Target is hosting a Pokémon 30th anniversary event on September 27 designed to prioritize families and children over adult collectors and scalpers who have dominated card purchases. The event includes limited merchandise, activities like drawing Pokémon cards and photo opportunities, and demos of Pokémon Pokopia, with the first 98 attendees receiving exclusive items. Despite Target's family-focused approach, adult collectors are already planning strategies to attend and purchase the limited tins.
Toys 'R' Us is opening 120 new standalone stores this holiday season, bringing its total to 160 locations, capitalizing on surging toy sales driven by adult collectors and enthusiasts. Adult-only households now account for 55% of toy industry sales, with adult toy purchases growing 25% year-to-date, outpacing traditional children's markets and reflecting a broader trend toward analog products.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game 30th Anniversary expansion launched in September with high pull rates for rare cards, disappointing scalpers who expected significant resale profits. While collectors benefit from cheaper cards and better odds of pulling new ones, speculators on Reddit expressed frustration that the set's profitability fell short of their investment expectations.