On 7 December 2024, SNKRDUNK participated in the LA Card Show, one of the largest TCG and sports card shows in the United States, for the very first time.

Ahead of our appearance there, we spoke to Adam Derry, the event’s founder, about the story behind it all and his own journey through the world of TCG and sports cards.

Could you introduce yourself?

My name is Adam Derry. I am the Founder of LA CARD SHOW (LACS), the Co-Founder of award-winning brand development agency ADBD, husband to wife and partner Connie Choi Derry, and father to son and partner, Ryder Derry.

How did you first get involved in the TCG scene?

My love for Pokémon and TCG started for me when I became a father. My son Ryder, who is now 14 years old, found a love for Pokémon at a very young age. It was his fondness for this world that welcomed me into it.

Can you elaborate more on how the LA Card Show came to be?

We are always involved with culture. It is where we bring brands to life and where we find the inspiration for our ceaseless work of bringing people together. I knew there was an energy inside the community of card collecting that should be celebrated and energized, so we created a card show that blends so many worlds together—cards, music, fashion, food, art. It is all one big universe and we want LACS to represent that. We are a celebration of the vibrant and diverse world of card collecting and our incredible City of LA.

Can you speak about your experiences with TCG products on the SNKRDUNK app, if any?

Discovering SNKRDUNK as a US consumer was incredible. We have had a great experience researching and discovering very hard-to-find cards through the SNKRDUNK app. There is so much opportunity to bridge the US market and the SNKRDUNK core market together. We are excited to be a part of it.

What would you regard as the primary advantages of purchasing TCG products via an online store such as that of the SNKRDUNK app?

We live in a connected world. Being able to instantaneously discover and purchase hard-to-find TCG products online gives access to millions upon millions of consumers who would never otherwise get an opportunity to access these cards. Apps like SNKRDUNK’s and shows like the LA Card Show are examples of moving the culture to where we are, being present and connecting directly to an authentic voice in the industry and the community.

Which TCG franchises which might not be the biggest at the moment can you see exploding in popularity soon?

All I can say is that so many of new generation of American kids are being raised on One Piece in a way that is totally immersive. So, I think we haven’t even begun to see the true impact and opportunity of the ONE PIECE Card Game in the US.

Who are your personal idols within the TCG sphere?

My son, Ryder Derry. 🙂

Do you have any personal favorite cards that you either own or are pursuing? If yes, which ones and from what franchises?

I am being pulled in more and more to the Pokémon TCG every day with the incredible power of Pokémon, but I am honestly a sports card collector. Mainly NFL, NBA, and UFC. My personal grail is a Kobe Bryant Lower Merion High School Auto. But I have time. 🙂

What are your experiences with card grading services?

Grading is everything in the modern world of cards. No doubt PSA has taken the crown and held it for quite some time. But I think there are new worlds forming in the grading space that, when tied into more gamified activity, really excite the consumer.

I like the Arena Club marketplace for instance; it adds further dimension beyond just grading. As we continue to see graded cards sustaining and increasing card values, this will be an absolutely necessary step in the process for any future card buying experiences. But, I truly believe, you have to lead with LOVE! Do you love the card? Start there. Then everything else will follow.

Two big questions coming up. Historically, the West Coast of the US has had closer ties to Japan in general, and therefore the Japanese TCG market, due to its large Asian population as well as its location on the Pacific coast. Can you comment on this as well as the related impact on the regional TCG scene?

LA will forever have a connection to the Asian community as a whole. We are both inspired by and fueled by the incredible impact Japan has had on our modern California society. Our connection to the authentic Los Angeles creative community drives our ability to connect to the SNKRDUNK world in a seamless and meaningful way.

To celebrate LA is to celebrate diversity and influence. What Japan has done for our card world through Pokémon and TCG is a testament to the melting pot of impact that only happens in Los Angeles, USA!

A recent hot-button topic in the US has been the censorship and sometimes outright banning of works of fiction containing content which some find objectionable. While this has so far primarily been applied to books, there’s a possibility that at some time in the future, this could be extended to TCG cards as well. As someone in the industry, what’s your take on this?

First and foremost, I am a designer, artist, and creator. I believe in free speech and free expression of art. My hope is that art is always protected. I am a family man and understand the need to have certain products available for certain age-appropriate audiences.

If this factor is considered, then I believe we can navigate through this time and avoid actual censorship. The medium of cards is only just beginning. This form, this canvas will archive moments in time for all of future time, and that, in and of itself, will forever change the world of art for the better. It is indeed art, and art must remain a free expression.

What’s next for you after the LA Card Show?

The LA Card Show is a continuing voyage. We have many shows and collaborations planned for 2025 and beyond. We are continuing to grow in size and impact and are really changing the game from the inside out. We are excited to continue our relationship with SNKRDUNK and look to help secure its position in our amazing US market.

Our agency is continuing to launch and develop many global brands and my work as a collaborative designer is continuing on some incredible projects debuting soon. Can’t wait to tell you all about! But I will leave you with this… the LA Card Show is for the People. Period. When we do things for the community, the culture grows.

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