At 26 years old, Théo Gillet is a known face in the world of Pokémon collectors. Behind his relaxed demeanor and his infectious smile hides a determined entrepreneur who knew how to turn his childhood passion into a real career. For 20 Minuteshe opens his Pokédex.
From the start, his project raised doubts, particularly within his family. Théo explains that he was not taken seriously by those close to him, “who saw it as a hobby, not as a real professional project”. Determined, the young man presents them with “the potential earnings and opportunities in the industry”. Result ? “Now they are proud of my journey and my company Collectoyzz. » Created in September, its purchase-resale company is present on social networks, online, on the Whatnot online auction platform and at specialized trade shows. “Meeting my clients allows me to make my job concrete,” explains the young Lyonnais.
Thousands of euros at stake
It is this human contact that Théo seeks through his activity. Like when he was a child and he exchanged cards in the playground, today, the young man still likes to “discuss, share with other enthusiasts, young and old”. “The Pokémon universe is still current for the new generation,” he rejoices. More than entertainment for children, “it’s a complete world, with video games, collectible cards, figurines…” Laughing, Théo describes meeting parents “who have returned to the world of Pokémon through their children’s collection.”
But, collecting, “it’s not just about accumulating cards, you have to set goals, exchange with other enthusiasts and devote time to looking for rare pieces”. Among his treasures, a sealed box from the “Sun & Moon, Celestial Storm” series, which took him more than a year to acquire. “It cost me almost 7,000 euros, but for me it has inestimable sentimental value. »
Like stamp collections or coins, Pokémon is subject to fluctuations in supply and demand. “Some products can increase in value over time, it remains an unpredictable area,” notes the collector-entrepreneur.
Be careful, counterfeit!
Other risks are very real, such as theft during conventions or losses linked to delivery. “For high-value items, I prefer to travel myself, losing hundreds of euros on the train, rather than risk the theft of thousands of euros,” says Théo. Another point of vigilance for collectors is counterfeiting. “Today, fake cards are better and better made,” laments the collector, for whom even the experienced can “get fooled.”
The young man wants to “educate people to recognize real cards to avoid scams and pass on the passion to them”. His started at a very young age when he accompanied his grandmother to the bakery. “At the end of the week, she gave me a booster [une pochette scellée contenant des cartes « mystères », inconnues avant le déballage du paquet] “. Unforgettable moments, cementing its attraction to the world of Pokémon.
“The child I was would be proud of what I have become”
Although Théo has always collected Pokémon cards, as a teenager he can't imagine making a living from it and is heading towards a commercial course after his baccalaureate. At the same time as his work-study program, he frequents flea markets and garage sales to expand his collection. First as a “hobby”, until the day when, with his diploma in hand, he decided to take the plunge. “I had a good stock and I said to myself: if I don't start now, I will regret it for the rest of my life. »
Learn more about Pokémon
He therefore created Collectoyzz, to “professionalize what I was already doing: selling cards, sealed products and sharing this passion with other collectors”. Today, “I don’t work, I live from my passion. And that is an immense opportunity. » He dreams of expanding his business, developing his website, organizing events to bring together the community of collectors and opening a physical store. “Pokémon allows me to build something concrete in an area that makes me dream. When I look back, I tell myself that the child I was would be proud of what I have become. »
