We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chase McCammon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chase below.
Chase, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
A few years ago I started PokeICT in Wichita, KS. I always had the dream to have a collectible’s store of my own one day. Always riding my bike from garage sales to coin/card shops. Since a young kid, I always had a way of closing a deal. Our mission was always to provide a place for collector’s to get products at a fair price. Many times before starting my business. I would go to store’s with no avail. No product on any shelves for months will drive people out of hobbies. So, I dug deep and managed to source product in other countries to maintain our demand in high class TCG (trading card game) product’s.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
From Garage Sales to a Thriving Collectibles Business: The Story Behind PokeICT
When I was a kid, few things excited me more than hopping on my bike and hitting up local garage sales. I was always on the hunt—baseball and basketball cards, autographs, antiques—anything collectible that caught my eye. My dad would give me $10 each week for mowing the lawn, and I’d stretch it as far as I could. Afterward, I’d ride over to a local spot called Phil’s Coins to trade or sell whatever I’d found.
That’s really where it all began.
I was only 12, but I was already learning how money works—how to negotiate, how to spot value, how to flip something for a profit. As I got older, I started researching ways to make money work for me. Every business story I came across fascinated me, but my heart kept pulling me back to collectibles.
I also had a unique exposure to the world of entrepreneurship early on. My uncle Gary was part of Red vs. Blue, a Halo parody series that went viral long before social media was even a thing. I helped behind the scenes with product logistics, and seeing something grow that massive, without the tools we rely on today, was incredible. It gave me a rare look at how momentum, timing, and community can transform a creative idea into a phenomenon.
Fast forward to 2020—COVID hits. I was still working full-time at a manufacturing facility in Maize, Kansas, but we needed to adapt quickly.
Luckily, I had a small stash of vintage and sealed trading cards. I started selling them online and experimented with livestreaming. That’s when things really started to shift.
I’ve been in sales since my teenage years, so I already understood how to connect with customers and close deals, even when challenges popped up. At my day job, I’d worked my way up to a supervisory lead role at Reifenhauser Inc., which gave me valuable insight into operations, logistics, and the inner workings of a business.
Still, launching something of my own wasn’t easy. We didn’t have a brick-and-mortar store—or the money to open one. I had to get creative. Believe it or not, I found my first large-scale supplier of English Pokémon cards at an antique mall. That was our foot in the door.
But sourcing product was only part of the puzzle. Next came building trust and credibility. At the time, I didn’t even have 1,000 followers on TikTok—which you needed to go live. A lot of creators were asking people to send money via apps like CashApp or Venmo, but that didn’t sit right with me. Where was the buyer protection? The accountability? The shipping security?
That’s when I decided to stop chasing followers and start building something real. I went to my state’s revenue website and watched every beginner business seminar they offered. They weren’t exciting, but they were incredibly useful. I learned about tax-exempt purchases, sales tax collection, business licensing, and compliance with Kansas and federal laws.
It was a lot to take in. But I didn’t let the complexity stop me.
With just $500, I officially registered our LLC—KS Traders LLC, also known as PokeICT. We got our EIN, completed the legal groundwork, and had a real business in motion.
What started with $10 garage sale runs on a bike has now grown into a full-fledged operation—one grounded in passion, experience, and persistence. We’re still growing, still learning, and still building—but the foundation we laid has made all the difference.
From Zero to Collectible Hero: How a Kansas Man Turned a Passion into a Movement
By [Your Name]
How do you start a business with little to no money? You start with curiosity, relentless research, and a willingness to learn skills you never thought you’d need. That’s exactly what I did.
It began with a small order—six Japanese Pokémon booster boxes from a seller named Brian, also known as PokeNE. At the time, I had just built up enough of a following on TikTok to start livestreaming. I began selling Japanese cards live, one pack at a time.
Then came the phone call that changed everything.
I was out to dinner with a friend when Brian (PokeNE) called. To my surprise, he wasn’t calling as a seller—he was calling because he saw potential in me. When someone you’ve been looking up to suddenly believes in you, you don’t let that moment slip away. You hold on tight and give it everything you’ve got.
From there, I doubled down—not just on sales, but on growth. I taught myself graphic design from scratch, spending long weekends frustrated but determined. Eventually, I got good enough that other creators began commissioning me for signs and digital flyers. A new income stream was born—one I never would’ve imagined.
Next came video editing—something I initially hated. I had gone to school for cybersecurity, not content creation. But I knew that if I wanted my brand to stand out, I had to dig deep and learn the tools. I spent countless nights creating terrible videos, getting feedback, and slowly improving. That’s the thing about putting yourself out there—you have to be open to criticism if you want to grow.
I wore every hat imaginable: business owner, graphic designer, editor, marketer, accountant. I built a website, secured a business license, and created all the infrastructure from scratch. But above all, I focused on building something more than just a brand—I wanted to build a community.
Rather than chase followers, we created a space that felt like a virtual card shop. Our Discord server had anime playing in the background, areas for Dungeons & Dragons, and even Pokémon-catching zones. We wanted collectors to feel at home, seen, and safe.
After gaining some traction online, I took a leap and drove to my first Collect-A-Con in Kansas City—alone. As an introvert stepping into a room full of established creators, I felt completely out of place. But I pushed through. I found the right people, aligned with the right groups, and suddenly, I wasn’t on the outside anymore—I was right there in the mix with the pros.
Over the next few years, we kept traveling to conventions across the Midwest, livestreaming, and growing our community. Today, when we show up at events, we’re recognized. Our logo is known. People wear our shirts. Some even bring cards for me to sign. It’s surreal.
Just three years ago, I was a 31-year-old guy with a backpack, a few cards, and a dream. Today, I’m part of a movement, backed by one of the most loyal and supportive communities in the collectibles world.
After losing my mother, I made it my mission to make her proud—to build something lasting in her honor. We’re now preparing to take things to the next level, creating a space where buyers, sellers, and collectors feel safe, excited, and free to be themselves. I truly believe collectibles will one day be seen and traded like stocks, and I’m ready to be part of that evolution.
I may just be a small-town guy from Kansas who works full-time in a machine shop, but I’ve always had vision. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never ignore that voice inside telling you to keep going. One day, it might be your turn to get the magic phone call.
And when it comes… grab it.
None of this would be possible without the team around me.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Have you ever had to pivot?
At this moment we had realized, that Live streaming could only go so far. We started to look at retail locations to open up a local store. That is when I had met the most creative mind in my life time. Christopher Martinez. He had been working on a beautiful spot already. With all the same ideas and visions I had going into it. We both partnered up to bring something new to our local community in Wichita KS. So far We have made great strides with the community in expanding our brand as one of the more trust worthy collectibles brands in the city.
I will turn this over to Chris, So he can tell his story and how he got here.
Chris: For those that hasn’t met me yet, I’m Christopher Martinez and I’m from Miami, Florida. I relocated to Wichita to explore new opportunities. Throughout my career as an Aircraft Structural Mechanic, I have always had a passion for creating unique gaming spaces. One day, I decided to combine my skills and creative ideas to establish a gaming lounge. This venture has been a dream come true, allowing me to bring something special to the community. I am dedicated to providing an enjoyable experience for our customers, and my goal is to build something meaningful for everyone involved.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy to gain more clientele would be “Word of Mouth” So far we have paid zero in paid advertising. (This does take a lot more effort than using SEO. Constant daily posting. Editing clips everyday of your store and different parts of it. Posting to multiple social media platforms is the key. But do not make the mistake of posting them all at the same time. Instead, click the analytics button on your video and use that data to determine when your audience is online and engaging the most. That will tell you when to post and when not to post.
Chris: I agree, “Word of Mouth” and making the shop feel as if it’s a home away from home. Bringing the inner-child
out of a customer is always a great selling point as well. We aim to bring the gaming community together in a whole
new way. Lots more to come!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://legendarycrits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pokeict/ and @Legendary_Crits_Lounge
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/poke-ict
- Youtube: @pokeict
- Other: Other Website: www.poke-ict.com
Image Credits
Ashley Patton Photography.