100 Days into the Journey

While we are just getting started, it must be in the most interesting and hyped times. Stores aren't receiving the product that has kept them in business for so many years and records of new and old businesses apply for distribution and/or request product that they haven't bought for awhile. Relationships are important when they're not always about you. Especially at a time when you need a large amount of capital to be able to buy into any position, both Pokémon and Magic. When the free market is this hyped about upcoming product from Rip n Shippers and Social Media prices can really go anywhere. Sending people to the stores to camp out front for days, or stalk the poor employees just trying to restock the machines. There's several physical fights in stores like Costo or over what spot you are in line. In hindsight I do agree, it is a bad time to open a store, lol!

Now that I described the scene, I want to get a little bit into what I was thinking. I'm sure you all have seen the YouTubers going on about how to start a business and all. I did also. Came into it a little late, watching us start to go into another hype since 2020. About the time everyone said there is too many stores and dont do it because it won't work out, I saw an opportunity. I need to build a community. With all the scams and thefts, i felt like it would be easyto stand out.Get things together now and start at the peak as demand goes down. I don't want to start into new or "sealed" Product. Not only is it hard to find anything and its pricey, but i need to start out selling the product or inventory that I do have.

My Mother still had many of my memory stuff from when I was a baby and young adolescent. At least some of my stuff left. Anyway, Pokémon, Magic, and my baseball cards were among them. Score!

Then I started organizing and planning. I started out as an eBay seller and that gave me time to keep sorting and listing. In the first 2 months it grossed over $1200, but bubble mailers and postage with tracking is expensive. Not when you buy an couple at a time, but I also have about 1k of just Pokémon.

About around then I started realizing all those people that said don't buy shipping stuff to early, you need product, had to have started about with a good pair of scissors to cut out that much cardboard. About 90 days in, something had to change. By then I had 4 pairs of broken scissors and cardboard and boxes everywhere, and one upset wife.

There's people that will tell you how to start a business and that it is alot of work, what they don't tell you, is the experience your going to get. And there's nobody to hold your hand. Or tell you to get a good pair of steel scissors. So I math it out. I'm going to be able to afford better shipping supplies sooner than later. But when I started the numbers, that's when I realized I don't have an inventory problem, I have a moving it problem. I needed socials and a presence in the community, but we'll get there...

When I started the website the name had to have been the hardest part. Every name I could think of was taken. After all we are almost 30 years into the brand. It finally came to me. On the Nintendo Switch I go by fire because I grew up on Pokémon Red and that was the agitator. My wife liked to go by storm because she liked the name FireStorm, then I was off to the races!

My eBay sales suffered from lack of attention as a started a website and started into the relm of social media. I was spread thin driving an Uber to pay my living expenses while I start to build a brand and a community.

I soon found out my daughter n law is verse in the social media scene...If you haven't had a chance yet, check out our TikTok! I am so lucky to have someone. After watching a few of my own YouTube videos, I decided that I am the Bob Ross of Pokémon. I enjoyed it, but even Bob Ross wasn't "rich," lol!

In today's age, that's was just a joke. I am not trying to get rich. I want a new job that is secure, where I just wake up and package things. 😄 I also want to bring the family closer and working together. So that's how FireStorm Collectibles, a family run and owned company, was born.

I hope to tell you more about these things and what the future holds in coming posts. Thank you no matter what. I appreciate you.