Aqua TCG, the Pokémon and trading card games specialist, is set to unwrap its new store at The Crescent, Metrocentre, on Friday 31 July, offering fans a wide range of cards, graded collectibles, sealed products and accessories.
Word of the new signing was announced earlier this month, quickly generating a buzz amongst the brand’s growing social media following and trading card game (TCG) community.
Because while it may be 30 years since Pokémon first became a household name with the release of Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Nintendo Game Boy, followed shortly after by its TCG with iconic “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” tagline and other spin-offs, the Japanese phenomenon is arguably more popular today than ever, now the largest and most valuable media franchise of all time.
It has also given rise to a thriving collectibles market where a single card can change hands for everything from a few pounds to many thousands of pounds, depending on its age, condition and scarcity.
For Aqua TCG founders James Leather and Lewis Millen, lifelong friends and fans of Pokémon, the thrill is as much about the anticipation of opening a pack and hoping for a ‘hit’, for example, or the joy of securing a shiny special illustration rare, as it is about creative deckbuilding.
Aqua TCG Co-founder James Leather said: “TCGs is a hobby that appeals to all ages: from young kids and teenagers to those of us old enough to have witnessed the arrival of Pokémon and subsequent growth of the sector as other major franchises followed suit with the likes of Yu-Gi-Oh! and, more recently, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana and Riftbound.
“In the case of Pokémon alone there are currently over 1,000 different species and everyone has their own favourite, whether it’s more famous names such as Pikachu or Mewtwo or lesser-known characters such as Mr Mime. It’s a personal thing and that’s the magic of TCGs.”
Until recently, the duo’s shared hobby had been exactly that – a hobby – with the pair travelling to card shows throughout the UK and beyond to meet fellow collectors and trade cards.
But such was the demand for TCGs that when the friends spotted retail space available at Metrocentre’s new hub for independent retailers, The Crescent, they decided it was a case of ‘right time, right place’ to take the next step.
Aqua TCG Co-founder Lewis Millen said: “The decision to open a physical store was rooted both in the demand for TCGs and the difficulty of being able to buy, sell and trade them. We wanted to create an accessible place for enthusiasts and beginners alike to begin, add to or upgrade their collections, backed by product knowledge, fair pricing and friendly service.
“Not only that but we wanted to make it easier when looking for single cards specifically, which is why the new store will have one whole wall dedicated to these, stocking over 1,000 cards which will be regularly refreshed with each new trade done.
“There will be low-end and high-end cards, Japanese and English cards, along with vintage, mid-era and modern. In other words, something for everyone.”
As for what more TCG fans can look forward to in-store, there will be everything from professionally graded cards – or ‘slabs’ – and sealed trading card boxes, to SWSH Evolving Skies Booster Boxes and, upon their much-awaited release this September, Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes.
And to help enthusiasts to protect their collections, there will also be TCG accessories including sleeves, top-loaders, binders and deck boxes, amongst other storage and display options.
“It really feels like we’re filling a gap with the new store,” added James. “Nothing quite beats talking to fellow enthusiasts and inspecting cards and other collectibles first-hand, as opposed to online platforms. Because whether you’re just starting out or are already a serious collector, people are much more open about the hobby nowadays and being part of the TCG community.”
It’s all a far cry from the early days when the two childhood friends, whose gardens backed on to one another, used to jump over the boundary fence to play Pokémon and other popular TCGs.
“Yu-Gi-Oh! was another big hit at the time” recalled James. “On some of the cards there would be stars, indicating a monster’s level and determining the rules for summoning the card to the field.
“For some reason, we thought it would make the cards even more powerful if we drew around the stars, whereas if we’d left them untouched and kept them in good condition, they’d probably be worth a small fortune today. But at least we enjoyed them as they were originally intended – trading with friends and building collections of our own favourites.”
The new Aqua TCG store can be found at The Crescent, Upper Green Mall, Metrocentre in Gateshead.
