Toulouse: for three months, they have been surfing like mad on the Pokémon wave
Anthony, Léo and Nicolas gave up everything to devote themselves to selling collectible cards: Pokémon, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh. In their Relik store, located in Saint-Michel, there is excitement.
The first, Anthony Ruer, was a hairdresser in Switzerland. The second, Léo Serres, having completed his studies in Political Science and the third, Nicolas Novel, a master’s degree in finance. All three have decided to leave their respective domains to devote themselves to their passion for collector cards, by taking over the Fantasy Sphere store which they renamed Relik.
Located on the main street of Saint-Michel in Toulouse, not far from La Poste, the brand specializes in the sale by unit, on site and online, of Magic cards, Yu-Gi-Oh and of course Pokémon, “this are the most played in the world. We also have a board game department, ”announces Léo.
The commercial adventure of the three drills began three months earlier, on the hats of wheels. “At the start, there were four of us today, we are seven employees, with one person on a work-study basis,” announces Léo. And that’s barely enough to keep up.
It must be said that there is a real craze for collectible cards, and in particular for Pokémon. The covid crisis has contributed to “exploding demand at a stratospheric level, which is no longer covered by supply at all,” explains Nicolas. If we had three times our stock, we would sell it just as quickly, ”he adds.
For them, the collectible card market has always existed, “supported by a strong base of collectors and players in the communities. Today, there are people who put their noses in and are shocked to see that it is still there. Suddenly, they start playing again! At one point, Pokémon cards were even considered to have been just for kids. Whereas now, it is downright classy to own some and very expensive ones, ”recognizes Nicolas.
from 6 €
At Relik, you can find Pokémon cards from € 6 “but elsewhere it can go up to € 1 million for the higher prices. »Nicolas, Anthony and Léo sell several hundred a week and for the« Magic », it is much more! In addition to their shop, they have a games room, where Yu-Gi-oh, Magic and Pokémon tournaments are held every Sunday.
Basically, these three are collectors and players. They met “on magical events” and decided to sell some of their parts to set up their company. A choice they do not regret, “we never get bored, that’s why we don’t count our hours too. “In addition, in Toulouse, they fell” on a lively player “.
Besides, know that they also buy collections!