SPORTS TRADING CARDS WITH DIO NIKIFOROS | E057 PODCAST
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ABOUT THE GUEST
Dio Nikiforos is a key member of the Trace ’n Chase team, helping lead Europe’s premier destination for sports trading cards, memorabilia, and collectibles. Based in Thessaloniki, Greece, Dio plays an active role in shaping the brand’s culture, curating its exclusive collections, and building connections with collectors worldwide.
Trace ’n Chase has quickly become the leading European trading cards and memorabilia agency, and is an official direct retailer for Panini, Upper Deck, Topps, and Fanatics. Beyond simply retail, it has built a true hub for fans and collectors, featuring a basketball court lined with NBA jerseys, Europe’s largest showcase of cards and memorabilia, a private lounge, and event spaces that bring the hobby to life.
With Dio’s involvement, Trace ’n Chase has hosted NBA-affiliated events, youth tournaments, and global collector showcases, reinforcing its role not just as a shop, but as a cultural destination. From rare finds and “holy grail” pulls to strategic global expansion — including a new U.S. store in New Jersey — Dio continues to help drive Trace ’n Chase’s mission of elevating the hobby and making Thessaloniki a home for collectors around the world.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Trace 'n Chase's Dio Nikiforos in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things sports trading cards, sports memorabilia, global expansion, NBA professionals and so much more.
“Nick Gallis is the reason that everybody loved basketball, because he was like a type of player that nobody had ever seen in Greece.”
MEDIA RELATED TO THE EPISODE
George Stroumboulis sits down with Trace 'n Chase's Dio Nikiforos in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things sports trading cards, sports memorabilia, global expansion, NBA professionals and so much more.
Filmed in Thessaloniki, Greece — George Stroumboulis chats with Trace ’n Chase’s Dio Nikiforos about sports cards, memorabilia, NBA professionals, and how a Greek brand is redefining the global hobby market.
In Thessaloniki, Greece, George Stroumboulis joins Trace ’n Chase’s Dio Nikiforos on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to dive into the world of sports trading cards, NBA legends, memorabilia, and the company’s exciting global expansion.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Anthony Skordi in Athens, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about voice acting in award-winning video games, acting on London and Broadway stages, and how Greek resilience shaped his journey in the arts.
From NBA collectibles to international growth, George Stroumboulis sits down with Trace ’n Chase’s Dio Nikiforos in Thessaloniki on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast for a deep dive into the booming sports trading card industry.
ABOUT THE “INVIGORATE YOUR BUSINESS” PODCAST
The Invigorate Your Business with George Stroumboulis podcast features casual conversations and personal interviews with business leaders in their respective fields of expertise. Crossing several industry types and personal backgrounds, George sits down with inspiring people to discuss their business, how they got into that business, their path to the top of their game and the trials and tribulations experienced along the way. We want you to get inspired, motivated, and then apply any advice to your personal and professional lives. If there is at least one piece of advice that resonates with you after listening, then this podcast is a success. New episodes weekly. Stream our show on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon and all other platforms.
ABOUT GEORGE STROUMBOULIS
George Stroumboulis is an entrepreneur to the core, having launched several ventures across multiple industries and international markets. He has held senior-level positions at progressive companies and government institutions, both domestically and internationally, building an extensive portfolio of business know-how over the years and driving profit-generating results. George’s ability to drive real change has landed him in several media outlets, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal. George was born in Toronto, Canada to his Greek immigrant parents. Family first. Flying over 300,000 miles a year around the world puts into perspective how important family is to George’s mental and emotional development. With all this travel to global destinations, the longest he stays even in the most far-out destination is 3 days or less - a personal rule he lives by to make sure he is present and involved in family life with his wife and three daughters. To read about George’s global travels, stay connected with his blog section.
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FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPT
George Stroumboulis: 0:00
This episode comes from Thessaloniki, Greece, and I get to sit down with the team from Trace N Chase. They are a powerhouse sports card trading company based in northern Greece. They have created a global footprint across the European Union and now opening up a new showroom in the United States. They have an incredible business. They've become a player in this global landscape of sports card trading. Their showroom here in Thessaloniki is absolutely wonderful. We get to show you around. We get to have a discussion with Dio Nikiforos, member of the team here, and just really understand what they're doing differently as they're expanding this business. So enjoy this episode starting now.
George Stroumboulis: 0:43
My name is George Stroumboulis and I'm extremely passionate about traveling the world, meeting new people and learning about new businesses. Join me as I sit down with other entrepreneurs to learn about their journeys. This episode of Invigorate your Business starts now. This episode of Invigorate your Business starts now. Okay, I am in Thessaloniki, greece, flew in about four hours ago and straight here, got to check out this incredible space and it's so unassuming. You're in downtown Thessaloniki, you go through this door and then it's this paradise downstairs.
George Stroumboulis: 1:20
It's a big surprise, man. It is awesome. Welcome, nice seeing you here. Appreciate you having me here. This is awesome. We are at Trace and Chase in Thessaloniki, but it doesn't mean we're just Thessaloniki. You guys are expanding globally. We're going to get into that. For the listeners, I'm going to do a quick summary right here, Sure sure. Talking about the business After. Correct me, let me know, but it's pretty incredible. So I'm sitting here with Dionysios Nikiforos. Go by, Dio.
Dio Nikiforos: 1:43
Yeah, go by Dio.
George Stroumboulis: 1:51
So Trace Chase, founded in Thessaloniki, greece, in 2021, has rapidly grown into Europe's largest hobby shop for trading cards and memorabilia. In just a few years, it has transformed from a bold idea into a global brand, bridging culture, retail and community. Partnering directly with industry leaders like Panini, tops, upper Deck and Fanatics, trace Chase offers collectors exclusive access to rare cards and memorabilia. With their recent expansion to the USA through a new store in New Jersey, they're positioning themselves as a truly international powerhouse in the hobby market. You guys are going to New Jersey. We're going to get into that. I actually leave tomorrow.
Dio Nikiforos: 2:22
You did your homework man, we did our homework.
George Stroumboulis: 2:24
Listen, I think we're still going to go, but the story for what you guys are doing out of you know, small city, thessaloniki, on a global scale, with all these brands, it's insane.
Dio Nikiforos: 2:34
And there's a story behind that. If you want me to go on with that, we are so really quick.
George Stroumboulis: 2:39
Beyond Sales, the brand has built a vibrant cultural hub in Thessaloniki, as you can see here, with a mini basketball core, a lounge. You guys host events here, Interviews, Interviews, Former NBA stars, Greek players are coming through here. This has become a hub right for culture.
Dio Nikiforos: 2:55
Exactly.
George Stroumboulis: 2:56
So and you joined the team during COVID when you guys launched. So I want, in your words, first of all, thank you for sitting down, but in your words. How do you describe the space and what you guys do?
Dio Nikiforos: 3:06
Yeah. So first of all we've got to give credit where it's due. And this whole thing, this beautiful thing, is an idea that came out straight from our managing director, yonis Sombolos. So he was a collector and he had in his possession a lot of those items and at some point he's a businessman. So he turned into business and he came up with the idea to build a space like that and then try to see if there is a place for us in the market. And I remember getting the call from Yanni and he was like hey, you want to come check my new venture? Like sure, whatever. Then I stepped into this place. I see this venue and I wonder Yanni, what's the plan here? So the plan was basically to do something very simple to run to bring the hobby, the hobby culture in Europe, because in Europe a lot of collectors, they already know about stickers. This has been huge for us, especially when we were growing in Greece and all over Europe.
George Stroumboulis: 4:02
The sneaker culture, the sticker.
Dio Nikiforos: 4:05
Stickers. Okay, yes, yes, yes, which is still, you know, very big all over the world. So the idea is to introduce, you know, the people in Europe in the hobby culture and the card culture, which is a little bit different because you have to do, you know, the different kind of product. So Yanni's vision was, you know, let's see if we can build a business in Europe, because apparently nobody was doing that in Europe and, to be honest, you know, the success of our business is because we built something from scratch. But the idea was very simple Just offer to the people here in Europe something that was not available.
Dio Nikiforos: 4:38
That's how we started and you know the way we run the business is. We're trying to make everybody that we're working with look good because, you know, we represent the leagues and the athletes Right, these are, you know, the people that need to be on top of everything and be the examples for young kids and the next generations. This is what we do since day one and fortunately, you know, our business has been able to develop to the point where we're now expanding slowly. Like you said, we're just starting a new shop in.
George Stroumboulis: 5:10
USA New.
Dio Nikiforos: 5:11
Jersey. So welcome to Trace and Say's, greece. I hope to see you in Trace and Say's, usa, new.
George Stroumboulis: 5:16
Jersey. Listen man. First of all, congrats to you and your team. Thank you. To be here and then say, hey, you know what, we're going to go to the tri-state New Jersey right as a stepping stone, and I know you have future plans that you guys could share. But you know, out of here you're a privately held company so you can't share financials, but millions of dollars of memorabilia and cards are going through this business right.
Dio Nikiforos: 5:38
Yes, but, like I said, you know, it's very simple because we pretty much, you know, we filled in a gap that was in the European market. You know, there were people that were bringing this kind of product but they were not running the operation as a business. They were sipping product, you know, from their basement or they didn't have the volume to sell and, you know, make a nice profit for them. So we were very fortunate because, you know, since day one we communicated our vision to our partners and partners. Since day one we communicated our vision to our partners and partners.
Dio Nikiforos: 6:05
I mean the big guys like Panini and Topps and Fanatics and Upper Deck. They were surprised to see something taking place in Greece. But, to be honest with you, they had to visit and see that this place is actually real, because someone might say, well, actually we're in Thessaloniki. But most of them they visited, they came here and they saw our venue and the way we do business and they have been very supportive of us and that's what we're doing with our new venue, actually in New Jersey. We wouldn't be there without them.
George Stroumboulis: 6:34
For sure. Yeah Is basketball the anchor sport.
Dio Nikiforos: 6:38
Basketball is the main one. Soccer is big in Europe as well. To be honest, the soccer product that we're getting it gets sold out immediately.
George Stroumboulis: 6:47
Okay, like what Jersey signed jerseys stuff.
Dio Nikiforos: 6:50
I got to make this point. The main business of our SOAP is 90, 95% trading cards, trading boxes. So the rest is memorabilia, it's like the chair on the top, but mostly it's cards. So there's a demand for soccer because it's very popular. And then we got, you know countries like you know UK and Germany, where the demand for NFL football is very big. So I would say you know it's basketball, football, soccer, and then the rest of you know we have trading cards. You know for WWE and UFC, there's tennis products, right, and all kinds of products. You know the collector, the, the, the hobby, the hobby cycle that we're talking about, we're talking about in this product that you know is being addressed to a specific amount of people, very loyal and, uh, if you, if you spend the time you get to see you know how, how much of you know homework needs to be done to go after. You know the players and the teams and the sets that you want to like.
George Stroumboulis: 7:46
you know collect I grew up collecting hockey cards. That was my big thing when I was 10.
George Stroumboulis: 7:52
So we're talking 35 years ago and I remember going and getting at the time I think it was tops upper deck was more baseball for sure, and I predict they still have the license for hockey they still do, okay, yeah, and I remember I was so into it back then in the collecting and back then my biggest card was like you wouldn't know, but it was Eric Lindros or Wendell Clark or Doug Gilmore. I know the big names. Yeah, not Wayne Gretzky. Yeah, obviously, but now that I'm older I didn't get back into it. I have daughters so I'm like you know they're not into it, so I never got back into cards.
Dio Nikiforos: 8:30
Yes, so, like for someone your age, you know, and this is like the magic of the hobby. A lot of people are getting back because you know they have the kids and this is like a great hobby to have son especially, and your daughter especially if your daughters play soccer, for example, because you know it connects, you know the the family in a in a very unique way and I would say, very healthy way, because you know you can have, you know kids doing all kinds of different activities that you know their parents are happy or you can do something together that you know strengthens the bond and, you know, gets you some money as well. I mean, to be honest, you know I'm very surprised every time we go visit usa and we go to those card shows. You see you know young kids carrying, you know cards that are worth, you know, thousands of dollars and you know this is knowledge that they got, you know through learning, through, you know, getting exposed to the market, which, you know, something that everybody wants to see for their kids.
George Stroumboulis: 9:19
Absolutely so. Talk to me about the operations of the cards in general. Right, so I could go online. I could go on eBay, amazon, you know the resellers. But how does it actually work? So you buy it from your partners and then you mark it up and then like, why come to you versus someone?
Dio Nikiforos: 9:36
else. Exactly so. We got to distinguish, first of all, to the market that was taking place 20 years ago and what is happening now. So 20, 25 years ago, with stickers and with the market that was taking place 20 years ago and what is happening now. So 20, 25 years ago, with stickers and with the cards that used to be printed back in the day, the differences was they were being printed in millions of copies, so it was the same card that was going different places, and you know that brings down the value of this card.
Dio Nikiforos: 10:00
Now, fast forward 2009, and when Panini and Merrick actually took over with the license of NBA and NFL, you know they came up with a different approach, and the approach was you know, we're going to print out, you know, less amount of cards and we're going to make it more valuable. How do you do that, you might ask? So you got cards that are numbered. Now you got cards that have autographs. You got cards that have, you know, pieces of the jersey Real autographs in the back, Exactly so. For example that's a good question An on-cart auto with a numbering out of 10, say, has more value compared to a card with a sticker auto and a numbering that is out of 200. So we have to make this distinguish so that you know, we understand that it's a different market. And then we've got to explain. You know, explain how things work.
Dio Nikiforos: 10:43
So if you want to buy a card, you have to buy a box. So these cards come out in boxes and we know these boxes represent specific brands. Some of them have been in the market for years and each box has a different configuration. So, for example, there are hobby boxes that usually have an autograph, so these are like the cards of value that collectors go after. There are blasters in retail boxes where people are buying because they want to collect, and the volatility there is smaller, obviously, Sure.
Dio Nikiforos: 11:14
So the main point here is that we're talking about a product that is not circulating in millions and that means that you have a specific amount of production.
Dio Nikiforos: 11:27
Let's say that it's like a Panini Prism basketball box. So we know exactly what the numbers are, but you know there's going to be only, say, 5,000 boxes that are out in the market. So that means that the minute that you get an identification about this product, it's probably going to sell out immediately and that means that this is a product that anyone can sell. You can go on eBay and put it on eBay and it's going to go up in minutes. You can. Actually, there are different kinds of reselling that a lot of people are doing, but the hard thing is to get the product. And I'm very glad because what this made that these companies are doing and have made it clear to us since day one is that they need they, they ask for us to have a shop and they need for us to have, like, a place where we expose the product and we show the people. You know what they're after this is sorry.
Dio Nikiforos: 12:20
The card manufacturer asked for a shot exactly so they want to see that, because they want to expose the product. It's very easy to give you a few boxes because you can sell them, but the work that we're doing here and the way that we promote the business in these companies is what puts us ahead. So, to be honest with you, if you want to start a business like ours, you can do it. You just have to bring the manpower and present something that is in this line, so showcasing the product and giving everyone a vision about what's the trading card.
Dio Nikiforos: 12:54
A lot of people they step in, they don't know anything about trading cards. So we've got a big collection here and we're doing a lot of work educating people about what is a trading card and all these things. I will talk about the market.
George Stroumboulis: 13:04
Yeah, it's a great explanation. So talk to me as an investment because we'll show after. But you look around and there's cards everywhere, there's boxes, there's different stuff. You know what are the. Is this a good investment? So if someone has real estate and stocks and bonds, like, do you think this is a good investment?
Dio Nikiforos: 13:21
That's a very good question, because there are different types of collectors. There are, obviously, collectors that just collect because of the sentiment and because they will collect their favorite players and their favorite teams. There are some collectors that they just want to flip. We live in an area where everyone can flip a card or a box, that's it.
Dio Nikiforos: 13:39
So the third category is the ones that are investing, and this is like a category that we encourage people to do, because every year you got new players that come out, and when I say invest is, I can bring out, you know, the example of Giannis Antetokounmpo. So, let's say, back in 2014, Giannis gets drafted and his rookie cards, which are always the ones that have the most value his rookie cards, you know, were printed in these boxes. Nobody knew Giannis. So if you said back in the day that I'm going to invest in Giannis, I can see Giannis having a long career and you bought his rookie cards it's very likely that today you're a millionaire, especially when we're talking about some of the cards with lower numbering.
Dio Nikiforos: 14:21
The same happened with Luka Doncic, and so there are a lot of people that do that. You know all kinds of sports. They invest in a player and they, you know, they wait for him to, just like you know, become a superstar, and then you resell his cards and on and on. This is how the market works and we're actually very happy because, like I said, giannis has been a collector and since day one, he invested into Giannis and Luca Doncic so we have some amazing cards.
Dio Nikiforos: 14:46
I hope I have the time at some point to show you some of these cards.
George Stroumboulis: 14:48
That's incredible. So do you guys just hold on to that, just to have?
Dio Nikiforos: 14:53
Yes, it's always an option, but right now I would say that nobody's selling Giannis, because you know the sky's the limit. This guy just won, you know, the bronze medal and you know he's still relatively young. So he's still relatively young, so he can go on and win even more. But talking about cards of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, these are some of the grails of the hobby and everybody's after these cards. It's very hard to get a Jordan autograph these days, but you can try.
George Stroumboulis: 15:22
Oh, yeah, Didn't the Jordan rookie card? One of them just went for three and a half million, I believe they keep selling all the time.
Dio Nikiforos: 15:29
So the thing with Jordan is his rookie card. It's just like a simple card. Personally, there have been some Michael Jordan cards later on with Upper Deck. I have his signature and jersey pads. These are phenomenal cards. Oh, really so, and these are something that you cannot find because Upper Deck doesn't have the license now, so they're not printing anymore. And the same happened with, you know, with all the big guys LeBron as well, and Kobe, and on and on Absolutely.
George Stroumboulis: 15:54
I was watching last month. I don't know if you've watched Shark Tank when you were living in the States. The bald guy, mr Wonderful right Kevin O'Leary. He was on. He was talking about his portfolio and he invests in watches and everything and the guy's wealthy. But he and two other investors went in and bought. I think it was a.
Dio Nikiforos: 16:11
It was a Kobe and Jordan card. Yes, that was. It was actually sewn at the National. This summer it went on an auction and we were surprised, but not surprised at the same time, because he's been doing a great job like promoting, you know, the hobby of collecting and he's, and he's talking real numbers and he sees the value of it. If it comes from a person like him, then you know that the game is real.
George Stroumboulis: 16:34
It brings that validity to it right. Exactly. And then who else not on the professional side, but who else in business, has been a big collector? I always see Gary Vaynerchuk as a big card guy.
Dio Nikiforos: 16:45
Gary Vaynerchuk has been one of the pioneers. He has a nice collection and he came out with his own brand now with Topps doing some, you know, specific cards. They're like Pokemon. Then you got so many other people in the music industry and the entertainment industry, like, for example, steve Aoki, who actually visited here. He's one of the collectors, he has a great PC. All these guys, you know they're true collectors and we're always glad to connect with them because you know all they do is they communicate their passion. You know that's what everybody wants to see at the end of the day.
George Stroumboulis: 17:18
Yeah, so for the listeners, Steve Aoki, if you don't know. Top three DJs in the world. No doubt he came with a Saloniki grease, so he brought his collection.
Dio Nikiforos: 17:26
He had an event that we actually reached out to him, because in every city he goes he does like a treasure hunt.
George Stroumboulis: 17:31
Okay.
Dio Nikiforos: 17:31
So we reached out to him and you know we're like. You know, steve, this is our. You know a little venue. If you can like, if you want to drop by and like open some, some boxes, we'd be glad to have you. And immediately, you know, he responded. I connected with his agent and he came here. We did some basketball, we gave him some collectible cards for his PC. He did some Pokemon as well.
Dio Nikiforos: 17:54
He's into Pokemon. He was excited, but you know this is like you're always glad to have this kind of people because you know they are the ambassadors the true ambassadors of the hobby, absolutely. And one of the things we're trying to do is like we're trying to bring as many as the athletes that get involved in here. Yannis is actually at the Tokubo. He's a big-time collector. We haven't been able to get him here yet.
George Stroumboulis: 18:15
Are you guys talking? I feel like he should be here.
Dio Nikiforos: 18:18
We have a communication with him. He's a busy man, obviously, but it's very interesting because we know he's a collector and we know when he's here he's going to be surprised by some of the cars that we have okay, so we got to tag him in this one.
George Stroumboulis: 18:28
Make sure that he calls out who was one of the first um celebrity athletes that came through here.
Dio Nikiforos: 18:34
We were like, oh, we're doing something yeah, uh, we're very proud to have Nick Gallis here. You know, for anyone that is born in Greece, they know, you know, nick Gallis is, uh, the legend and, uh, we're excited to have him here for an interview. He doesn't do this very often and I gotta tell the people that we're working on more appearances with Nick Gallis and we have some nice things to present with him soon. But after Nick, we have all this, like the golden generation of basketball in the, the mid 2000 that came here from vasilis panulis and nico zisis and todoris papalukas and on and on. Uh, occasionally we get, you know, some american guys playing in the basketball teams of the city, like we had, you know, mario solomers, three-time champion, I think, with lebron jay in miami. He dropped by here. So, yeah, like you know, our vision is always we want to create, you know, this emotion and especially when it comes to professional athletes and their cards, this is, like you know, it hits hard, jeez.
George Stroumboulis: 19:35
Well, talk about Nikos Gallis right now. He's local, isn't he? From Thessaloniki, yeah, or the area, yeah.
Dio Nikiforos: 19:41
He lives here. Yeah, obviously, he was born in New York. He went to college there, he played at Seton Hall, he was drafted by the Celtics and we actually have one of his very first cards without a picture of him and he got an invitation to go to the training camp with the Celtics and he had a minor injury and Red Albar actually was the coach and he had to cut him and he always said that he regretted that because immediately after that, all the Greek teams here they found out about him and they tried to get him. Aris was the one that got his signature. Eventually they brought him here and it was amazing.
Dio Nikiforos: 20:22
Nick Gallis is the reason that everybody loved basketball, because he was like a type of player that nobody had ever seen in Greece and he helped elevate both Harris and the Greek basketball team. And I got to say, you know, for everyone that doesn't know about Nick Gallis and who Nick Gallis is, nick Gallis and Oscar Smith, brazilian guy, also a legend are the only two guys that have been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, even though they didn't play a single game in the NBA. But their respect for them, you know, is beyond anything.
George Stroumboulis: 20:52
I didn't even know that fact.
Dio Nikiforos: 20:53
Yeah, these are the stories that we live by.
George Stroumboulis: 20:56
So you got Gallis and then Yanis Adedokubo. Yes, I know different generations, but who do you think had more of an impact on Greek basketball?
Dio Nikiforos: 21:05
That's a tough question, man, like the thing that you know. What Nick Gallis did, I think it cannot be, you know, replicated in any way, because he brought to Greece something that was pretty much non-existent before you know. Everybody was playing soccer, they knew about basketball, but basketball was unprofessional. What Giannis did on the same time is equally impressive, because there are so many messages that come out of the life of Giannis and for me the best one, and what I think connects Giannis with Nick Gallis, is the hard work, because even Nick Gallis as well, he came out from a poor family, he started from the bottom, but his hard work is what made him come to the point where he is. And I know Yannis was blessed enough to play in the NBA, so he has bigger exposure. But again, I will go with what Nick Gallis did, and it's so nice to see the respect that Yannis has for Nick Gallis. Every time they're together he calls him Mr Nick. It's straight out of respect.
George Stroumboulis: 22:03
So it's amazing. That's incredible. I grew up in Toronto and Toronto won the championship in 2019, 18-19. Yep.
Dio Nikiforos: 22:11
Kawhi, kawhi. But you say Kawhi.
George Stroumboulis: 22:14
Like nobody wants a statue of Kawhi.
Dio Nikiforos: 22:16
Yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 22:17
Vince Carter put basketball on the map for.
Dio Nikiforos: 22:19
Toronto Exactly, exactly. That's the reason why generations were playing yes, mr.
George Stroumboulis: 22:23
Canada himself, mr Canada, they loved him, and then Kawhi won, and then he left the next day.
Dio Nikiforos: 22:27
Yes.
George Stroumboulis: 22:28
Yes, thank you, but it was Vince Carter, I remember.
Dio Nikiforos: 22:30
Exactly, yeah, kawhi got you the trophy. But yeah, no doubt what Vince Carter did, because a lot of people don't know. You know there were two teams. Nope, they had to move to Memphis, but Toronto, I'm glad to see them. You know, they're still one of the top teams in the NBA.
George Stroumboulis: 22:46
Absolutely. That was a great run. Is collecting cards a bubble Like? Will it go away?
Dio Nikiforos: 22:53
That's also a good question. I wouldn't say it's a bubble, because the reason I say that is because it brings something real. So you know I could speak myself. I'm not a big time collector, but I know that. You know, I have in my, in my house, like a nice big corner. You know, with all the guys that I get inspiration to. You know, get up every morning and try to become, you know, great.
Dio Nikiforos: 23:15
I think this is something that connects teams and athletes with you know, all of us. You know whether you're you're you know someone that you know works in the farmers market, or you're like a ceo, you, you gotta have you're someone that works in the farmer's market or you're a CEO. You got to have someone that you look after and you say, well, this is great, I'm going to look up to him. So I got to say it's not a bubble. The numbers have been growing and we got to say that what happened in COVID was a little bit of a bubble and it has to do with the fact that you know people were stuck in their homes. Sure, so there was, you know they started buying cards, but also, at the same time, a lot of people. They got involved and they understood. You know what this thing is. And now they want to stay in the game because, at the end of the day, you know it's a beautiful thing.
Dio Nikiforos: 23:59
You know people buy shit man, and they love doing that they love having a nice Vince Carter signed jersey or a rookie card of Vince Carter. We actually have a Vince Carter jersey up there, the original one with the Raptors huh.
George Stroumboulis: 24:14
Yeah, that's exactly it, when the logo was actually the red yeah.
Dio Nikiforos: 24:17
I love that logo, man, that was the best logo, the dinos.
George Stroumboulis: 24:21
The space is absolutely incredible. Just talking about this right now, give us some stats Like what's the most expensive card that you've ever sold Like out of here, and what was that card?
Dio Nikiforos: 24:34
Yeah, so I have to check with George. So what we're doing, we have an eBay shop as well, and that's where we sell a lot of our singles. Yeah, so I think it's a baseball card, to be honest, what we're doing. We have an eBay shop as well, and that's where we sell a lot of our singles. So I think it's a baseball card, to be honest. I don't remember if it's a tiny one or someone else, but it's got to be like a rookie card with an own card. Then, on top of that, we had some nice basketball rookie cards of guys that people are investing into.
Dio Nikiforos: 25:02
So this is going to take some of them. They're not good investments, obviously. And then everything that has to do with Ronaldo and Messi. We obviously sold that, you know from Kaboom, and there's like this box of trading cards. It's called Eminence, okay, and back in the Qatar World Cup, it was the first time that Panini came out with an Eminence soccer box. We had the pleasure to get some of those and some of the cards there. They sold for thousands, obviously, the Ronaldo and the Messi's. We're talking about a high-end card and we're very happy actually, because this year it's going to be an NBA Eminence box. This doesn't come out every year.
George Stroumboulis: 25:42
So this is something that a collector is going after.
Dio Nikiforos: 25:45
To give you another example, it's like another mid-tier box that came out. We actually have it over there. It's called NBA Silhouette and because Panini this year is going to lose the license for the NBA, so they put out in this box five autographs and they have a lot of the patches from jerseys and signatures from players back in the day. So me as an Orlando Magic fan.
George Stroumboulis: 26:11
I went in there on eBay and I'm looking, you know, for some of those cards that are very rare and they're not going to be printed again.
Dio Nikiforos: 26:14
This is nerd talk man, but that's crazy. Yeah, that's why we're into this hobby thing.
George Stroumboulis: 26:18
Yeah, and so when you're opening your location in the States, in here, what's the demographic, what's a typical client of yours here in Europe versus what you're going to see in the States? And here, what's the demographic, what's a typical client of yours here in Europe versus what you're going to see in the States or already see in the States? Yeah, so Like different price points, different, you know.
Dio Nikiforos: 26:33
Yeah, obviously there's a difference in pricing. That has to do, you know, with how the market operates. Now, the big difference that I want to talk about, compared to the shop we have here, is our shop in New Jersey has like an on-site full breaking operation, and I don't know if you want to explain to people what breaking is, because it is something that you know has developed in recent years.
Dio Nikiforos: 26:54
So let's say yes, let's talk about breaking. So let's say that you want to buy a basketball box, but it's one of, like you know, mid to high end and it's worth, like you know, $1,200. You won't spend that money, right? So you go into a break and on this break what happens is, you know, tracyn says we'll offer the option for you to buy a spot in a box break and that means you can either select your team or bid for your team. Let's say your, what's your favorite team? Let's say the Raptors. Okay, so you're going to buy a spot for the Raptors. So the breaker is going to open live, all the cards of this box and everything that has Toronto Raptors is going to go to you. So that means you might get an auto, might get no cards, but this is like a very approachable way for everyone to get cards on their hand, especially since some of those boxes they're not easy to hit.
Dio Nikiforos: 27:46
So what we're doing in us, you know, we're setting up an on-site operation with our partner. He's been, uh, one of the top breaking operations already. His, uh, his name is rip hamilton. You know, all collectors know about him and, uh, we're gonna get a lot of exposure through that and this is the main difference compared to here here. What we're doing in europe basically is, like I said, you know we're filling a gap, so you know we dispatch, you know, boxes and cards all over Europe to places like, for example, madrid. In Spain, they don't have a hobby shop, not like a big one like ours.
Dio Nikiforos: 28:19
They have like a single hobby shop where you can buy, you know, nfl, nba or soccer. So we're fulfilling a lot of orders all over Europe and you know, making sure that you know these people get a product that otherwise it's not very easy to get, especially with the whole tariffs and custom situation right now. You can buy your box straight from US but you have to pay customs. That's going to put like a 20 and even more burden on your order. Then you're going to have to wait and on and on. So it's very important for collectors to get their carts on time and we make sure you know we take care of that, you know, from our hub here.
George Stroumboulis: 28:52
So the one in New Jersey will be a retail shop, essentially At the same time it's going to be a retail shop with a break-in operation.
Dio Nikiforos: 29:00
The same thing we're going to have like a different website. You know people can order online as well, but the main difference is the culture is different in the US. So people during the weekend they take their kids and they go visit a hobby shop like ours. So you will see a lot of dads walking in and I will ask them if you make a three-point shot, you get a free pack, okay there you go, you want to see that interaction and you want to connect people with that market.
Dio Nikiforos: 29:27
And New Jersey is a very underrated hub for collectors and I know there are a lot of people that will be just coming and visiting our premises there.
George Stroumboulis: 29:37
What was the thought process of Jersey? Specifically, where in Jersey, trenton?
Dio Nikiforos: 29:41
It's Wayne County, totowa, yeah, so why there? So that's a good question. It has to do with our partner there, rip Hamilton, and the braking operation. He's been running it there, are you?
George Stroumboulis: 29:52
saying Rip Hamilton the basketball player.
Dio Nikiforos: 29:54
Yeah, exactly, yeah, no way.
George Stroumboulis: 29:56
And his logo is from. Wasn't he just part of Jordan's dinner in Athens?
Dio Nikiforos: 29:59
a couple months ago. Yes, he was here. He was here.
George Stroumboulis: 30:01
He was on Detroit. Yeah, Detroit and Washington In Washington. Yes, yes Rip.
Dio Nikiforos: 30:06
So you know Ken is also a collector. You know that's his guy. So this is. You know he built his entire. You know Operation Bail the Rip Hamilton and every time we get a Rip Hamilton card we make sure you know he gets it.
Dio Nikiforos: 30:17
That's awesome, so yeah so he's based in that area. It was very Because he's going to be in charge of running pretty much operations and he has the manpower. Yeah, I got to say that, just like Ioannis and Ken and Manny. On top of everything, these guys, I look up to them because they do something very simple that I know is very successful in business. They create the business and then they go after and they get the best people. I'm not talking about myself, I'm the worst, but they get the and they get, you know, the best people. I'm not talking about myself.
George Stroumboulis: 30:48
you know I'm the worst, but you know they get.
Dio Nikiforos: 30:49
You know they get the people. That you know they get the job done and that you know makes the whole you know process very easy for them and for the business. And I got to say you know, we have some great people in the team you only see me today, but shout out to our operation here in Thessaloniki and the guys in New Jersey. They're all doing a great job and we're looking to build on that.
George Stroumboulis: 31:09
Dude, and it's a big operation. It's not just a real card in a FedEx.
Dio Nikiforos: 31:15
It's a factory here it doesn't look like that and we've got a lot of people that we're working with on a day-to-day operation and I have to do it with the handling day operation and I have to do it, you know, with the handling. Or you know you get the product here straight from US. It's to go through customs, okay, and then you need to bring it here. So there's a lot of you know back and forth with all these partners and I'm glad because you know we have a great relationship with them and there are a lot of people that are, you know, supporting us since day one.
George Stroumboulis: 31:39
Yeah. So Manny Kess, who I know was on the podcast a year ago, and before we're chit-chatting, he's saying, hey, I'm investing in this group and they're in Thessaloniki and they do a lot of business, and back then he was so excited about it, right, and I was talking to him a month ago. I'm like, dude, put me in contact, I'm going to be there right? I'm in town for something else with the soccer academy, so I'm glad we're to sit down.
Dio Nikiforos: 32:02
I hope you didn't regret it. Are you kidding?
George Stroumboulis: 32:04
me man. This is just awesome and getting to meet your team and seeing everything.
Dio Nikiforos: 32:08
Manny is a great guy. We're glad to have him on his team and I'm sure you know he's someone that you know he's one of those people that you want to be like. I want to be with Manny like all day, every day.
George Stroumboulis: 32:17
You won't go wrong right.
Dio Nikiforos: 32:28
So just talk this out like future plans. But are people from the middle east doing this? So, now that we have put our name, you know out there, uh, and our partners and all the collectors know about us, uh, we're getting a lot of inquiries from all over the world. So like, for example, we have, like, a good friend that is visiting today from australia and you know he's, he's, he's wondering about you know how about you guys come down to Australia. So we get a lot of inquiries and this is something that we have a vision about. It's going to be happening step by step. Our first destination is New Jersey, but obviously we're open-minded and we're going to build this on a global scale, because this is a global thing. That's what's special about it. You get collectors all the way from Australia to Brazil. They're looking for a player, their favorite player on their favorite team, and we get to send them their card. So this is like the aspect of the business is global. So that's why we're just planning to go global has.
George Stroumboulis: 33:18
China gotten behind this. I don't hear much about.
Dio Nikiforos: 33:20
China. Yes, china is a whole different universe and, to be honest, in China there are specific kind of products that are circulating, again from the same companies, but only for the Chinese market. It's a huge market. Obviously it's expanding and, yeah, like I said, you know it's a global hobby.
George Stroumboulis: 33:39
Amazing. So I guess, in closing, best way to get in contact with the team here and like on social you guys are active.
Dio Nikiforos: 33:47
Yes, yes, we've got a website, but we're available in all social media. Uh, any questions, any inquiries? So you're gonna stop for us. Make sure you check out our ebay shop as well. We've got a car for every collector or non-collector, so follow us, keep an eye on us and soon, hopefully, we'll be close to you.
George Stroumboulis: 34:04
Hey, man rocking it from Thessaloniki. Thank you, nice seeing you, george. Appreciate you, brother. Thank you. Thanks for listening to this episode of Invigorate your Business with George Strombolis. Please hit the subscribe and like buttons and follow me on all the main podcast streaming channels. Also, please share your comments when you can. I appreciate your help in expanding this network to a worldwide audience. Until next time, stay invigorated.
CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO
00:00:00 Introduction to Trace Chase
00:01:43 Business Overview and Founders' Vision
00:05:40 The Trading Card Industry Evolution
00:09:30 Cards as Investment and Collectibles
00:14:00 Celebrity Collectors and Athletes
00:19:08 Global Expansion and Breaking Operations
00:23:00 Future Plans and Episode Closing
what is “sports trading cards” and how big is this industry
⚽ What Are Sports Trading Cards?
Sports trading cards are collectible cards featuring athletes, teams, stats, or sports imagery. They can vary widely — from modern cards in new packs, rookie cards of emerging players, autograph or jersey-patch cards, to vintage and limited edition sets. Some are bought just for collecting/fandom, others as investments, or for trading and community building among fans.
They often come in packs from licensed manufacturers (Panini, Topps, Upper Deck, etc.), occasionally include special inserts (autographs, serial numbers, rare “chase” cards), and sometimes are graded (authenticated, given condition ratings) which drives their value even higher.
📈 How Big Is the Industry?
The sports trading card market has grown dramatically in recent years. Here are some current numbers:
In 2022, the global sports trading cards market was estimated at ~ USD $9.7 billion.
A recent forecast expects it to grow to ~ USD $23 billion by 2031, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of around 7.8% from 2024–2031.
Another projection puts the value in 2023 at ~$10.17B, growing steeply toward ~ USD $46.84B by 2032.
The United States is a leading market, but growth is also accelerating in Europe and Asia as collecting culture spreads globally.
🧩 Why It’s Exploding
A few of the major forces behind the growth:
Nostalgia + Pop Culture: As fans age, the emotional attachment to cards — from favorite players, teams, or memories — has stayed strong, and in many cases grown.
Scarcity & Rarity: Cards that are limited in number, especially rookie cards or autographs, can see outsized appreciation, driving collector and investor interest.
Online Marketplaces & Communities: Easier access (with better shipping, grading services, videos and social media) has opened up the market globally. Community-based drops, breaks (group opening of packs), streaming and social hype are big accelerators.
Cross-utility: Some cards now are tied to digital utilities (NFT equivalents, virtual showcases), licensing, or are part of celebrity/athlete partnerships — adding layers of value beyond just the physical object.
what are the top sports cards, where can you buy them and what advice is there to start collecting
🔝 Top Types of Sports Cards
When people talk about “top cards,” they usually mean one or more of the following:
Rookie cards — the first official cards of players after they reach a major league or high-level status. These are often the most coveted.
Limited-edition or “1-of-1” cards — only one made (or very few), often with special features like autograph, patch, or special foil. These increase rarity and value.
Vintage cards — old sets (e.g. early baseball sets like T206, etc.) with nostalgic or historical significance. Example: T206 Ty Cobb is iconic.
Special inserts / “chase cards” — these are rare pull-ups inside packs (autographs, jersey patches, relics) adding scarcity.
Graded cards — cards that have been authenticated and graded by a third party (PSA, BGS, etc.). Grading often makes a big difference in value.
🛒 Where to Buy
Here are trustworthy places and platforms where you can get sports cards:
Local hobby/card shops — often best for seeing condition and building relationships.
Online official retailers (Panini, Topps, etc.), Panini America, Marketplaces like eBay, COMC, or other collector-platforms, Large retailers / big chains (Target, Walmart) sometimes carry major releases and rookie boxes.
Specialty stores or auction houses (Goldin, Heritage, etc.) if you’re going for high value, rare cards.
💡 Advice for Starters
If you’re just getting into collecting, here are some tips to make the journey smoother and more rewarding:
Do your research: Know which players or sports you like. Research recent sales to see what similar cards are going for.
Card Capsule: Understand grading (what PSA 10 vs PSA 7 means) and condition (corners, edges, centering).
Set a budget: Decide how much you’re comfortable investing. There are plenty of good cards at lower price points. Don’t overspend chasing the rare stuff right away.
Start with what excites you: Whether it’s a favorite team, athlete, or era, passion keeps you engaged. You’ll naturally learn the market as you go.
Protect your cards: Use sleeves, top loaders, hard cases. Keep them away from moisture, heat, bending.
If you have potentially valuable cards, consider getting them graded.
Use trusted sellers: Reputation matters. Check seller reviews, ask for photographs of card condition, check for authentication.
Follow trends, but don’t chase hype blindly: Rising stars, rookie cards, limited sets — there’s value in being early. But sometimes hype inflates prices temporarily. Try to balance speculation with long-term value.
Get involved in the community: Forums, card shows, online groups. Being part of collector communities helps you learn, get tips, maybe find better deals, and avoid getting scammed.
give some advice on how to make money in this industry
Here are some practical strategies for making money in the sports trading card industry — whether you’re approaching it as a collector, investor, or entrepreneur:
1. 📈 Investing in Rookie Cards & Stars Early
Rookie cards are the most valuable in the long run, especially for players who go on to be legends.
Example: Early Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, or Lionel Messi rookie cards skyrocketed in value over time.
The key is identifying talent before the market peaks — watch rising stars, draft picks, and international players.
2. 🔍 Buying Low, Selling High (Flipping)
Many collectors make money by flipping cards: buying undervalued cards (often raw/ungraded) and reselling at a higher price once they’re graded or after the player performs well.
Timing matters — a big game, a championship run, or transfer to a bigger team can all boost demand.
3. 🏦 Grading & Authentication
Submitting cards to professional grading services like PSA, Beckett (BGS), or SGC adds trust and market value.
A card that sells for $200 raw could easily fetch $2,000+ if graded as “Gem Mint 10.”
Focus on cards with strong centering, sharp corners, and rarity to maximize ROI.
4. 📦 Breaking Boxes & Packs
Running card breaks (selling slots to participants, then opening boxes live on stream and distributing the cards) has become a popular business model.
This allows you to profit from sealed boxes without taking all the risk of pulling bad packs.
Streaming platforms (Twitch, YouTube, Instagram Live) make this a scalable side business.
5. 🌍 Specializing in Niche Markets
Beyond NBA and NFL, niches like soccer (football), Formula 1, or even wrestling/UFC cards are exploding globally.
European and Asian markets are growing fast — early entry can pay off massively.
Target a sport or region where demand is growing but supply is limited.
6. 🛒 Building a Trusted Shop or Online Store
Many successful businesses build reputations by being reliable sellers — whether on eBay, at shows, or via their own website.
Trust and authenticity are everything: buyers want to know the cards are real and fairly priced.
Offering grading submission services, storage, or consignment sales can add extra revenue streams.
7. 🖼️ High-End Memorabilia & Rare Finds
Beyond modern packs, vintage and rare memorabilia cards (game-worn patches, autographed cards, 1/1 limited editions) can sell for six or seven figures.
Example: A 2009 Mike Trout rookie card sold for $3.9M in 2020.
Networking and knowing how to spot fakes is critical here.
8. 🎥 Content & Community
Many make money not just from cards, but by building content-driven businesses — YouTube channels, podcasts, newsletters, or blogs about collecting.
With passion and credibility, you can build a loyal following, monetize via sponsorships, and drive card sales through your personal brand.
👉 The key advice: start small, focus on a niche you enjoy, and learn the market inside-out. Profit follows passion when you build expertise.
BLOG POST
Trading Card Empire: Inside Europe's Largest Hobby Shop
From Greece to New Jersey: Trace Chase's Global Card Collecting Vision
How a Small Greek Business Became a Sports Card Trading Powerhouse
Got Giannis? This Greek Card Shop Might Have His Million-Dollar Rookie
Collecting Dreams: The Cultural Hub Reshaping Sports Memorabilia
Step through an unassuming door in downtown Thessaloniki, Greece, and you'll discover a collector's paradise that's rapidly changing the global landscape of sports card trading. Welcome to Trace Chase, Europe's largest hobby shop for trading cards and memorabilia, where passion meets business in the most unexpected location.
Founded in 2021 by Yonis Sombolos, Trace Chase emerged from a collector's vision to fill a crucial gap in the European market. While Americans had long embraced high-end trading cards, European collectors were largely limited to stickers and had few options for premium products. Dionysios Nikiforou, a key team member, explains how they convinced industry giants like Panini, Topps, and Upper Deck to partner directly with a Greek company – a partnership that now gives them exclusive access to limited-edition products that often sell out instantly.
The Thessaloniki showroom doubles as a cultural hub, complete with a mini basketball court where NBA stars and celebrities regularly make appearances. Greek basketball legend Nick Gallis – one of only two people inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame without playing a single NBA game – has visited, as has superstar DJ Steve Aoki, who conducted one of his famous treasure hunts on the premises. This community-building approach has transformed Trace Chase from a mere retailer into a destination for collectors and sports enthusiasts alike.
What makes Trace Chase particularly fascinating is their investment perspective on collecting. As Dionysios points out, early investors in Giannis Antetokounmpo rookie cards are likely millionaires today, and similar opportunities continue to emerge with each draft class. Their business model brilliantly navigates the complex logistics of importing American products to Europe, saving collectors substantial customs fees and delays, while their new New Jersey location will feature an innovative "breaking" operation making high-end products more accessible to average collectors.
Looking to start or expand your collection? Whether you're after a rare Kobe Bryant autograph, a numbered Luka Dončić rookie, or simply want to experience the thrill of opening packs in their showroom, Trace Chase connects collectors to treasures that were previously out of reach for European enthusiasts. Follow their social channels to witness how a small Greek business became a global powerhouse in the thriving world of sports card collecting.
BLOG POST
Trace Chase: How a Greek Sports Card Trading Empire is Reshaping the Global Collectibles Market
In the heart of Thessaloniki, Greece, an unassuming door leads to what has quickly become Europe's largest sports card trading hub. Trace Chase, founded in 2021, has rapidly transformed from a local hobby shop into a global powerhouse that's revolutionizing how collectors access rare sports cards and memorabilia across continents.
The company's origin story is both humble and visionary. Managing Director Yonis Sombolos, an avid collector himself, identified a significant gap in the European market. While sticker collecting had been popular across Europe for generations, the high-end trading card culture that dominated the American market remained largely inaccessible to European collectors. Recognizing this opportunity, Sombolos assembled a team that included Dionysios Nikiforou to build something unprecedented: a premium trading card destination that would connect European collectors with products from industry giants like Panini, Topps, Upper Deck, and Fanatics.
What makes Trace Chase's meteoric rise particularly impressive is their relationship with these major manufacturers. As Dionysios explains, when they first approached these companies with their vision for a European hub, the manufacturers were skeptical that such an operation could succeed in Greece. It took personal visits to their showroom in Thessaloniki to convince industry leaders that Trace Chase was the real deal. The gamble paid off, as direct partnerships with these manufacturers have given Trace Chase access to limited-production boxes that often sell out instantly.
Beyond being merely a retail operation, Trace Chase has positioned itself as a cultural hub where the passion for collecting transcends borders. Their Thessaloniki location features a mini basketball court and lounge where they regularly host events with professional athletes and celebrities. Greek basketball legend Nick Gallis, who holds the distinction of being inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame despite never playing in the league, has made appearances, as have international stars like Steve Aoki, who participated in one of his signature treasure hunts at the location.
The business model extends far beyond simply selling boxes of trading cards. Their sophisticated operation involves strategic distribution across Europe, eliminating the customs fees and delays that individual collectors would face when ordering directly from the United States. This infrastructure has allowed them to service collectors in major European cities like Madrid, where comparable hobby shops don't exist, effectively becoming the continent's primary source for premium trading cards.
Trace Chase's expansion to New Jersey marks a significant milestone in their global strategy. The American location will feature an on-site "breaking" operation in partnership with a figure known in collecting circles as Rip Hamilton. Breaking allows collectors to purchase specific team slots within a box opening, making high-end products more accessible by dividing the cost among multiple collectors. This model has become increasingly popular in recent years and represents Trace Chase's adaptation to different regional markets.
For collectors and investors alike, the value proposition is clear. As Dionysios explains, certain rookie cards, particularly those with limited numbering and authentic autographs, can appreciate tremendously. He cites Giannis Antetokounmpo as a prime example – collectors who invested in his rookie cards when he was drafted in 2014 could potentially be millionaires today. Similar opportunities exist with current rising stars, creating an investment category that attracts not just nostalgic fans but serious collectors looking for alternative assets.
What began in a small Greek city has evolved into a global enterprise that's reshaping how sports memorabilia is collected, traded, and valued. With inquiries coming from as far as Australia and plans for continued expansion, Trace Chase represents the globalization of a hobby that connects people through their shared passion for sports and collecting. As they continue to bridge continents and cultures through cardboard treasures, they're demonstrating that in the digital age, physical collectibles and the communities they create are more valuable than ever.
MORE EPISODES
George Stroumboulis sits down with Trace 'n Chase's Dio Nikiforos in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things sports trading cards, sports memorabilia, global expansion, NBA professionals and so much more.