions among collectors.
- Why is community engagement so important for trading card brands?
- Engagement helps brands connect with collectors, highlight Hobby moments like big pulls, and maintain authentic conversations within the Hobby community.
Key Facts
- Tiffany Bux works as Community Manager for Social Media at Fanatics
- Previously worked with New York Mets, Knicks, and Rangers
- Former MLB mascot performer and in-game host
- Helps manage collector engagement across Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook
- Events work including NY Comic Con and Fanatics Fest
