Brothers and sisters by blood and business partners by choice, Surrey-born Harry Reynolds and Katie Hughes are now at the forefront of the UK’s vibrant cards and collectibles scene.

There is an increase in young people investing in cards and collectibles, driven by nostalgia, accessibility and, potentially, high returns.

Additionally, the explosive popularity of anime in the UK, as evidenced by shows like Pokémon, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer, has fueled a surge in interest.

In just three years, the brother and sister team started and transformed the business London Card Show (LCS) from a niche gathering of just 40 people to a global phenomenon, attracting over 6,000 participants from around the world.

The next and 14th London Card Show takes place on November 2-3 at Sandown Park and promises to be the biggest event ever.

It caters to all interests, including sports like football, basketball, NBA, F1 and cricket, as well as anime like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece and Disney Lorcana.

Guests on next month’s show include iconic American actress Tara Sands, who has played Bulbasaur and more than 50 characters from the Pokémon series, as well as Paul Merson, the England and Arsenal footballer.

At the last show in August this year, a Messi-Ronaldo Dual Auto 1/1 Superfractor card sold for an astonishing £67,000 after being shipped during the show.

Katie Hughes, COO of London Card Show, said: “The growing popularity of TCG and Anime in the UK can be attributed to several key factors.

“Once a niche hobby, streaming services have made anime easily accessible to a wider range of people, and this renewed interest extends to trading cards and collectibles,” a- she declared.

Katie recalled how she realized that interest in the hobby, which she and her brother also had as children, was growing at an exponential rate and it made sense for the duo to start a fanclub of sorts , then expands future shows in terms of size and immersive elements.

“I was also looking for a new adventure in my career, having spent six years honing my marketing and events skills at the Hard Rock Café,” she said.

“Harry and I explored concepts for a larger space and shared some creative ideas for growing the brand.

“Together we have strengthened the brand, turning Harry’s hobby into a thriving business that connects collectors from all walks of life.”

She added: “It’s amazing how far we’ve come. Despite the saying that you shouldn’t work as a family, our passion has created a strong partnership.

“From our mother at the front desk, to our sister managing the areas, to our grandparents helping with the tablecloths, it’s truly a family effort. My husband, James Hughes, is also our marketing director.”

Harry added: “Our bond as siblings and business partners has been key to our success.

“We are fortunate to love what we do, which makes it all the more rewarding. Working as a family has its challenges, but we have overcome them well.”

Consultant Market Decipher reported that the sports memorabilia market, which includes trading cards, was valued at US$33 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow nearly sevenfold by 2032 to approximately US$227 billion.

Meanwhile, Kings Research values ​​the sports trading card market at US$9.69 billion in 2022, and forecasts it to reach US$20.48 billion by 2030.