Brother and Sister Duo Celebrate National Siblings Day with their Award-Winning Event, the London Card Show

From the evolution of a conversation held at a family dinner to domination of the card trading world, learn how taking the card territory by storm has truly been a sibling team effort

Dynamic business duo and trading card enthusiasts, Harry and Katie, celebrate National Siblings Day as they mark the success of the London Card Show, founded by entrepreneur and CEO Harry Reynolds in 2021 and fully supported by Chief Operating Officer and sister Katie Hughes. 

Known for their passion for all things collectible, the pair are hosting the highly anticipated 12th show across the weekend of the 11th and 12th May at Sandown Racecourse in Esher. 

Siblings by blood and business partners by choice, Harry and Katie have been dominating the card trading scene, becoming the largest trading card show in the whole of Europe. Their shared enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit ignited a flame that led Harry to establish the London Card Show. Suitable for all ages, the London Card Show is a haven for collectors, traders, and enthusiasts, as well as being a great day out for all the family. 

The business partnership between Harry and Katie evolved from a simple conversation at a family dinner and within two short years they have turned an event of 10 tables and 40 attendees into a spectacular weekend-long event, with 550 tables, attracting over 4,000 enthusiasts from across the globe. 

Katie recollects how it all started, “I thought it was a joke at first, but after some thought, I realised it was coming at the perfect time; the show was growing at an exponential rate and it made sense for us to expand the show in terms of size and immersive elements. I was also looking for a new venture in my career, having spent six years honing my marketing & event skills at Hard Rock Cafe.

We discussed a number of concepts that Harry had for the larger venue space, I put forward some slightly out-of-the-box ideas for brand expansion and marketing development, and we discovered that together we made the brand stronger.”

This unique collaboration has allowed Harry to transform his long-time hobby into a thriving business venture, helping him to create his vision of creating a platform where collectors from all walks of life could come together to buy, sell, and trade cards. 

"National Siblings Day is such a meaningful occasion for us," says Harry. "It's a reminder of how our bond not only as siblings, but as business partners, has allowed us to bring this incredible event to fruition. Our Dad always says that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. We’re so lucky that we do love what we do so much, and this has definitely added to our success.”

Working in a fast-paced environment with family comes with its challenges, despite this, the duo have managed to navigate this successfully. Harry explains, “When you’re both so passionate about a brand and want nothing but success for it, it’s very easy to disagree with a new idea that you aren’t 100% sure about. But that’s where you have to have faith in the other person’s vision and see it through their eyes. We’ve definitely put the time in to establish our individual strengths and combine them to work together in the best way, and I can honestly say that the London Card Show has brought the two of us closer together, and even strengthened our bond. It’s wonderful to know that someone is going to give you their unfiltered opinion without worrying that they’re going to hurt your feelings, and that they will always have your back - in the way that only a sibling could do.”

Katie comments: “It's incredible to see how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. People say you shouldn’t work with family, but the passion we both have for this brand has created a rock-solid relationship, and we just work fantastically well together. The show has been a family-based business from the very beginning, from our Mum on the front desk, to our sister Lucy, who manages various zones within the show - and even our Grandparents, who come along to every show to help with the table cloths! This has even extended to our Marketing Director, James Hughes, who is my husband and Harry’s brother-in-law.”

Now, they’re about to host their 12th event with an impressive line-up of talent, activities, and - of course - cards! The show is set to introduce a new Retro Gaming Zone and will welcome former footballing legends, John Barnes and Emile Heskey. The two ex-professional footballers will be headlining the main stage where interviews, signings, and audience Q&As are set to take place. The show will also feature a Creator Studio, Kids Zone, and an incredible 650 vendor tables across the weekend - a massive step-up from the 10 tables at their first show. 

Ends

Editors notes

Notes to Editors: 

About the London Card Show 

Founded in 2021, the London Card Show was set up with a singular mission: to bring card collectors of all types under one roof. What initially began as a gathering of 10 tables and 40 attendees has since blossomed into a spectacular weekend-long event, attracting over 6,000 enthusiasts from across the globe. Our journey has been ignited by your passion, and we are honoured to be recently crowned the UK’s Card Show of the Year - a true testament to the incredible card community!

About Harry Reynolds, Founder & CEO of the London Card Show

Harry Reynolds, a natural-born entrepreneur, embarked on his journey at a young age, continually seeking innovative ways to seize opportunities and bridge market gaps. His passion for trading cards began during university, where he turned a £10 investment into an impressive £10,000 after discovering the value of cards. Harry's YouTube live streams and TikTok presence catapulted him into the UK card community, where he gained recognition for his unique trading card mystery box breaks. With unwavering determination, he pioneered the London Card Show, and saw it evolve from a small gathering to Europe's largest card event. Harry's dedication has led to global recognition, and he remains committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive card community for enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

About Katie Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at the London Card Show

Katie Hughes, driven by a passion for creativity ignited during her school years, found her true calling in the world of marketing. After a marketing degree at university and six rewarding years within Hard Rock Cafe's marketing department, she embarked on a remarkable journey with the London Card Show. Initially unsure of what to expect from the card industry, she quickly fell in love with it. Her marketing strategy thrived on ingenuity, emphasising community engagement over traditional methods and achieving an exceptional 7% engagement rate, far surpassing industry standards. Her dedication and vision were instrumental in propelling the London Card Show to unprecedented success, doubling attendance and vendor tables within a year. Her dedication to her role, her family's support, and her commitment to the event's success have made her an indispensable asset to the London Card Show's remarkable transformation.