It started with 40 attendees in 2021; this weekend, the London Card Show expects around 4,000! That’s some growth, but then eBay, post-pandemic, has reported over 100% growth in trading cards in Europe alone, according to the event organisers.
At the event, there will be some high-profile live unboxings, special guests, and exclusive line-ups from sponsors who include Whatnot, Topps and PSA. For families, there’s a kid’s zone and a VR zone, too.
Geek Native has been lucky enough to talk to London Card Show’s CEO and founder, Harry Reynolds. On the menu was the thorny issue of fake cards and a machine that can spot them, what’s hot in Japan and a look at some trends.
What happens at the London Card Show?
The London Card Show is a two-day event that offers people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant card community, where they can buy, sell, trade, or simply enjoy the excitement of being part of one of the world’s fastest-growing hobbies. Whether they’re a beginner or a seasoned collector, There is something for everyone at the show whether you’re a beginner or a collector.
Alongside TCG and Sports Cards tables there are also a number of interactive activities such as the Kids Zone, VR Zone, Main Stage, Trade Zone and Celebrity Signings for people of all ages & interests. This February we have Carlton Cole, ex-WestHam player, and Lorcana illustrator Kenneth Anderson AKA CharacterCube at our signing table.
What counts as trading cards? Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, but what about football card stickers or playing cards?
Trading Card Games or TCG is any set of cards that can be played in a tournament/used to build a strategic deck and has trading elements, such as Pokémon, Magic, One Piece & Yu-Gi-oh etc.
There are also sports cards (football, NFL, Baseball, F1, Basketball etc.) and stickers that are solely for collecting and trading and can’t be used to play.
It’s said that since the pandemic, the trading card business has boomed, but how could a lockdown get people more interested in what is often face-to-face hobbies? Or isn’t that an accurate description?
We certainly noticed a boom in the trading card & collectable industry during the pandemic and it is actually when I discovered trading cards through my £1 to £1,000 challenge. I started collecting cards and noticed there was huge demand in the UK but no shows to facilitate this and host the fantastic community around it. So the London Card Show was born.
The industry thrives on Face-to-Face interaction at events and conventions. However, the pandemic bubble facilitated rapid growth and interest in the UK as well-known influencers like Logan Paul and Randolph began collecting Pokémon cards on their YouTube Channels so it put the trading card community in the limelight.
Are there corporate sponsors and big business at conventions like the London Card Show?
We are honoured to work with a number of sponsors at the London Card Show including some of the biggest companies in the collectable world such as PSA, Topps, Whatnot, Ebay, Vault x, Global Nostalgia, JSA and Goldin.
Which rookie of 2024 do you think will finish the year as the most expensive card?
In my opinion, the most impressive rookie from the sports world from the 2023 is CJ Stroud. A quarterback for the Houston Texans in the NFL. He came in to a very average team and helped them reach the play offs for the first time in 5 years.
Is there a vintage resurgence? Why do think that is?
I believe the entire trading card community is built on the love and interest in vintage cards. The hobby continues to grow with new releases and there is a new TCG with a loyal fanbase every year. However, in my opinion it all comes from the nostalgia and original love we all have for collecting cards from our childhood.
Vintage cards are also the most likely to contain value or appreciate over time and so there is interest as an investment.
Is there a risk of fake cards? When should collectors get the likes of PSA and Beckett involved?
Unfortunately, as in any industry, there will always be those looking to take advantage and so yes there is a risk of fake cards. There are a few tell-tale signs to spotting a fake card that grading companies like PSA detail online.
One of our silver sponsors Ace Grading bring along their fake testing machine to the show to showcase their process when receiving cards. It’s a comprehensive tool that scans the cards for imperfections and fakes
What’s the hottest trend out of Japan this year?
In the card community it’s definitely One Piece TCG. We’ve seen a big boom in its’ popularity over the last few months and is something we’re looking to including in the show in a much bigger way.
What can the hobby do to boost sustainability and eco-friendly options?
I’m no expert but I know most companies and big players within the card worlds have projects in place to become more sustainable and more eco-friendly. Something that makes sense to me:
Reducing the number of cards in each pack from 10 to 5 cards would save on reduce the carbon impact of production. It would also make cards more fun to collect as they would become more rare. A lot of those who buy packs are only looking for the rare card in a single pack and so most of the other cards get discarded. Reducing the numbers of cards in each pack would be an much more eco-friendly approach.
You’re at the Sandown Park Racecourse on the weekend of February 10 and 11. What hotel and food options do you recommend to people and families making the day or weekend trip?
We have food vans onsite selling Burgers, Chicken and Pizza as well as a tuck shop with snacks and drinks.
There are also plenty of dinner/hotel options along Esher Highstreet, where Sandown Park Racecourse is based.
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