![]() ![]() Rather, if they see that a founder or CEO is a collector, participates in industry podcasts or live shows, and engages with others on social media, they will be that much more likely to support a company’s new marketplace or portfolio management solution. Card collectors looking to interact with the hobby in new, innovative ways aren’t only going to be drawn to a platform’s unique offering or cheaper price point. I don’t think a startup can be successful in the hobby if it is being led by a CEO or others who are invisible and don’t immerse themselves in the industry. And in this space, where no matter how big it grows it will always feel like a tight-knit ecosystem, putting customers first, not forgoing or forgetting the longstanding traditions of the hobby, and being authentic at all times are critical for companies looking to gain a mass following. They know that if they can achieve critical mass and the backbone of the hobby supports them, they will have a greater chance of being successful. Building community is imperative for startups in the industry to be successful. So many companies can be successful just by providing the most seamless experience for customers, a solution that’s better than current offerings, or a lower price point than competitors, but in the hobby, it takes much more than that. ![]() In other industries, community isn’t always an important component of a startup’s success. What are critical components of card businesses’ success? Is it the same as running any other business or are there unique aspects of operating in this industry that must be considered? What can companies do today to position themselves for the future? There will be companies that are ultimately able to be acquired for several hundred million dollars (see: TCGplayer ) and there will be those that will run out of funding and have to stop doing business. Unfortunately, the economy doesn’t work like that and there will be winners and losers. In an ideal scenario, everyone would be successful and as the hobby continues to grow, all boats would be lifted by the rising tide. ![]() For each of the trends I shared, there are multiple different startups helping support that shift in the market. This is all to say that the hobby has changed a lot in such a short time, and both the number of people and companies in the space have grown tremendously. Now, they are common with multiple different platforms supporting their growth. Now, there are a handful of startups offering “portfolio management” and “real-time price tracking.” A decade ago, group breaks were happening but only in the dark corners of the hobby. 10 years ago, there weren’t any mainstream ways to track your collection and how much it is worth from one day to the next. Now, there are a number of reputable platforms that can facilitate transactions just as securely. A few examples…When I was collecting in middle school, eBay was the end all be all if you wanted to sell your cards quickly and safely online. If you take a step back, it is really interesting to think about how the hobby has evolved over the last decade, or even just the last two years. ![]()
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