The year in collectibles: What would you change about the hobby?

4 days ago 2

As we flip the calendar to 2026, cllct is assessing the current state of the hobby.

We've assembled a panel of the top experts in the industry to recap some of the biggest trends of the past 12 months — both the good and the troubling.

Plus, we've looked into our crystal ball to try to forecast what lies ahead in 2026.

In the fifth installment of our two-week series, we look at changes that would benefit the hobby.

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(Answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. Questions were distributed before Collectors' acquisition of Beckett on Dec. 15.)

What is something you would change about the hobby today?

Rob Bigler, CEO, TCGplayer:

There’s a lot of work to be done when it comes to connecting the physical world of trading card games with the digital. The Roca Sorter is an incredible piece of tech that’s helping solve this – we hit a huge milestone this year with 1 billion trading cards sorted and digitized through Roca, making large inventories easier to manage for sellers.

It’s proof that automation technology can improve the hobby in tangible, real world ways, which is why we’ll keep focusing on it moving into 2026.

Elizabeth Gruene, GM of pop culture, PSA:

It would be awesome if Pokémon started doing serialized or autographed cards.

It’s proof that automation technology can improve the hobby in tangible, real world ways, which is why we’ll keep focusing on it moving into 2026.

David Hunt, president, Hunt Auctions:

While I love the new innovations and technology-related portions of the hobby I would equally love to see more focus on in-person interaction. The experience of holding a baseball or sorting through cards is one that simply cannot be matched by viewing an image on a screen.

I am 100% supportive of the infinitely larger access that digital elements provide for a broader audience but just hope we can retain the in-person venues. They are such important divers behind collecting as a whole.

Adam Ireland, VP and general manager, eBay Global Collectibles:

I’d love to see the hobby continue to broaden its reach and what it celebrates. For a long time, attention and value were concentrated in a narrow set of sports and athletes.

What’s encouraging is we’re already seeing that change take shape — more diversity in products, at shows and across the collector community. Niché sports are getting real collector love, and leagues such as the WNBA and PWHL, are seeing athletes who’ve been competing at an elite level for years finally gain mainstream interest.

Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions, Heritage Auctions:

Our hobby has benefited from a level of marketing and promotion that we have never seen before, which all of us should be grateful for. That said, I think it would be wise to not focus so much on the pursuit of “lottery tickets” in the form of redemption cards and remember that if we desire long-term participation and collector retention, we should also pay more attention to the building aspect of this endeavor. This is what keeps collectors going over time.

True collectors are always working toward a goal. The short-term “hits” are always nice, whether you collect modern or vintage, but a longer-term approach is usually a healthier one, for everyone involved.

Jason Masherah, president, Upper Deck:

I’d like to see the elimination of major conflicts of interest. Whether it's companies selling their own single cards through their own marketplaces, auctions or retail stores, or grading companies pricing and rebuying their own slabs, the industry has a major issue with conflicts of interest that has the potential to become a very large problem or result in a lawsuit that could damage the whole industry.

Evan Parker, founder, Mantel:

Wax needs to be cheaper and easier to get your hands on without having to pay the breaker/reseller premium. And there needs to be more focus on transparency and trust.

We see too many stories about companies and individuals taking advantage of collectors, and for this industry to thrive, that needs to happen less frequently.

Matt Quinn, vice president, CGC Cards:

Having better literature for the hobby that is published by large entities and trusted authorities. Many new entrants find themselves overwhelmed by having to put pieces together from several sources to understand the hobby, grading and best avenues for buying and selling.

In numismatics, for example, large societies help govern dealers and collectors with constant information. There are seminars to assist newcomers from the Professional Numismatic Guild, American Numismatic Association and the like.

Claire Shelton, head of video games, PSA:

If we were able to collaborate more with video game publishers, big and small, I think that would go a long way to highlight the positives grading offers to the industry.

Whether it’s exclusive variants, numbered copies, or autographed copies, there is no better way to preserve history than grading.

Kenneth Thrower, director of grading, CGC Video Games and Home Video:

More of a community push for value in rarity versus popularity or finding more sales data related to variants and production numbers.

A lot of that manufacturer info seems to be unpublished or not cared about historically by these companies, making it hard for collectors to know how many of a title or variant were produced, confusing people on what is truly rare and what is common.

Nat Turner, CEO, Collectors:

I wish it was easier for international participants to enjoy. Especially with tariffs and just generally shipping risks, it is incredibly hard for someone outside of the United States to have the same level of engagement with the hobby.

Of course, you can have your local hobbies in each country, but there’s no denying the U.S. has the biggest and oldest card market in the world, even considering Pokémon in its native Japan, I would wager, if you add up all the things.

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