Antiques shop in Whittlesey has transformed into Pokémon collectors paradise
A well-established antiques shop in Whittlesey has been transformed into haven for collectors of the popular Pokémon game cards.
Chris and Angela Barnes, who have run Core Collectibles and TCG, in Market Place, for five years say that over the last few months slightly more than three quarters of the shop has been devoted to the colourful Pokémon cards that sparked a collecting craze in the 1990s.
Mr Barnes said: “Basically we are antique dealers now turned Pokémon shop.
"And we have become so busy since the changeover.
He said: “We decided we needed to make a huge change as antiques as we know them are, in our opinion, on the decline.
"So we looked at what was a good seller for us and decided Pokémon was the way to go.
"So from December, we started the transition from antiques and collectables to Pokémon and wow, what an upsurge in footfall in the shop.
He added: “A big part of it for us is the enjoyment of seeing the smiles we get from all the families enjoying our shop – it is amazing.”
He said that while the shop had carried some Pokémon cards for about four years, it was never on the current scale.
He said: “We must have about 8,000 Pokémon cards now.
“It has been a gradual process from occupying a small part of the shop, then three cabinets, then half the shop and now about three quarters.
Mr Barnes said that both he and his wife collected the cards as did the rest of the immediate family.
"We have even started a collection for our new grandchild..
Mr Branes said: “I think the fact the cards are easy to handle helps make them popular.”
“There are investors in gold and silver who also invest in Pokémon cards.”
Why are Pokémon cards so valuable?
Pokémon trading cards first became fashionable in about 1999 and for a time were highly collectible.
Their popularity faded until about five years ago when YouTube influencers, particularly Logan Paul, latched on to the trading cards, which are linked to a Japanese animation franchise.
Since then their desirability has soared.
A Pokémon expert said: “Some cards can sell for £10,000 each or in some cases £30,000.
"At the moment, there is nothing else that is quicker to sell.”