I turned £10 into £20k after easy Facebook Marketplace side hustle blew up… now I’m pals with Premier League stars
A BUSINESSMAN has told how he turned £10 into £20,000 after his easy Facebook Marketplace side hustle blew up.
Harry Reynolds, 27, went from flipping PlayStation games on Facebook Marketplace for pocket change to running the UK’s largest trading card event, the London Card Show.
And now he regularly rubs shoulders with football stars who are “secret” traders.
Harry bought his first item for £10, before going on to sell his most expensive card for £20,000.
He started the “flip up challenge” at university and would purchase old boxes of games, cards, action figures and other collectable items to sell on for more.
The turning point came when Harry stumbled upon a vintage Xbox bundle for £30.
He exclusively told The Sun: “I made over £200 from it. Vintage stuff is highly sought after, and people will pay top dollar for it if you know where to look.”
It was moments like this that kept his momentum going.
Another memorable deal from his earlier days was a batch of Harry Potter PlayStation games, bought for under £10 and flipped for £20-plus each.
He added: “Small profits, but over time they add up. I’d do it day in, day out, and those little wins make a big difference.”
Harry admitted his own first purchases – PlayStation games and cuddly toys – were a gamble due to the budget he had at the time.
He said: “I started with just £10, picking up items like Xbox accessories, flipping them online.
“I’d buy things on Facebook Marketplace, and sometimes I’d sell them the same day, sometimes it took a few weeks.
“But over time, I was making more money to reinvest into bigger items. Slowly, my inventory grew.”
Then he was forced to battle balancing his side hustle with a full-time job – at Barclays investment bank.
“The hardest part was time management,” Harry said.
“I had very limited hours, trying to balance my full-time job while focusing on growing my business. It was a constant juggle.”
As Covid restrictions eased, Harry began to see a gap in the market for a major trading card show in London.
“I realised there was nothing like it in the UK. It was a huge gap,” he says. And so, the idea for the London Card Show was born.
Today, the London Card Show is a staple in the trading card world, attracting up to 6,000 collectors and investors.
But Harry’s personal collection is something to behold. “I collect a lot of sports cards – F1, football, NFL. I’ve got thousands in my collection.”
I had very limited hours, trying to balance my full-time job while focusing on growing my business. It was a constant juggle
Harry Reynolds
Among his treasures is a Lewis Hamilton F1 card worth around £10,000.
He added: “It’s tough to put an exact value on rare cards.
“It’s only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it, but I wouldn’t sell it for any less than that.”
But that’s far from the most expensive card he has ever owned.
Harry revealed: “I once sold a Lewis Hamilton card for $25,000 US (£20,000).
“It was in 2021, when the market was at its peak. Crypto was booming, and people had extra disposable income after lockdown. That card went for a crazy price.”
While his personal collection continues to grow, Harry has shifted his focus from flipping cards to running the show.
“As much as I’d love to set up at the London Card Show, I have to be behind the scenes now, making sure everything runs smoothly,” he said.
But he has advice for anyone wanting to follow his lead.
Harry added: “Do your research. Don’t just buy what looks good. Know your budget and be patient. The right deals will come if you put in the time.
“I’m proud of where I’ve come from, but I’m even more excited for where it’s going.”
And a word of stern warning.
“A card’s value can go down just as easily as it goes up,” said Harry.
“A footballer could be the next big thing one year, then suffer a career-ending injury the next.
“Don’t just buy the big-name cards right away. Spend what you’re willing to lose, and buy because you enjoy the hobby—not just for the hope of making money.”
Harry now runs a massive card trading event at Sandown Park Racecourse, the London Card Show,
“It’s crazy that we’ve become such a trusted marketplace,” Harry told The Sun.
“Vendors are bringing over £100,000 worth of cards to each show. It’s not just about one card—sometimes it’s the total value of multiple cards, but it still adds up to a huge amount.”
NEW TRENDS
When asked about what’s trending at the latest London Card Show, Harry said: “Pokémon is always a major draw.
“We get a huge crowd for Pokémon, especially around new releases.
These new sets come out every six months, keeping the demand fresh and exciting.
Alongside Pokémon, other big names in the card world like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh continue to pull in collectors.
How to tell if a card is valuable?
Harry explained the value of a card is determined by several factors: rarity, condition, and demand.
“It’s about supply and demand. If there are only five cards in existence, and everyone wants them, the price goes through the roof,” he said.
He also pointed out that newer cards tied to events like World Cup victories or major championships often carry a premium due to the emotional value associated with them.
“Messi’s World Cup-winning card is worth more than his standard cards because of the historical significance,” Harry added.
One of the most valuable cards sold was a unique Wolverine card – a one-of-one, meaning it’s the only copy in existence.
A recent show in November had a rare Wolverine 1/1 Marvel Topps card turn up – valued at over £140,000.
The card’s pristine condition and its connection to the first-ever Topps Marvel Chrome collection make it a once-in-a-lifetime collectable.
Although the card wasn’t sold at the event, its owner received offers in the ballpark.
“The value of a card is only as much as someone is willing to pay,” explained Harry. “But these offers show just how highly sought-after these collectables are becoming.”
Similarly, a one-of-one Hulk card also made its debut at the show. While no offers were made during the event, Harry estimates the card’s value at no less than £15,000.
“It’s a huge card,” he said. The owner of the Hulk card was also holding out for the best possible offer, and considering discussions in Macau and Dubai – where the card’s valuation might increase even further.
But there’s also a new wave gaining momentum.
“One Piece, based on the anime, has really surged in popularity recently,” Harry explained, highlighting the growing diversity in collectors’ interests.
However, it’s not just trading card games (TCGs) like Pokémon and Magic that are making waves.
Sports cards have become a dominant force at the show.
“The sports presence was the biggest we’ve ever had.
Harry revealed: “It’s not just vendors, but also the number of attendees showing up for sports cards. It’s growing rapidly.”
STAR POWER
Part of the magic behind the success of the London Card Show is its ability to attract big names.
Harry mentioned that football legends like Paul Merson have graced the event for signings, but there’s another secret to the show’s star-studded appeal.
“We’ve had some top-tier football players come down, but they’re secret collectors, so I can’t name names,” Harry teased.
But remained tight-lipped on some high-profile guests who prefer to keep their hobbies under wraps.
The mystery adds an extra layer of allure for fans and collectors alike.
RECORD-BREAKING
With over 6,500 people attending the show, Harry revealed that spotting the most lucrative deals isn’t always easy.
Harry added: “It’s tricky to catch every deal.
“We let the vendors do their thing, and if they have a good show, great. If not, that’s just the way it goes.”
But that doesn’t mean high-value cards don’t change hands at the event.
In fact, some cards were being valued at over £100,000 at the show.
“We did a YouTube video on the five biggest cards we had at the show. Some of them were eye-watering,” he added.
A super rare 1/1 Messi-Ronaldo Dual Autograph card co-signed for auction during the August London Card Show eventually sold for £67,000.
BIG HITTERS
When asked about what makes certain cards more valuable than others, Harry explained that it’s all about rarity and condition.
There’s no one card that stands out as the most valuable,” he said.
“Every set has high-end, middle-tier, and low-value cards. It’s all about finding the rare ones.”
For Pokémon fans, Charizard remains the ultimate prize with Harry noting that the orange dragon is “always the big guy”.
Harry said: “If you’ve got a first edition shadowless Charizard from 1999, you’re sitting on something special.”
The same holds true for sports cards, where players like Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton reign supreme.
Harry pointed out that Messi’s rookie cards from 2005 are now valued at astronomical prices due to their age and rarity.
“That rookie card is one of the most sought-after pieces in the industry,” he said, adding that it’s especially valuable in pristine condition, given how few were made back then.
MESSI MAGIC
Messi’s 2005 rookie cards are “what everyone’s after,” Harry said.
“It’s so rare, and with Messi being arguably if not the greatest player of all time, it’s a card that every collector wants in their collection.”
But it’s not just the older cards that command big money. Harry explained that Messi’s more recent cards, particularly those tied to his iconic World Cup win, are also highly sought after.
“World Cup autographs are particularly valuable because of the sentimental value they carry,” he said.
“Everyone wants a piece of that history.”
However, the value of these cards isn’t purely sentimental.
Harry noted that the rarity of a card – how many of them exist -also plays a big role in determining its worth.
“The lower the numbered card, the more expensive it is,” he said, citing that a card numbered to 10 will always be worth more than one numbered to 25.
How does the card grading system work?
Condition is one of the most crucial elements in determining a card’s value, according to Harry.
He explained how PSA, the grading company the show works with, evaluates cards based on four criteria: surface, edges, corners, and centering.
A card graded a 10 is in pristine condition, while a card graded a 1 could have been severely damaged. Surface scratches, edge wear, and poorly printed centering all detract from a card’s value, while a perfect print job and sharp corners can elevate it. But it’s not just condition that impacts value; rarity and the player’s success also play significant roles.
Harry pointed to the example of rising star Kobbie Mainoo, whose card skyrocketed in value after a standout season with Manchester United and England. “At the start of the season, not many people knew who Mainoo was. By the end of the season, his card prices were through the roof,” he explained.
“However, a rare card of an unknown player might not hold its value until they prove themselves on the field. It’s all about the player’s reputation, performance, and of course, the card’s rarity,” Harry said.