From humble beginnings as a Gameboy game to its latest incarnation as cultural phenomenon Pokémon GO, Pokémon is one of the most recognisable global brands. It currently stands as the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, having generated over $100 billion in revenue since its inception*.
One of its most loved and long-standing instalments, however, is the Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG). First launched in 1996, over 30 billion Pokémon cards have been printed and sold around the world since. But the last few years in particular have seen an unprecedented frenzy, with sellers realising the potential fortune that can be made from old cards kept in pristine condition.
To mark National Pokémon Day (27 February), we wanted to take a trip down memory lane to chart the evolution of the PTCG - and how eBay’s Collectable Card Games category has also evolved on this journey. Including a look at the trading cards you should keep an eye out for, and how a hobby turned into a fully fledged business for one savvy eBay seller.
A Blastoise from the past
From 90s kids trading cards in the playground, to nostalgic millennials capturing Pokémon on their smartphones, part of the reason behind Pokémon’s longevity has been its ability to evolve with its audience.
However, there’s no denying that its recent resurgence was also accelerated by the pandemic. Suddenly, many people had more time on their hands, which served as a catalyst for old hobbies being rediscovered - and spare rooms, lofts and garages being cleared out in abundance.
In the process, many Pokémon card binders were unearthed, searches on eBay surged, and side hustles were born. In 2020 alone, overall trading card sales climbed a record 142% on eBay - and Pokémon led the pack averaging five card sales a minute. By Q1 of 2021, listings of Pokémon cards were up 1,046% on eBay.
As demand has continued to grow, so has the value of the rarest cards - as shown by some of the world's most expensive Pokémon card sales**:
- Pikachu Illustrator, sold for $5.275 million in July 2021
- 1999 First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard, sold for $420,000 in March 2022
- Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram, sold for $360,000 in January 2021
Fast-forward to today and the momentum is still going strong. Following the recent announcement that Ash and Pikachu would be departing the Pokémon television series after 25 years, monthly eBay searches for the iconic duo had risen by almost 200%***.
Similarly, eBay searches for Crown Zenith - the final set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s current Sword and Shield era - rocketed 11,000% following its reveal in November 2022***.
Seller Spotlight: Neo Cards & Collectables
Video: Neo Cards & Collectables
During the pandemic, Rich was one of many people to find himself with extra time on his hands after being furloughed. To fill the void—and make a bit of extra cash—he decided to start selling his childhood games consoles, video games and Pokémon cards on eBay.
He quickly realised that trading cards sold very well. So, with his early profits, he purchased more stock from a wholesale games company and continuously reinvested any earnings to keep expanding his inventory.
Listing by listing, Rich has scaled his business, Neo Card & Collectables, to where it is today. He also credits a lot of this success to engaging with the online Pokémon community, and building a reputation as a trusted business seller on eBay.
The story of Neo Cards & Collectables—and many other eBay businesses in the category—is testament to the ongoing evolution of this much cherished franchise. And as long as there’s Pokémon, there will always be a committed community of enthusiasts collecting, trading and flipping their cards on eBay.
So, why not start selling today?
* Statista
** Dicebreaker
*** Dicebreaker
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