After a while, I began selling some of my cards on eBay and was taken aback by the growing demand for them, something I hadn't quite anticipated. I hadn't even bothered to set up an eBay store name; I simply sold a few cards to make some extra money. During this time, I was actively searching for a job, with the main goal of funding my hobby and buying new packs of cards. That's all it was at the outset.

However, as I continued selling cards on eBay, I couldn't help but notice a lack of passion and attention to detail in the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) market. It became evident that this enthusiasm was missing in the UK, and some of the companies selling Pokemon cards didn't share the same level of dedication and passion for Pokemon as I did in my eBay listings. There was no go-to online store that solely focused on Pokemon, and the few stores selling Pokemon cards didn't offer the other collectibles I was interested in.

I persisted in buying from various online stores, but it became increasingly tedious. Over the course of a couple of years, I observed rising prices and limited availability for certain Pokemon TCG products, as no one in the UK stocked the specific items I needed for my sealed collection. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to purchase these items from overseas, which added extra costs to my hobby. It was at this point that I realized something needed to change. I believed others must have been in the same situation as myself and decided to take action.

This is when I decided to take my eBay venture to the next level, making it more official and combining it with my personal hobby of buying and selling cards. By this point, my eBay account had gained some traction and was consuming most of my free time throughout the day and evening. My singular goal was to enhance the availability and overall purchasing experience for Pokemon cards in the UK, as it had become more of an inconvenience than a hobby.

As my eBay store continued to thrive, I leveraged my previous career skills in web design and digital marketing. I realized that eBay wasn't the right platform for my growing business; it cost more than I was comfortable with, and it didn't offer the flexibility I needed. So, I decided to build my own website and launched 'Card Team,' where I listed all my cards, including rare and hard-to-find products I had struggled to source over the years. Card Team was founded on the premise of addressing the poor shopping experience and lack of passion for the cards and the game that I had encountered with other online stores.

The website quickly gained strength, and by 2013, it became my full-time job. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances and numerous late nights spent trying to salvage the business, I had to make the difficult decision to close Card Team in 2015. I was deeply disappointed that I couldn't keep it afloat. However, I couldn't let go of my first business, and I was determined to continue doing what I loved most – selling cards. It was more than a passion; it felt like a calling in my life. I saw no other option but to give it another shot, this time with even greater determination to make Total Cards a success. My ethos and motivations remained steadfast, as the Pokemon Trading Card Game had become an integral part of my life over the past few years.

Fast-forward 11 years, and Total Cards has emerged as a leader in stocking the most affordable Pokemon products online, alongside a wide array of other TCGs, card games, board games, miniatures, comics, role-playing games, merchandise, collectibles, Funko Figures, and much more. We take immense pride in providing top-notch service and have become one of the primary sources for all your geeky supplies. Our commitment to maintaining high standards of service and offering the lowest prices, as envisioned back in 2011, remains our ultimate goal.

As we forge ahead, we've invested in a state-of-the-art Gaming Centre, conveniently located at our HQ in Newton Aycliffe. It's stocked with an extensive range of Pokemon products and hosts daily events for various game clubs. This Gaming Centre is now the ultimate destination for playing, trading, and socializing with like-minded enthusiasts who share our passion for games.

Total Cards continues to grow and adapt, gaining popularity and building a strong reputation with over 20,000 reviews. With a 17,000 square foot warehouse in the North East of the UK and a dedicated team of passionate staff, we've transformed this business into the powerhouse it is today. We're reshaping the TCG industry in the UK by offering the most competitive prices and much more to TCG communities across the nation.

But let me emphasize that this is only the beginning for us. The past 13 years are just the tip of the iceberg. We're continually expanding from our current team of 20 and evolving into the UK's largest and most dedicated hobby shop for all things geeky and nerdy. The future holds boundless possibilities, and we're excited to take this journey with you.