From Car Boot Sales to Red Rocket Cards
Like many collectors, our story with Pokémon cards started long before Red Rocket Cards existed.
Around 26 years ago, when Pokémon cards were first exploding in popularity, I spent a lot of time with my cousin who was an avid collector. His main passion was Star Wars memorabilia, but like many collectors he enjoyed picking up all kinds of interesting items.
Every week we would visit car boot sales searching through boxes of random cards and collectibles. At the time I was about 19 years old and discovering plenty of other exciting things in life, so while the collecting bug was there, it didn’t quite take over just yet.
Not long after, life got busy. I had three kids, and as fate would have it, they all decided they wanted to start collecting Pokémon cards.
For years our house was filled with binders, packs, and cards.
Then one day… most of them disappeared.
Like many parents will understand, a big clear-out happened and my wife threw away nearly all of the cards.
At the time it felt like the end of the collection.
But Pokémon has a funny way of coming back into your life.
Rediscovering the Hobby
In 2024, while looking through the loft, I discovered a small handful of the cards that had survived.
That moment reignited something.
Suddenly the memories of opening packs, discovering rare cards, and the excitement of collecting all came rushing back.
The first set we started collecting again was Paldean Fates, and from that moment the hobby quickly took off again.
This time it wasn’t just me.
I started collecting alongside my son, and together we set ourselves a challenge — to begin working towards completing master sets across different Pokémon series, both modern and vintage.
From Collectors to Sellers
As our collection grew, we began attending market stalls and card fairs, buying, selling, and trading with other collectors.
For around a year we ran stalls at events, meeting countless Pokémon fans and learning more about the hobby and the community that surrounds it.
Those events were some of the most enjoyable parts of the journey.
Talking with collectors, trading cards, helping people complete sets, and seeing the excitement when someone finds the card they’ve been searching for is something that never gets old.
We still attend card fairs today and love meeting fellow collectors.
If you’d like to meet us in person, be sure to check our Events Page for upcoming shows.
The Birth of Red Rocket Cards
After spending time trading at fairs and building our collection, the next step felt natural.
Together with my son, we decided to launch Red Rocket Cards.
The name itself was actually his idea — and it stuck.
The business started from our own personal collection, growing gradually as we sourced more cards and products for fellow collectors.
Our goal wasn’t just to sell cards.
We wanted to create a place where collectors could:
- Discover new Pokémon sets
- Learn more about the hobby
- Find cards at fair prices
- Enjoy the thrill of collecting
Our Philosophy
At Red Rocket Cards, we believe collecting should be accessible to everyone.
One of the biggest problems in the hobby today is scalping, where products are bought in bulk and resold at inflated prices.
This makes it harder for genuine fans and collectors to enjoy the hobby.
That’s why we focus on:
- Fair pricing
- Product purchase limits to prevent scalping
- Helping collectors complete their sets
We want everyone — not just the wealthiest buyers — to have the chance to experience the excitement of collecting Pokémon cards.
Our Commitment to Quality
Every single card we sell is carefully inspected before being listed.
When it comes to shipping, we treat cards the same way we would protect our own collection.
All cards are packaged using:
- A penny sleeve
- A rigid toploader
- A protective cardboard mailer
This ensures your cards arrive safely and in the condition you expect.
Our Favourite Things About Pokémon
Like most collectors, we all have our favourites.
Our top Pokémon include:
- Pikachu (of course!)
- Charizard
- Gengar
- Pichu
- Raichu
One of our favourite sets in recent times is Paradox Rift / Ascended Heroes, which features some incredible artwork and design.
And like many collectors, there’s always that one dream card…
For us, it would have to be the legendary Pikachu Illustrator.
Maybe one day!
Looking to the Future
Red Rocket Cards is still just getting started.
Our vision is to grow into a trusted hub for Pokémon collectors in the UK, where fans can buy, sell, trade, and learn more about the hobby we all love.
Whether you’re searching for a missing card to complete your set, looking for sealed products, or just exploring the world of Pokémon cards again, we’re glad you found us.
Because at the end of the day…
We’re collectors too.
And this journey is only just beginning.