Game Changer Shows

The Challenge

Game Changer Shows was a brand-new independent card show in Illinois covering TCG, sports cards, and collectibles — starting from scratch with no audience, no brand recognition, and no proven venue. The founder had a vision for building large-scale collector events, but needed a marketing partner who could help establish the brand from day one. There was no existing community to tap into, no past events to reference, and no reputation to lean on. Everything had to be built from the ground up in a space dominated by established shows that already had loyal followings.

My Strategy

I was there from the very beginning. It started with flyers — designing eye-catching promotional graphics that stood out in a space where most card shows look the same. Those flyers served double duty: printed and handed out in person at shops and events, and used as the creative for paid ad campaigns. I built and managed their ad campaigns with a monthly spend ranging from $1,500 to $3,000, targeting local collectors, hobbyists, and sports card communities across Illinois. The creative was the differentiator. Every flyer and ad was designed to make Game Changer Shows look like the must-attend event, not just another card show in a banquet hall. As traction built over time, the ads scaled with it — each show pulling bigger crowds than the last, compounding the brand's authority in the space.

The Results

Game Changer Shows went from nonexistent to the biggest independent card show in the area. The ad campaigns delivered an over 10X return — every dollar spent on ads came back tenfold in revenue, helping the brand hit approximately $200,000 in sales. What started as a friend asking for help with flyers turned into a full advertising partnership that built an empire in the independent card show space. The creative made people stop scrolling. The ads put it in front of the right collectors. And the events delivered, which kept them coming back. That's what happens when strong creative meets smart ad spend from day one.