'Customer found £18k of trading cards in his loft'

Trading card collecting has resurged in popularity, with some people unknowingly storing collections worth thousands of pounds in their homes, a shop owner has said.

Juliano Scibelli, who runs Collectors Corner in Peterborough, said demand for Pokémon and other trading cards had grown significantly in recent years, driven by nostalgia and a new generation of collectors.

He started his online trading card business nearly 15 years ago and recently opened a physical store, which had been visited by enthusiasts from across the country, he said.

He added there were "tens of thousands" of cards stocked in his shop in Orton Southgate, and customers often travelled long distances to find specific cards.

"We've had people coming from Scotland, from Wales - realistically, people will travel from all over the UK to check out new card shops or find cards they like," he said.

Collectors often form deep personal attachments to the hobby, he explained, with many searching for specific cards linked to their childhood.

"It's a lot of people's passion. They'll save their money just to buy that one card they're searching for," he added.

The 34-year-old enthusiast advised beginners to focus on cards they personally liked rather than chasing the rarest editions.

"Most characters have cards at all price levels," he said.

"Some can be worth £5,000, but you don't have to collect every one. Just collect what you enjoy."

He added that many families were unaware of the value of collections stored in lofts or cupboards.

"It's very common - people come in with their kids and realise they've got lots of their own cards sitting at home," he said.

"Sometimes they're worth £200 to £10,000. You'd be surprised what's in people's lofts. Go and check."

He recently evaluated one such discovery after a customer got in touch.

He recalled: "A guy contacted me about a month ago and sent pictures of the stuff from his loft. It was unbelievable - he had all the stuff we'd consider expensive. Altogether it came to roughly £18,000. He did not want to sell it yet, though."

The shop suffered a big blow recently after the business was broken into, and cards and cash worth £100,000 were stolen.

Scibelli said returning afterwards was emotionally difficult. He added that high insurance premiums and repair costs have added further pressure.

However, he said he was overwhelmed by support from the local community, with cards, donations and hundreds of messages of encouragement sent in recent days.

Scibelli remains optimistic about the future of trading card collecting.

"There's always been a way out for people in this community," he said. "Whether it's football, gaming or cards, people want something they love doing.

"This just happens to be one where you can also rediscover memories - and sometimes find you've been sitting on something incredibly valuable."

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