About this episode

Ryan Alford interviews Matt Winkelried about the evolution of card shops and the importance of community and experience in the hobby.

In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford sits down with Matt Winkelried to explore how modern card shops are evolving beyond traditional retail. Matt shares his journey from rediscovering the hobby after years away to becoming CEO of one of the most recognizable shops in the space. Along the way, he breaks down how Bleecker Trading has built its brand around community, experience, and customer engagement. This conversation highlights where the hobby is heading—from the rise of Pokémon and alternative assets to the growing importance of in-person experiences in an increasingly digital world. 🔑 Topics Covered The evolution of modern card shops Community-first business models in the hobby Pokémon vs sports card trends Events, trade nights, and experiential retail Cards as entertainment vs investment Industry shifts: Fanatics, Topps, and the future 🤝 Connect with Matt Winkelried https://www.instagram.com/bleekertrading https://www.instagram.com/mattwinkelried 🤝 Connect with Ryan Alford https://thecollectornation.com https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Alford

Guest: Matt Winkelried

Topics covered

• evolution of modern card shops
• community-first business models
• Pokémon vs sports card trends
• experiential retail
• industry shifts

Keywords

• card shops
• community engagement
• experiential retail
• Pokémon
• sports cards
• Fanatics
• Topps

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bleecker Trading, Fanatics, Topps

Products: Pokémon

More episodes of Collector Nation

• The Truth Behind Card Comps in the Current Market · April 24, 2026 · 51 min
• Breaking Down the Topps Conference: New Products, Licensing & Shop Allocation · April 17, 2026 · 38 min
• Grading 101: What Separates a 10 from an 8 with the World’s Best Grader | Mike Baker · April 14, 2026 · 52 min
• Junk Wax 2.0? Breaking Down Overproduction, Parallels & Pricing in Today’s Hobby · April 10, 2026 · 38 min
• Should You Keep it Sealed? The Deep Pocket Monster Playbook on Content, Community & Growth · April 7, 2026 · 46 min
• Is the Hobby Recession Proof? Why the Hobby Keeps Growing When Other Investments Don’t · April 3, 2026 · 37 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Collector Nation podcast page.