3rd Down Pulled

Do Card Vendors Need Content Now? Phil, Stateside Sports | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben catches up with Phil from Stateside Sports at the end of a long, hot weekend at London Card Show. Phil talks about getting his wife into women's football cards (and how it's now doubled the spending), Stateside doing singles at a show for the first time, and the haggling that comes with it: one more card in, one card out, cash or no cash, until you've lost track completely. He also explains why Stateside's laid-back approach works for them, what's next for the stand, and why he thinks content and cards can't be separated any more if you want to grow in the hobby. Follow Phil on Instagram @stateside_phil and Stateside Sports @statesidesportscards Chapters 00:00 Getting the wife into women's cards 01:00 Doing singles for the first time 01:22 "If anyone wants to rob me, just do that" 02:16 Laid-back and easy to deal with 02:44 Branding and a tablecloth next 03:16 Getting the team on camera 04:12 Why content and cards go together now 04:50 Wrap-up Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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Do Card Show Vendors Really Make Loads of Money? Charlie, Aces Sports Cards | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined live at London Card Show by Charlie from Aces Sports Cards, a seasoned vendor and a familiar face in our content. Charlie takes us through how he gets ready for a big show: hours in a waiting room just to get a table, then six to eight weeks of buying stock he won't sell anywhere but at the show. He explains why he steers clear of the trends and goes for the GOATs, why an old Big Man on Court insert is worth having on the table even if it doesn't sell straight away, and what's happening with Wembanyama, Zion and Yamal. He also gets honest about the side people don't see: pricing until 2am the night before, sourcing cards from America into the early hours, and the myth that vendors are making loads of money. Plus how his first table at London started with cards from breaks, his tips for anyone thinking about vending for the first time, and the oddest corner of his PC. Follow Charlie on Instagram @aces_sportscards Chapters 00:00 The smoothest man in the hobby 00:34 Getting a table and building stock 01:03 Regulars, not trends 01:48 Going for the GOATs 02:19 Base cards as fire starters 02:49 Stocking something different 03:32 The Big Man on Court insert 04:39 Legends and a stable market 05:06 Wembanyama, Zion and buying the hype 06:44 Yamal and the World Cup dip 07:38 Pricing until 2am 07:59 It's about the people 08:51 The vendor money myth 10:02 His first table at London 10:53 Tips for first-time vendors 12:22 Streamers who never go to shows 13:12 Weekend goals and a very odd PC 14:00 Taylor Swift, a Titanic card and the wrap Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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How Did a FIFA Streamer End Up Breaking Cards Full-Time? Plute Collects | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined live at London Card Show by Ben Placito from Plute Collects, who went from streaming FIFA on TikTok to breaking cards full-time. Ben tells us how a trip to the show with his old school mates got him into cards three years ago, why he gives so much energy on his breaks, and how he approaches a show like this as a vlogger. He's honest about burnout after four years of full-time content, and why switching off is so hard in the hobby. We also get into his personal collection (Raphinha, Leeds and Barcelona, and a Raphinha Superfractor 1/1 off for grading), the PSA 10 he bought for a tenner as his first graded card, why he's desperate to get to The National, the breaking mat 3rd Down made for him, and the Ronaldinho autograph he's saving for next. Chapters 00:00 Intro: from FIFA streaming to full-time breaking 00:49 Bringing the energy on TikTok breaks 01:50 Winging it: vlogging at the show 02:30 Burnout and switching off 03:24 The PC: Raphinha, Leeds and Barcelona 04:14 Collector first 04:30 A PSA 10 for a tenner 04:56 What host Ben collects: Disney and more 05:48 The National and the American shows 07:08 The 3rd Down breaking mat 07:47 Sunday deals and an £80 budget 08:19 Saving for a Ronaldinho auto 08:43 Wrap-up Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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What Happens When You Sell Your Car for NFL Cards? Stokesy | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined live at London Card Show by Liam Stokes, better known as Stokesy, from Stateside Sports. Stokesy tells the story of how Stateside started: his business partner Planty sold his car to fund their first NFL box break, and they didn't take a penny out of the business for six years before both going full-time this year. They talk about vending singles for the first time, a Disney Sapphire buy that paid for itself, and why getting content out is the hardest part of the job. Fresh back from The National, Stokesy shares his tips for first-timers, from staying in downtown Chicago to clearing US immigration in Dublin. He also covers the passport that went through the washing machine, an accidental trade night in the hotel bar, the vintage hall, and how he blew the weekend's budget in the first hour. Follow Stokesy on Instagram @stateside_stokesy and Stateside Sports @statesidesportscards for their next NFL night. Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Mr Stateside 00:19 Content and the editing bottleneck 03:06 Vending singles for the first time 04:13 The Disney Sapphire buy that paid for itself 06:37 How Stateside started: Planty sells his car 09:23 First vs second National 11:02 An accidental hotel trade night 13:22 Doing The National as a business 15:28 Tips for doing The National 17:44 The passport in the washing machine 20:37 Dealing at The National 23:54 The vintage hall 25:39 Tables for the weekend at London Card Show 26:23 Blowing the budget in an hour 27:55 Wrap-up and the Stateside NFL night Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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What Happens When You Sell Your Car for NFL Cards? Stokesy | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined live at London Card Show by Liam Stokes, better known as Stokesy, from Stateside Sports. Stokesy tells the story of how Stateside started: his business partner Planty sold his car to fund their first NFL box break, and they didn't take a penny out of the business for six years before both going full-time this year. They talk about vending singles for the first time, a Disney Sapphire buy that paid for itself, and why getting content out is the hardest part of the job. Fresh back from The National, Stokesy shares his tips for first-timers, from staying in downtown Chicago to clearing US immigration in Dublin. He also covers the passport that went through the washing machine, an accidental trade night in the hotel bar, the vintage hall, and how he blew the weekend's budget in the first hour. Follow Stokesy on Instagram @stateside_stokesy and Stateside Sports @statesidesportscards for their next NFL night. Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Mr Stateside 00:34 Content and the editing bottleneck 03:21 Vending singles for the first time 04:28 The Disney Sapphire buy that paid for itself 06:52 How Stateside started: Planty sells his car 09:38 First vs second National 11:17 An accidental hotel trade night 13:37 Doing The National as a business 15:43 Tips for doing The National 17:59 The passport in the washing machine 20:52 Dealing at The National 24:09 The vintage hall 25:54 Tables for the weekend at London Card Show 26:38 Blowing the budget in an hour 28:10 Wrap-up and the Stateside NFL night Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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How Does a Kid From Soviet Lithuania End Up With Jordan Rookies? Arunas | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined live at London Card Show by Arunas (@arunasb_ltu). He grew up in Soviet Lithuania with nothing to buy, not even chewing gum, and now he turns up at The National with Jordans and Curry rookie autos. His first cards came from neighbours visiting from America: two packs of Hoops shared between eight kids, two cards each. He still has his Don Nelson coach card, and explains why it means more to him than any Jordan rookie. He talks about buying hobby boxes every payday while living in London, hitting Steph Curry rookies, grading, and why he'll happily upgrade a card and sell the lower grade. He also gives a tour of the European show scene, from the Nordic Card Show to Poland, France, Spain and Germany, and shares his advice on buying basketball cards, the lessons from buying the Luka hype, and the sealed Prism case he's saving for his birthday. Follow Arunas on Instagram @arunasb_ltu Chapters 00:00 Intro: the International Man of Mystery 01:06 Growing up in the Soviet Union 02:48 The Don Nelson card and 1992 04:58 Hobby boxes in London and Curry rookies 07:31 Grading, upgrading and the US mindset 10:04 Grails and sentimental value 11:10 Card shows across Europe 16:02 Getting to UK shows 17:20 Selling Jordans at The National 18:20 Where to start with basketball cards 20:16 Buying the hype: lessons from Luka 22:05 Saving a Prism case for his birthday 23:03 Wrap-up Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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Is Golf the Next Big Thing in Cards? From the Recliner | 3rd Down Pulled

From the Recliner joins us live on the 3rd Down stand at London Card Show, fresh off a summer of Fanatics Fest and The National. We talk about why golf could be the next big sport in cards, getting lost in vintage at The National, and how twelve months in the hobby turned Instagram photos of his cards into a content brand. We also cover sports and Pokémon collectors crossing over, the real recliner behind the name, and a bit of NFL chat. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:18 Welcome back to London Card Show 00:28 Day one on the other side of the table 01:44 Goals for the weekend 02:12 A run of shows, from Fanatics Fest to The National 02:53 Golf cards: the next big thing? 04:46 Getting lost in vintage at The National 05:48 Twelve months in the hobby 06:24 How the content started 07:51 Finding an audience 08:30 The hobby as a happy place 09:12 Sports and Pokémon collectors crossing over 10:11 Where the name "From the Recliner" comes from 11:08 A Sunday sports recap? 11:30 This weekend's chase and the PC 12:16 NFL talk: the Vikings and Soldier Field 13:56 Wrap-up Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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From UK Box Breaks to The National: Luke from The Hobby Box | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined by Luke from The Hobby Box, to talk about his journey from breaking cards in the UK to building The Hobby Box and helping create the International Pavilion at The National. They discuss the growth of the card show scene in the UK and Europe, advice for collectors and vendors, the soccer card market, turning the hobby into a business, and the rise of Topps Chrome Disney. Luke also shares what he learned from some of the biggest shows in the US and what's next for The Hobby Box. Follow Luke on Instagram @thehobbybox_luke Chapters 00:00 Meet Luke from The Hobby Box 05:30 From UK box breaks to The Hobby Box 08:50 £1 starts and growing on Whatnot 17:22 Building The National's International Pavilion 30:55 CLA Cards and the next generation 34:35 Comparing the biggest card shows 48:50 The European card show scene 53:50 Advice for collectors and vendors 58:12 The soccer market after the World Cup 1:05:56 Collecting, investing and hobby education 1:10:52 Turning the hobby into a career 1:18:05 The rise of Topps Chrome Disney 1:50:13 Quick fire and what's next Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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From a Paper Round to Vending at The National — CLA Cards | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined by the father-and-son team behind CLA Cards to talk about how a paper round, a few small card purchases, and a love for the NFL grew into their card business. They talk through the early days of collecting, learning how to buy and trade at shows, and what they look for when deciding whether a card is worth picking up. They also get into what makes unusual cards stand out, selling online versus in person, dealing with repackers, and all the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep inventory organised and ready for shows. They share how they prepared for their first time vending at the biggest card show in the US, what they're hoping to trade for, and some of the cards they're taking with them. Later, they discuss the growth of the UK NFL hobby, overrated players and sets, favourite cards, deals they wish they could take back, grading a Tom Brady rookie auto, and what could be next for CLA Cards. Chapters 00:00 Meet CLA Cards 06:00 From collecting to vending 13:30 Selling online vs in person 18:00 Learning from bad buys 22:10 Preparing for The National 30:10 Repacks and moving inventory 36:25 The growth of the UK NFL hobby 42:20 Card sets and player markets 52:20 Managing inventory 55:10 Advice for new collectors 1:02:00 The future of CLA Cards 1:09:55 Grading a Tom Brady rookie auto Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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Vending at The National & Soccer Cards in the US — Grails by Gus | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined by Gus (Grails by Gus) ahead of his first time vending at The National in Chicago. Gus explains what makes The National different from UK shows, his tips for first-timers, the International Pavilion and the soccer section, and how he prepares to vend in the US. They also get into negotiating with American collectors, pricing rare cards, the vintage hall, and his favourite National stories from trade nights and dinners. Follow Gus on Instagram @grailsbygus Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:15 Vending at The National for the first time 05:00 What makes The National different 08:45 Meeting US collectors 10:00 First-timer tips 13:45 The soccer section and International Pavilion 17:30 Preparing to vend in the US 21:15 Taking football cards to America 26:15 Negotiating in the US vs the UK 27:30 Pricing rare cards 31:15 The vintage hall 35:00 Soccer at The National 36:15 Favourite National stories 38:45 Chicago, dinners and trade nights 43:30 What Gus is bringing Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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Building London Card Show, From Day One to ExCeL — Harry | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined by Harry, CEO of London Card Show, to talk about building Europe's biggest trading card show from the ground up. Harry explains how he got back into cards, the gap he saw in UK card shows, and the years of work behind the first ExCeL London show. They also talk about the team behind the show, working with vendors and sponsors, launching TCG Fest and Sports Fest, why content creators matter, his trips to Fanatics Fest and The National, bringing PSA and Goldin to the UK, and what's next for London Card Show. Follow London Card Show on Instagram @londoncardshow Chapters 00:00 Meet Harry from London Card Show 01:34 From collector to event founder 05:31 Growing London Card Show 08:22 Moving to ExCeL London 15:08 Vendors, sponsors and the team 21:20 TCG Fest and Sports Fest 24:31 Supporting UK content creators 31:20 Fanatics Fest and The National 35:45 Bringing PSA and Goldin to the UK 41:21 The future of the UK hobby Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

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Grading, PSA Prices & Breaking as a Business — Craig from Diamondback | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben is joined again by Craig from Diamondback after a busy run of card shows, starting with a recap of the Scotland show. They talk about the Panini and Topps battle, Lamine Yamal hype, Mahomes autos and Wemby's market, and what really makes a card valuable. Later they get into grading, PSA pricing and UK options, whether 9s deserve more respect, Pokémon demand, breaking as a business, hobby negativity, and selling on eBay Live and Fanatics. Chapters 00:00 Catching up 03:00 Scotland card show recap 09:00 Panini, Topps and the market 15:00 Lamine Yamal hype 21:00 Mahomes, Wemby and big card values 30:00 What makes a card valuable? 38:00 Grading talk 45:00 PSA, Beckett, CGC and UK options 54:00 Are 9s underrated? 57:00 Pokémon demand 1:00:00 Breaking as a business 1:06:00 Building a brand in the hobby 1:09:00 Hobby negativity 1:12:00 PSA Frankfurt 1:15:00 Upcoming card shows 1:18:00 UK vs US hobby scene 1:21:00 eBay Live and Fanatics Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Repacks, Whatnot & Topps NFL: Inside Diamondback with Craig | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben sits down with Craig from Diamondback, one of the UK's biggest NFL breakers, to tackle the elephant in the hobby: repacks. Craig shares how he built a trusted repack brand, how his repacks are sealed and checked, and what Whatnot's rule changes meant for breakers. They also discuss Topps taking the NFL licence, high-end hobby boxes and redemptions, growing a breaking team, and what's next for Diamondback. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Topps takes the NFL licence 02:30 Topps NFL products and case hits 10:00 High-end boxes and redemptions 15:00 How Craig got into NFL breaks 17:30 Building a trusted repack brand 25:00 Growing a breaking team 32:30 Team breaks and player popularity 40:00 The future of repacks 50:00 Whatnot's rule change 55:00 How repacks are sealed and checked 1:00:00 Whatnot in the headlines 1:07:30 Managing breakers' expectations 1:10:00 Topps NFL at retail 1:20:00 Patches and the PC 1:30:00 Breaking as entertainment 1:32:30 What's next for Diamondback Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Charles Oliveira Rips Pokémon at Our Shop + Card Show Recap | 3rd Down Pulled

Welcome back to 3rd Down Pulled. UFC legend Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira came to 3rd Down in Keighley to rip Pokémon with us, and Umar and Ben break down the whole surreal day: the crowd, the nerves and that Pikachu chase. In part two, Chris joins Ben to recap the TGI's card show, what's selling right now, how UK card shows have grown, and what to expect at ExCeL London. Follow the team: @3rddownben @3rddownumar @3rddownchris Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:30 Charles Oliveira at 3rd Down 04:30 Chasing the Pikachu 06:00 Bringing UFC fighters to the shop 09:00 Filming the big moment 12:00 Umar's Pokémon story 22:30 Part 2: TGI's card show recap 24:00 What's selling right now 31:30 Prices cooling on hyped cards 34:30 Buying stock for ExCeL and The National 37:30 What to expect at ExCeL London 40:30 Upcoming shows selling out Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Why Non-Sports Cards Are Booming — Jesse Gibson | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Jordan is joined by Jesse Gibson, co-host of Sports Cards Nonsense and Hobby Nonsense, ahead of his trip to London Card Show and the 3rd Down shop. Jesse compares the US and UK card markets, explains why Britain loves stickers, and makes the case for non-sports cards like Star Wars, Marvel, Disney and The Simpsons. He also tells how a TikTok clip led to working with The Ringer, shares advice for your first card show, reveals his dream set, and gets a warning from Ben before his visit. Follow Jesse on Instagram @the_sports_boi, plus @sports_cards_nonsense and @hobbynonsense Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:00 How Jesse knows 3rd Down 07:30 US vs UK card markets 17:30 Coming to London Card Show 20:00 Advice for your first card show 25:00 Negotiating with comps 30:00 Why non-sports cards are booming 47:30 From a shy kid to The Ringer 57:30 Embracing the nerdy side 1:05:00 Favourite products and his dream set 1:10:00 The card that got away 1:20:00 Ben joins: Jesse's London trip Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Going Full-Time Selling Cards — Joe from JJJ Cards | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Ben steps in to host and sits down with Joe from JJJ Cards, one of the UK's few full-time trading card single sellers. Joe talks about leaving a corporate job in London to go full-time, how eBay led to sponsoring AFC Wimbledon, negotiating at card shows, and vending in Spain, Poland and at The National. He also shares how to spot a scammer, why every seller should create content, and his plans for JJJ Cards. Follow JJJ Cards on Instagram @JJJCards and @thatcard_ Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:50 Quitting the 9–5 to go full-time 04:23 The reality of the trading card business 04:55 How eBay led to sponsoring AFC Wimbledon 08:40 Keeping the love for the hobby 13:40 Negotiating at card shows: speed vs patience 22:25 Vending in Spain and Poland 29:57 How to spot a trading card scammer 39:50 UK vs US: The National 46:46 Why you should start creating content 51:00 One thing Joe would change 53:38 What's next for JJJ Cards Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Building Manchester Card Con: Community First — Ben (Founder) | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Jordan is joined by Ben, founder of Manchester Card Con, ahead of the show's move to a bigger venue. Ben explains how running communities led him to cards, what it took to launch Manchester Card Con from nothing, and how he curates the vendor mix across sports, Pokémon and One Piece. They also talk about the risk of a debut show, trade nights and networking, visitors from abroad, and a quick-fire round on his favourite set, show and PC card. Follow Manchester Card Con on Instagram @manchestercardcon Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:30 From running clubs to card communities 04:30 Building Manchester Card Con 09:00 Starting from zero 13:30 Curating the vendor mix 16:30 The risk of a debut show 19:30 Anime, One Piece and new TCGs 22:30 A bigger venue and new guests 28:30 Trade nights and networking 31:30 Visitors from abroad 33:00 Quick fire: favourite set, show and PC 37:30 The future of the hobby Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Women's Football Cards: The Hobby's Best Value? Ronnie | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Jordan is joined by Ronnie from the Toploaded Podcast, an Arsenal fan and women's football card collector. Ronnie talks about discovering women's football cards, the rise of Topps Chrome and the women's hobby boxes, the Arsenal players and future stars worth collecting, and the growing community around the women's game. They also cover tips for new collectors, how his podcast started, his first trip to The National, and the UK hobby boom. Follow Ronnie on Instagram @rptradingcards and message him for an invite to the Just Women's Cards Discord. Find the Toploaded Podcast on YouTube @TheToploadedPodcast. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Ronnie's collecting journey 02:55 Discovering women's football cards 06:01 The rise of women's football collecting 09:02 Stickers, Topps Chrome and new products 12:04 Why women's hobby boxes are great value 15:06 Arsenal cards and future stars 18:02 Building the women's card community 21:04 Tips for new collectors 25:20 How the Toploaded Podcast started 32:16 First time at The National 36:18 The UK hobby is booming 39:01 Card show tips 43:00 Outro Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Pokémon Collecting Guide: Grading, Rarity & Best Packs for Kids — Dan | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Jordan is joined by Dan, a familiar face at the 3rd Down shop and Ben's go-to Pokémon expert, for a complete guide to the Pokémon hobby. Dan talks about collecting since Pokémon Blue in 1999, master sets, scalpers and prices above RRP, how to spot a rare card, Charizard and other modern chases, and Japanese vs English cards. They also cover grading and protecting your cards, what to do with an old binder, the 30th anniversary McDonald's cards, whether Gen 1 really has the best designs, and the best packs to buy for kids. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Dan's Pokémon journey 04:00 Master sets 10:00 Scalpers and prices above RRP 14:00 The Professor Program and Pokémon at 3rd Down 18:00 How to spot a rare card 22:00 Charizard and modern chase cards 28:00 Bulk, binders and collecting with kids 32:00 Local card shows 38:00 Selling cards with sentimental value 40:00 Grading made easy 44:00 Checking values with eBay sold listings 46:00 30th anniversary: McDonald's cards 50:00 Is Gen 1 the best design? 56:00 Best packs for kids 1:00:00 Quick fire Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.

Selling Cards Full-Time & Collecting Match Tickets — Rich | 3rd Down Pulled

This week, Jordan is joined by Rich from Collectible Corner UK, better known as the Collectible Cowboy and one of Ben's favourite people in the hobby. Rich tells how a removals job and a pile of Pokémon cards turned into a full-time sports card business. He shares how he buys with a customer in mind, why card knowledge matters as much as sports knowledge, selling to vendors and on TikTok, and his collection of graded match tickets. He finishes with lessons from over-investing in rookies and his advice: collect what you love. Chapters 00:00 Intro: meet the Collectible Cowboy 01:30 From removals to Pokémon cards 03:00 Going full-time 06:00 Building a reputation and repeat customers 10:30 Buying with a customer in mind 13:30 Card knowledge vs sports knowledge 18:00 Buying at card shows and instant cash 24:00 Selling on TikTok 30:00 Collecting match tickets 39:00 Over-investing in rookies 43:30 Riding the hype cycle 48:00 Final advice: collect what you love Follow us on Instagram @3rddownuk for more from the UK hobby.