How To Become A Pokemon Distributor

Editor

Updated on

May 9, 2023

If you consider yourself a true diehard Pokemon fan, you should try your hands on the field of Pokémon distribution.

It is a great career opportunity for people who want to earn money while doing something that they are passionate about. Just make sure you know your target audience properly to increase your chances of succeeding in this business.

That said, where can you start, and how should you proceed if you want to become a Pokémon distributor? This blog post will follow the step-by-step guide to becoming a successful Pokémon distributor. Let’s get started!

What's In This Guide? show

Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming A Pokémon Distributor

Step 1. Learn All About Pokemon Cards

Before you start selling any product, you should be aware of its every nitty-gritty detail – and Pokémon products are no exception to this rule. Once you know your product inside out – in this case, Pokémon cards – it would be much easier to pitch them to your target audience.

For instance, you can begin by analyzing the types of cards that are popular today and who are the main people buying them. You should also find out if the main target base of your business model are young children who love collecting rare cards or adults who are looking for a decent investment.

Furthermore, while learning about Pokemon cards, it is crucial to understand the aspects that sets one apart from another. Some may stand out due to their rare, valuable attributes for collectors, whereas others may sell out quickly because of their popularity.

Based on the knowledge you collect in this step, you can also build an effective marketing strategy for your business of distributing other Pokémon products.

Step 2. Register Your Business

Registering your business with the relevant authorities is crucial so that you function according to state law. Some common requirements you will have to obtain from the government are a business license and a tax ID number.

The specific registration requirements may vary depending on the type of business structure you opt for (partnership, corporation, and so on). Additionally, if you want to become a proper Pokémon distributor, register with The Pokemon International – since that company distributes all Pokemon products worldwide. You must meet their requirements to be counted as one of their Pokemon distributors.

Step 3. Connect With Suppliers

Whether you wish to open an online store or sell cards offline to your customers, it is important to establish connections with suppliers. You can either go for The Pokemon Company International or buy Pokemon cards at wholesale prices from a local retailer.

Research all your wholesale store options that distribute your choice of cards and booster boxes online, and then contact them to inquire about their requirements. These may include payment plans, delivery time, the minimum number of cards per order, etc.

If you have a decent relationship with your wholesale store, your career as a Pokemon distributor will get a steady start. You may get access to exclusive products and other benefits like fair wholesale prices if you can connect with such retailers. Just make sure to communicate your needs well with your wholesale distributor to avoid any confusion in the future.

Step 4. Identify Your Target Market

Knowing your market is a very important aspect of running any business. Hence, to distribute products, such as Pokemon cards, you should thoroughly know what is trending among your audience today. This way, you can tailor your plans and strategies to suit the interests of your consumers in the best way possible.

One of the best ways to begin this step is to identify who your target audience is. You should also consider if you will be selling your products, like booster boxes and Pokemon cards, to retailers or directly to consumers.

Once you are clear with where you will be selling your products, you should begin the process of researching. Study the current trends of your target marketplace and identify what products will sell the most.

Step 5. Formulate A Marketing Strategy

Once you identify your target market and research all the relevant trends, it is time to formulate a solid marketing strategy. This step should be carried out carefully while considering how you, as a distributor, can influence potential consumers to invest in your products as much as possible.

For instance, let us assume you want to sell Pokemon cards and booster boxes to young children. In this case, you should advertise on a platform that is easily accessible to them – televisions. So, a good marketing strategy here would be to broadcast a captivating ad on television to persuade young children to buy the cards and boxes from you.

Since most of the world is now active on social media, there is a high chance that your target market is there too. Hence, build a good image on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and so on as an online distributor, so you can reach out to a larger audience.

Step 6. Establish A Distribution Network

To make your Pokemon products available to your consumer base, it is crucial to establish a good distribution network. It would help if you connected with logistics companies handling the shipping and warehousing of your products.

A good logistics company can help ship and store your Pokémon products at a cost-effective price. By handing over tasks like storing and shipping to such companies, you can focus solely on your business plan instead of worrying too much about supply chain management.

You may also need to hire sales representatives who would promote your Pokémon products to your choice of retailer. These professionals can help you negotiate prices with a retailer and ensure your products are properly marketed.

Step 7. Attend Trade Shows

If you are new to the Pokemon distributor business, it is crucial to mark your presence – and the best way to do that is by attending trade shows. You should attend all the trade shows specifically hosted for the gaming or toy industries since that would be the most beneficial for your business.

Attending such shows can allow you to meet reputed brands already working as Pokemon distributors, having marked their presence in the field. You can also get a chance to network with online store owners and wholesale distributors who sell Pokemon products at such events.

Since grownup Pokemon enthusiasts love to attend these trade shows, they might be the perfect platform to pitch your products to your potential customers at a fair price. Attending such events is also a good idea if your target audience is adults. You can also gain insight into what your audience wants today and alter your prices or business model accordingly.

Step 8. Assess Pokemon Trends

One of the best ways to become a successful Pokemon distributor is to assess Pokemon trends routinely. Distributors should always be up-to-date with every relevant change that may brace the field and be ready to tailor their business model to be more relevant to their marketplace. Here are the top three ways distributors can stay in touch with Pokemon trends:

A. News And Updates

One of the easiest ways to stay informed about all the latest trends in the Pokemon industry is to subscribe to the industry news and updates platforms. Ensure you have access to reputed and trusted sites that share true information about all the developments in the Pokemon arena.

You can also consider following influencers who update their audience with the latest news and updates on Pokemon regularly. This way, you can ensure that you know about everything popular among Pokemon fans and think of ways to be a better brand for them.

B. Industry Events

As mentioned earlier, attending trade events is a good way to connect with industry veterans and gain insight into what your target audience may see as desirable today. You can attend their keynote speaker sessions or panel discussions to understand the trends better.

C. Feedback

Many people leave feedback if they feel something could be better in the product, and you should use this aspect to your advantage. Give your audience a platform on sites, such as Instagram or Twitter to post about what they feel could be better in your Pokemon products. Then, use that information to see and assess where you could improve as a business and bring changes that work well for you.

Conclusion

The work of Pokemon distributors is very similar to that of any other business owner, but it may not seem easy to understand where to get started. If you have a genuine interest in the Pokemon industry and know much about them, this career can be quite profitable.

However, it is worth noting that there is a lot of competition in this field, and many professionals may offer the exact product model as you. Hence, it is always a good idea to think of a way to bring your originality to your business to stand out!

About The Author

Reviewed by