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Hughes has turned eBay into a lucrative platform by trading thousands of sought-after cards, now earning more from this venture than her regular job.
“For me, Pokémon represents my childhood. I’ve always been passionate about it, although many people tend to dip in and out of this interest,” she shares.
“My collection holds more significance for me than nearly anything else in my life.”
The inaugural Pokémon series features 151 unique characters.
Hughes quickly discovered that first-generation Pokémon cards in pristine condition can fetch prices in the thousands of dollars.
She likened it to the trading floor on Wall Street – with cards treated like investment pieces which surge in value.
It all comes down to waiting for the right time to sell.
“Pokémon cards are like trading stock,” Hughes said.
“There are apps today track cards, they give you graphs of how many of that card exists in the world that have been graded, to daily price movements.
“People track momentum of cards and, where the market might be shifting, to where they may want to put their money next from an investing point of view.”
Hughes has sold over 5000 Pokémon cards to eager collectors online.
She regularly hosts live-streamed auctions on eBay, which helps her earn over $100,000 per year thanks to rapid-fire sales.
Her top sale was a Van Gough-style Pikachu card, which Hughes sold for $1000 after nabbing it for only $50.
“There you’ve got 10 seconds to put your bid in and everyone’s racing to beat the big clock,” Hughes added.
“There’s a transactional side to the cards, as I make six figures, but I also treat my streams as a form of entertainment and as a place for the community to be a part of something.”
There’s a card that Hughes has her eye on – and cards graded as a perfect 10 by a Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) can be worth between $20,000 and $30,000.
”There are these cards called the poncho Pikachus,” she said.
“I would love to own at least one.”
As more Pokémon hobbyists ramp up their card collecting, Hughes said fans of the franchise should be dusting off their old cards to discover their value.
You can grade them online using a serial number or by a PSA.
“I think a lot of people who have left their cards at their parents’ house now probably regret leaving them behind,” she said.
“If you have cards from the 1990s or early 2000s, definitely get them out, look at the eBay’s sold history, enter in the number on the card, and you can find out all the details.”
You never know what treasures could be lurking in your old toybox, she said.
For example, a 2003 Machamp PSA 10 is selling on eBay for around $5700.
A 1st edition Pikachu PSA 10 is listed for $13,200.
And in 2025, a 1999 Pokémon Charizard 1999 base set 1st edition sold for $25,800.
“Sometimes it can come down to luck, if you just so happen to have the card,” Hughes said.
The Japanese cartoon’s 30th anniversary is approaching on February 26 and Hughes expects there to be a trading frenzy.
“Pokémon always finds a way of trying to reconnect with its fans, I have no doubt they’ll come out with products that are all about nostalgia,” she said.
Hughes is hosting another live-streamed auction on eBay on February 26 to mark 30 years of Pokémon.
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