By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
The holiday season is in full swing, and with it comes the annual search for gifts that feel personal, exciting, and meaningful. One item that continues to stand out from the rest is trading cards. Since the 2020 pandemic, collectibles, especially Pokémon, have made a massive comeback, becoming some of the most popular gift choices for kids, teens, and even adults. Industry reporting from PokéGuardian noted that the Pokémon Company sold 3.7 billion cards in 2020–21 alone, while analysts quoted in the Sports Business Journal described the surge as a sudden “turbo-boost,” with demand rising so sharply it outpaced supply across the country. With so many people rediscovering the fun and nostalgia of collecting, card shops have quickly become essential stops for holiday shopping.
That renewed energy in the hobby is part of what inspired Tulalip tribal member Dalton Shay and his cousin and business partner, Chad Alcombrack Jr., to open their own store, Sacred Land Trading, inside of Broadway Hobbies in Everett. The shop officially opened on October 13, 2025, and welcomes collectors of all ages into a space built from family, culture, and a shared love of the hobby.
For Dalton, the business grew out of a significant turning point in his life. When asked what inspired him to start Sacred Land Trading, he said, “I got clean and sober and needed to find a way to get out and be myself without going to a bar or the casino or something like that. I started collecting cards, just buying them for myself, buying and buying. Eventually my fiancée was like, ‘You’ve got way too much stuff in the house.’ One of my buddies told me about Whatnot, so I did one show. I sold like $900 worth of stuff in three hours, and I got hooked. That was about two and a half, maybe almost three years ago.”
His connection to cards runs all the way back to his childhood in Tulalip. “Growing up at the Boys and Girls Club, we always did Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon tournaments when we were really young,” he said. “A lot of my friends were into it, so collecting was second nature. But as I got older and responsibilities took hold, I had to put it on the back burner for a while.” Returning to the hobby as an adult gave him not only a sense of joy but a path forward, a way to build something healthy and meaningful.
The name Sacred Land Trading carries deep cultural meaning for both owners. Dalton explained, “The name is just letting people know that we’re Indigenous, and that anywhere and anytime, you’re allowed to be who you are. You should never be scared to show your true skin or your true colors. Having a Native-based card company is really cool. Our big plan is to one day open a shop on the rez so we can be on sacred land with our Sacred Land Trading.”
Inside the shop, the focus is on offering something for everyone, from kids with a handful of quarters to seasoned collectors chasing high-value cards. Dalton said, “We try to stay on top of where the market is at. The Pokémon market is so volatile that it changes every day. We try to get all the brand-new stuff right away so people can come to us for it. For singles and graded cards, we try to ensure they’re in good condition and sought-after. But since we’re so close to a middle school, we pick up everything. I don’t care if it’s a 25-cent card or a $2,000 card. We try to make sure we have something for everybody.”
Running a card shop comes with challenges, especially when keeping shelves stocked during a national collecting craze. “Keeping our hands on sealed product is one of the hardest things ever,” Dalton said. “We’re trying to get a hold of big companies like MJ Holdings so we can start getting products straight from them instead of sitting in line at Walmart or hunting down collections.”
Yet the love for the hobby keeps them motivated. “What surprised me most is the amount of love and enthusiasm you see from all kinds of people,” Dalton said. “From people who grew up in the streets to people who’ve never left their mom’s house, everybody loves the same thing.”
Dalton also credits Tulalip teachings, especially those learned at Boom City, for shaping how they run their business. “Growing up at Boom City every summer taught us how to speak to people, how to draw people in with what we say and how we say it. That energy sets us apart at vending shows. We can haggle and call you to our table faster than anybody else.”
Their decision to open the shop in Everett was both strategic and local. “It’s close, it’s central, and we get people coming from every direction,” Dalton said. “The owner of Broadway Hobbies is a friend, he’s coached youth football, and we’ve known each other for years. We went in together, and it worked perfectly since they don’t sell cards, just RC cars, trains, and models, so we’re adding to the hobby community without competing.”
Chad shared that the experience of opening the shop has been life-changing and stressful. “There’s so much to it,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from the owner of the building and everyone else who sells here. Running a business is 24/7. Trying to balance another job and this business takes a lot of time and energy, but it’s something I wouldn’t change. It’s fun. I love it.”
For Chad, the most rewarding part is the people who walk through the door. “I hope people leave with the experience, the joy. Dalton has his own energy, I have mine. I want kids to go back to school and say they met this cool dude who collects Eevees and that they want to come back for more.”
Both owners share the same long-term dream, bringing Sacred Land Trading home. “The biggest thing we want for the future is getting our own shop on the reservation,” Chad said. “People wouldn’t have to leave home to find what they need. There’s so much traffic near the casinos and Walmart, it would be perfect. And we want to show the younger ones that it’s okay to have hobbies. It’s not just about sports. We hope other rez’s start opening hobby shops too.”
As the holiday season continues and people search for memorable gifts, Sacred Land Trading offers something special: nostalgia, community, cultural pride, and the excitement of discovering what might be behind the next pack. From affordable stocking stuffers to rare collectibles, the shop has something for every type of collector.
Sacred Land Trading is located inside Broadway Hobbies at 8623 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And give them a follow on Instagram @d_rips_tcg_sacred.land.trading and Facebook at Sacredland Tradingllc