Hi, I’m Rich

I founded Curio Card Care Services in 2025, but my love for Pokémon goes back much further than that.

I’ve been a collector for most of my life. At 15, I was swapping cards and battling with friends, completely hooked. Years later, in 2016, I fell headfirst into Pokémon GO, exploring everywhere from local parks to late-night raids. Like many collectors, life eventually took over and the hobby went quiet for a while, until a couple of years ago, when my six-year-old nephew reignited that spark and pulled me straight back in.

What started as a nostalgic return quickly became something much bigger.

From Collector to Creator

In January 2025, I launched Curio Collectors Club on TikTok and Instagram to document my collecting journey, mastering sets, showing how I clean and restore my own cards, and sharing what I was learning along the way.

The response was overwhelming. The community grew quickly, and by November 2025 I was approaching 6,000 followers and hosting weekly live sessions with between 50 and 200 collectors tuning in. These sessions became a space to chat, clean cards together, play TCG Live, and run quizzes, all built around sharing knowledge and enjoying the hobby.

How Curio Card Care Was Born

It was during those livestreams that Curio Card Care really began.

Viewers regularly asked if I could work on their cards too. At first, I said no. Without the right setup, insurance, or infrastructure, I didn’t feel comfortable taking on something that involved people’s prized possessions.

If I was going to do this, I wanted to do it properly.

Doing It the Right Way

Insurance quickly became the biggest challenge, largely because suitable cover simply did not exist. At the time, most people offering card cleaning or restoration were hobbyists (often very skilled ones), or card shops providing it as an additional service.

After weeks of searching, I finally found a broker who was a collector herself and truly understood what I was trying to build (shout out to Lisa). She identified just two insurers in the UK willing to provide appropriate cover.

Today, Curio Card Care is fully insured, with first of its kind cover, for cards up to £10,000, alongside additional insurance that allows me to attend shows and carry out restoration work on-site.

It wasn’t cheap, but it was essential. These aren’t just cards. They are people’s collections, memories, and investments, and the service needed to reflect that level of trust and care.

Community First

As Curio grew, so did the community around it. I created The Curio Clubhouse, a Discord server now home to more than 100 active members, where collectors share knowledge, showcase their cards, and support one another.

In 2025, I also took things offline, helping to host Pokémon community events through our other venture, New Forest Collectors Club. These events bring collectors together to trade, play, and celebrate the hobby in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

I also work closely with my local card shop, visiting twice a month to carry out pre-grading assessments before cards are submitted to PSA. This hands-on experience keeps me closely connected to the wider TCG community and ensures Curio’s standards remain aligned with professional grading expectations.

A Bit About Me

Away from cards, I am a self-confessed Lord of the Rings enthusiast and a lifelong fan of 1980s cartoons such as Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That love of nostalgia and attention to detail is reflected in everything I do. I’m also a big animal lover, especially dogs, and you will quite often see my French Bulldog, Dexter on streams.

Behind the scenes, I am supported by my wife, Emily, who manages much of the administration and organisation that keeps Curio Card Care running smoothly. Together, we have built one of the UK’s first registered, dedicated card cleaning and restoration specialists, focused entirely on doing things properly.

What Curio Card Care Stands For

Curio Card Care Services is built on trust, precision, and a collector’s passion.

• Fully insured bespoke cover for complete peace of mind

• State-of-the-art tools and professional cleaning solutions

• Accessible services, from fixed-price cleaning and polishing to bespoke restoration quotes for lifted edges and dents

• Convenient returns and grading support, including direct submissions via Buy Play Trade Southampton to PSA, Beckett, CGC, or TAG

Whether you are maintaining your collection or preparing for grading, I am here to help your cards look their best today and preserve their value for the future.