A year ago, I didn't own a single Pokémon card. Today, Izzi's Gym has done over $800,000 in sales on @TCGplayer — in less than a year of bu…
By Christopher Hamze · Archived October 2, 2026
A year ago, I didn't own a single Pokémon card.
Today, Izzi's Gym has done over $800,000 in sales on @TCGplayer — in less than a year of business.
I want to take a moment to recognize what that platform actually represents for small business owners like me. We opened our doors in March 2025 with a dream of building the best card shop in South Dakota. What we didn't fully appreciate at the time was how much TCGplayer's marketplace would amplify everything we were doing locally.
The ease of use is genuinely remarkable. The reach is unmatched. And for a first-time retail store owner learning an entirely new industry from scratch, having a platform that just works — that removes friction and puts your inventory in front of buyers who are ready to purchase — is everything.
$800K isn't just a number. It's proof that the right tools in the hands of a passionate team can accomplish something extraordinary, fast.
Shoutout to the entire TCGplayer team. You built something that gives new shops a real shot.
Robert Bigler grateful for what you and your team have created. Looking forward to what's next. 🙌