'My trading card shop is more of a community'
Aydin Uyan says his store's community feel sets it apart.
## "My Trading Card Shop is More of a Community"
Aydin Uyan's Shrewsbury-based trading card game (TCG) shop, Triple A Collectibles, has rapidly evolved into a vibrant community hub, drawing enthusiasts from across the West Midlands. The store, which specializes in selling individual TCG cards, has seen its success grow organically through word-of-mouth, a testament to Uyan's years of experience selling cards at shows throughout the UK.
Triple A Collectibles offers a wide array of single cards from popular franchises such as Pokémon, One Piece, Union Arena, Dragon Ball Z, Magic: The Gathering, and Star Wars. Uyan emphasized to the BBC that the shop's distinctive community atmosphere is its defining characteristic. He recounted a recent Saturday where regulars actively assisted him: "I was really busy on Saturday and a few of my regulars were in – I had one of them re-sleeving cards, helping out," he stated. "I had one of them on the till for me, and I was just stood here helping."
Customers journey from as far as Birmingham and Walsall to engage in trading, peruse binders, and locate the final cards required to complete their sets. Uyan highlighted the stark contrast between this environment and the card shows where he continues to trade. "At shows," he explained, "it's predominantly people coming in with stacks of cash looking for big cards. In the shop, it's people looking for those £2 cards or trading up into the last card they need." He also noted the common request for packs, which are often difficult to acquire, stating, "Singles are fairer – if you need a £4 card, you can buy the £4 card."
Among the most coveted items currently available at Triple A Collectibles is a One Piece card, one of only 1,500 copies ever produced and exclusively obtainable through competitive play. Uyan described it as "a piece of history," valuing the card at approximately £1,200 to £1,300.
Uyan also attributed the recent surge in trading card popularity to social media, particularly influencers live-streaming pack openings. Expressing his pride in the shop's development, Uyan affectionately referred to it as "my baby." He added, "Everyone helped to get it going, so it's that little bit more special."