14 Feb 2026
Since they first launched in Japan back in 1996, Pokémon Cards have been omnipresent in capturing the imaginations of ‘trainers’ the world over, writes Sarah Clarke.
Whether you collected them as kids, collected them for your kids, or have never owned a card in your life – you’d be hard pushed to find someone who couldn’t pick out a Pikachu in a line-up of cute, anthropomorphised creatures. (Fun fact: Pikachu was originally inspired by a squirrel, and I can’t help but be relieved that the acorn-launching snipers in my back garden aren’t also powered by electricity).
But did you know that the old card collection gathering dust at the back of a cupboard could now be worth more than you paid for them? So much so that St Albans-based entrepreneur and new dad Kai Taylor has turned his passion for Pokémon into a full-time career.
He has launched ZenCards – a Pokémon Card trading business – with his newly-Pokémon-obsessed father-in-law, in the hope of turning cards into cash.
Kai explained the origins of his fascination: “Pokémon was a huge part of my childhood. Like a lot of people my age, I grew up watching the show, trading cards in the playground, and being completely obsessed with it. As I got older, life and work took over, and it drifted into the background.
“A few years ago, I rediscovered the cards and it instantly brought back that same excitement but this time with a collector’s mindset. What started as a bit of nostalgia quickly turned into a genuine passion and, hopefully, a business that gives other people that same feeling of excitement and connection.”
He said his all-time favourite Pokémon character is the bipedial lizard Charmander: “In the animated series, Charmander is famously abandoned by its original trainer and left waiting in the rain, later going on to form a deep bond with Ash (Ketchum, the human protagonist).
“That storyline really resonates with me on a personal level. The idea of being left behind, finding your own strength, and eventually being chosen and valued mirrors parts of my own life.
“Because of that, Charmander isn’t just a Pokémon to me it represents resilience, growth, and finding where you truly belong.”
Part of the thrill of collecting trading cards is not knowing what you’re going to find, and Kai has his own experience of opening a pack which delivered beyond expectations.
“The best pack I’ve ever opened was a ‘god pack’ pulled live on our Whatnot stream.
“A ‘god pack’ is what collectors call a pack filled entirely with high end hits [the best cards]. What made it even crazier was that just minutes earlier we’d been talking about ‘god packs’, and I’d said I didn’t believe they were real – I thought people were faking them. Less than 15 minutes later, it happened.
“The pack was a White Flare pack, and every single card was a rare full art card. Pulling it live, with everyone watching, was completely unreal.”
So what would be his dream Pokémon card? “I have a dream collection more than a card. My dream would be to have a Wizards Of West Coast Generation 1 Master Set.”
ZenCards is currently operating as an online business, buying and selling used and brand-new Pokémon cards and collectors sets; with the most exciting finds documented on social media. The ultimate plan however is to open a trading card and anime store locally – so watch this space!
They’ve also got an Ebay shop: https://ebay.us/m/LuE6Qy
And a TikTok channel: https://www.tiktok.com/@zenlegacy?_r=1&_t=ZN-93haJotxMuM
