The Heart of the Hobby: Bringing Back the Joy of Collecting

It wasn’t that long ago that collecting trading cards meant something different. There was a time when the thrill came from flipping through a binder, admiring your favourite players or characters, and proudly showing off a complete set to friends, not checking the PSA population report or watching eBay comps tick up and down.

But somewhere along the journey, things shifted.

We started chasing numbers more than the Nostalgic Feeling. Value became the new focus, and cost took the place of memories. Rare parallels, one-of-ones, and grading submissions now dominate conversations that used to revolve around favourite teams, characters, or the simple excitement of pack-pulling something unexpected.

This isn’t to say that the investment side of the hobby doesn’t have its place; it absolutely does. There's something undeniably exciting about finding a card today that's worth more tomorrow. But when profit becomes the only purpose, we lose part of what made collecting magical in the first place.

So, how do we bring that feeling back?

It starts by remembering why we started. Whether it was your first pack from the corner shop, a hand-me-down binder from a sibling, or a favourite card you kept in your pocket as a kid — those moments still matter.

Let’s refocus on community, storytelling, and connection. Here’s how that could work:

- Display your collection, not just your slabs. Organise your favourite cards by memory or meaning, not market value.

- Share the stories behind your cards. That card you pulled on your birthday? The one you traded for during school lunch? Those stories are the true rarity.

 - Support smaller breaks and community collectors. Not everything has to be a high-stakes chase.

- Give back. Trade instead of always selling. Gift a pack to someone new to the hobby. Start a binder for a younger family member.

- Collect for you, not the comps.

There’s still room for value in the hobby — but let it be the bonus, not the reason.

Because when the cards go up or down in price, the memories you made with them hold their worth. Every single time.