Bizarre Chemistry of Card Collecting
Grant Cleland finds hockey's culture in trading cards.
In brief
Grant Cleland finds hockey's culture in trading cards. Grant Cleland, a creative director at Fuse Create, describes card collecting as a mix of culture, history, design, investing, and gambling. Originally reported by Adweek.
Hockey Roots
Grant Cleland grew up in Port Elgin, Ontario, where hockey was part of the culture.
Card Collection Tradition
Cleland collected trading cards since childhood, trading with teammates and school friends.
Early Collection
He earned money through chores on his family's beef farm and worked at Saugeen Golf Club.
Growing Collection
Cleland's collection reached over 2,000 cards but now includes about 800 graded cards.
Card Events
He attends about 20 events yearly to buy, sell, and trade cards across Canada.
Pandemic Impact
Card collecting grew during the pandemic and was further popularized by Netflix's King of Collectibles.
Bizarre Chemistry
Cleland describes collecting as a mix of culture, history, design, investing, gambling, and treasure hunting.
“It’s a mix of culture, history, design, investing, gambling, treasure hunting.”
What it means
Grant Cleland, a creative director at Fuse Create, describes card collecting as a mix of culture, history, design, investing, and gambling.
