A fresh dawn breaks for Roman Aymond, 29, as he gears up for another riveting day of work. His tools of the trade? A sturdy computer, a live camera, and an array of Pokemon card booster packs. Aymond is among a burgeoning group of full-time streamers leveraging the rising popularity of the Pokemon trading card game. His distinctive service? Opening Pokemon card booster packs purchased by online viewers.
Orders flow in from his virtual customer base, and with meticulous precision, Aymond prepares and reveals the contents of each purchased booster pack on stream. One memorable episode saw Aymond unveiling a card with an estimated value of a staggering S$5,000, an event that went viral and underscored the rarity of such a find.
Introduced in 1996, the Pokemon trading card game boasts an array of products, with the booster pack holding a prominent position. Each pack typically houses 10 random cards from a specific set, with at least one guaranteed rare card. This suspense and the potential for high value or “chase” cards fuels the market, drawing both sincere collectors and opportunistic scammers.
The current surge in interest has converted Pokemon card trading into a viable full-time job or side hustle. Aymond, a casual collector since age six, reignited his passion a year and a half ago, embarking on a journey that led to a full-time streaming career with Skylightz Collectibles, through TikTok and later, Twitch.
Another entrepreneur capitalizing on the trend is Sherry Lee, a 23-year-old student, who has quickly set up a profitable TikTok shop of her own. Her efforts have paid off, earning her roughly S$800 per month.
On the flip side, the rising card values have also attracted scammers, exploiting unsuspecting buyers. The owner of a Pokemon store, Teo Ming Yang, faced a situation where an acquaintance used his store’s name to swindle customers. But for every scammer, there are diligent collectors like Reuben Fong, who view the hobby as more than a mere investment.
Lastly, the escalating card values have spawned demand for professional appraisals, with companies like Oxley Grading offering such services in Singapore. The entire Pokemon card trading scene is evolving, driven by technology, passion, and a healthy dose of caution. This story is based on an article from malaymail.com
