It has been an incredible few years for JackTradesCards. What began as a side hustle selling cards from a bedroom has grown into a thriving business, a permanent home inside Players Paradice and, now, an ambitious new events company preparing to deliver major trading card game tournaments across the United Kingdom.
With tickets for the first Inkbound Invitational Qualifier going on sale at 17:00 BST, we sat down with Jack Broddle to discuss the journey so far, the excitement surrounding JTC Events and what might be coming next.
Congratulations on establishing JackTradesCards permanently within Players Paradice. How does it feel to have finally brought your hobby and business to life in a bricks-and-mortar store?
Jack: “Honestly, it’s insane. There have been so many different emotions and plenty of trepidation surrounding it.
Taking that initial leap was a huge worry, but building the community we now have within the store has become my greatest achievement since starting the business. It has made all of the sleepless nights worthwhile.”
You have gone from trading at CCQ Wakefield as a side hustle to building a business capable of paying you a healthy salary. What advice would you give to somebody beginning their own card-buying and selling journey?
Jack: “It might not be for everyone. If you genuinely want to do this, you need to understand that you’re probably going to give up 90% of your time outside work to packing orders!
If you still think it’s for you, take more risks than I did. I started very cautiously in 2022, selling 2p cards from my bedroom and slowly working my way upwards. Looking back, I should have started buying and selling collections earlier to help the business grow more quickly. I definitely regret not taking that leap sooner.”
Tickets for our first event go on sale this evening. How would you describe your emotions as we reach this milestone?
Jack: “Excited. I genuinely cannot put into words how much my life has changed between 2022 and now.
The fact that I’m now able to sanction and run events for more than 200 players in a single day is incredible. I can’t believe we’re already considering future venues capable of holding as many as 400 players.
It’s daunting, but it also fills me with an enormous amount of pride and adrenaline. I want to thank every player, judge, Ravensburger representative and member of the community who has shown us such an incredible outpouring of support.”
Players across the country have expressed their excitement about this event series. In particular our plans to bring a major Lorcana tournament to Scotland for the first time. What else is in the pipeline for JTC Events?
Jack: “The Inkbound Invitational is shaping up to have one of the biggest prize pools in the world outside of a Disney Lorcana Challenge. I can’t wait…”
Sorry to stop you Jack, but the community already knows that the Invitational prize pool is going to be enormous. What other exciting information can we reveal at this stage?
Jack: “JTC Events isn’t going to stop with Lorcana.
We have our sights set on Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and other trading card games. Our aim is to bring the same level of excellence in event planning and tournament operations to every corner of the UK trading card game scene.”
With the business booming, everybody is keen to know how you and Kayla are managing to juggle everything with a new arrival on the way.
Jack: “There have been lots of sleepless nights, some weird food cravings and plenty of additional work - but it will all be worth it when Sophia gets to see what we’ve built.
Plus, we need someone to sort the bulk!”
The Next Chapter
From selling individual cards in his bedroom to building a permanent community hub and preparing to welcome hundreds of players to JTC Events tournaments, Jack’s journey demonstrates just how far passion, commitment and a willingness to take that first leap can lead.
The first Inkbound Invitational Qualifier represents another major step forward, not only for JackTradesCards, but for our ambition to deliver exceptional trading card game experiences throughout the United Kingdom.
Tickets go live tonight at 17:00 BST here: https://jacktradescards.com/products/hyperia-city-invitational
Luke Franks
Tournament Manager
JTC Events