Who we are now
Welcome to Riptide Collectibles, your premier online hobby shop based in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina — nestled in the heart of the iconic Topsail area along the beautiful Crystal Coast.
Surrounded by pristine beaches and the refreshing energy of the Atlantic, we bring that same coastal spirit and passion for collecting to enthusiasts across the country. We specialize in sports cards, trading card games (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering), and unique memorabilia.
From day one, we’ve focused on curating high-quality collectibles for enthusiasts of all levels — whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting your journey. Our inventory includes baseball, football, basketball, and entertainment cards & collectibles, all backed by authentic products, fair pricing, and a genuine passion for the hobby.
Our History
It all began in 2017 in Loves Park, Illinois. We (Justin and Trysha) rented a tiny 400 sq ft storefront with a small apartment attached — that’s where we lived while building the business. After countless challenges and very little starting capital, JT’s Sports Cards & Collectibles officially opened its doors in August 2017.
The beginning was slow. We started with limited inventory — mostly lower-end singles and a few boxes to break packs. But we learned fast. We mastered distribution, allocations, and the daily operations of running a hobby shop.
By late 2018, the business was growing. We launched our first website and the popular “Pick-A-Pack” format. Our very first live show was held on May 23, 2018.
What followed was faster growth than we ever imagined. In 2019 and 2020, JT’s surpassed $1.5 million in annual sales. The future looked incredibly bright.
In February 2021, we took a big leap and purchased the commercial property where our shop was located — 1.5 acres that included our original store, a 5,000 sq ft building, and self-storage units. Justin and his friend Shawn completely renovated the property, and on Black Friday 2021, we proudly opened JT’s Anime & Gaming.
At our peak, we were running two stores, employing 8–10 people, and hosting multiple live shows per week. It was exciting, chaotic, and incredibly rewarding.
However, 2022 brought major industry changes — company acquisitions, shifting licenses, and distribution challenges. These shifts made it increasingly difficult to maintain healthy inventory levels. In June 2022, we made the difficult decision to sell the property. JT’s Sports Cards & JT's Anime & Gaming closed its doors for the final time on August 16, 2022.
We packed up our remaining inventory and moved east to costal North Carolina. Over the next few years, we sold the majority of our stock through eBay while taking time to recharge.
Then, in November 2025, the spark returned.⚡
We decided it was time to get back into the hobby we love. We chose the name Riptide Collectibles, and Justin immediately went to work — setting up new distributor accounts, sourcing product, and building this website from the ground up.
As of May 2026, Riptide Collectibles is growing. We’re still navigating the same industry challenges that pushed us to sell in 2022 — allocation issues, inflated pricing, and distribution consolidation. But we’re smarter this time, more focused, and fully committed to building something special.
We’ve done it before with almost no money and zero experience. We’re confident we can do it again — only better.
Riptide Collectibles will be our best chapter yet.
To our customers — thank you. You are truly the best in the world. None of this would be possible without your support.
Here’s to many more years of ripping packs, chasing cards, and building collections together.
Justin & Trysha - May 24, 2026
