A TOY shop has recorded its busiest day ever as fans queued around the block for Pokémon merchandise, released to mark the 30th anniversary of the global phenomenon.
Crowds gathered outside Toys and Games of Worcester on Broad Street on Wednesday to get their hands on Pokémon trading cards, including ETBs, EX collections, and EX tins as fans announced ‘I choose you!’
Some super fans wore Pikachu hats as queues stretched along Broad Street and customers faced a fresh battle – to pick up the latest merchandise. The most popular item was the Pokémon Elite Trainer Box (ETB), selling for £50, which sold out by 9.30am on Wednesday.
RECORD: Tim Evans of Toys and Games of Worcester said it had been a record day for the Pokémon 30th anniversary (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Tim Evans of Toys and Games, who has an original pack of trading cards from the launch in 1996, said people had been queueing to pick up seven different Pokémon products for the anniversary – with more products expected in the run-up to Christmas.
If you’ve been living in a cave for the last 30 years, Pokémon is a global phenomenon which is centred on fictional creatures called Pokémon (roughly translating as pocket monsters) that humans catch, train, and battle, spawning games, toys, trading cards, mobile apps, an animated series and other merchandise.
BUSY: The queue for Toys and Games of Worcester snakes along Broad Street in Worcester for the Pokémon 30th anniversary (Image: Toys and Games of Worcester)
Mr Evans started his toy shop business in 1994 with only £300 in his pocket and a passion for movies, so Pokémon has been a big part of the business from the beginning.
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The shop normally opens at 9.30am but the shop opened early at 8am on Wednesday because of demand for the Pokémon products.
ORIGINAL: Tim Evans with an original pack of Pokémon cards from 1996 at the counter of Toys and Games of Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Mr Evans said: “Some of the products arrived yesterday. Some arrived this morning, and the first queue was for products delivered yesterday and the second queue, from 10am onwards, was for products delivered today – and we’re still selling it. This is our best ever day. We have not stopped.
“Pokémon has been really strong since Covid and really strong for the last two years. It just continues to go to new heights. I don’t think we will get to the end of the day before we sell out.”
However, for those left disappointed, he promised there would be regular drops to restock until Christmas, including ‘ghost drops’ where stock arrives without prior announcement.
A spokesman for the shop said: “Stock had to be limited to one ETB and, one EX collection or one Tin per person.
“Later in the day we are due Poster & Binder Collections. No set time is available on this but it should be early afternoon
“Preorder ‘Ready to collect from Wednesday’ emails were sent out for ETBS and was expected to follow for Poster & Binders, as soon as the stock has arrived.
