PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
550 W. Portland St. Phoenix,AZ 85003
623-742-5400
NEWFRONTIER.US
INSIDE
Are You a ‘Gardener’?
1
How Lulu the Pig Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack Team Member Spotlight
2
3
Spotlight on Irene Raya
4
Pokémon is Huge in 2021 — And There’s a Very Good Reason Why!
The Pocket Monsters Brand Is Electric in 2021 Pokémon Turns 25
Pokémon is on fire in 2021 as the brand celebrates its 25th anniversary. The first two Pokémon video games — Pocket Monsters: Red and Pocket Monsters: Green — were released in Japan on Feb. 27, 1996, on the Nintendo Game Boy. They were later released in the U.S. as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue on Sept. 28, 1998. Pokémon has since become one of the biggest multimedia brands in the world with dozens of video games, an ongoing TV show, movies, toys, and trading cards. This year, as Pokémon turns 25, the franchise is going all-out to celebrate the milestone. Katy Perry has been enlisted as part of the celebration, there’s a partnership with McDonald’s and General Mills, and several new products are being released. These include video games, such as New Pokémon Snap, which releases on the 30th for the Nintendo Switch, and a 25th-anniversary series for their popular Pokémon Trading Card Game. This year is expected to be the biggest year in Pokémon history. The Pokémon Trading Card Game has really taken off in 2021. In summer 2020, several YouTube influencers showcased cards on their channels, specifically cards from the Base Set. These were
the first Pokémon cards to hit the market and are the rarest and most sought-after. As a result, the aftermarket price of Pokémon cards skyrocketed. In October 2020, the rapper Logic purchased a First Edition Charizard for over $220,000 (after buyer’s premium). The card is professionally graded and in perfect mint condition. A box of unopened Base Set booster packs is valued at over half a million dollars and rising. For some people, Pokémon cards have become part of their investment portfolio, and it’s not just the earlier sets of cards that have their attention. Unopened products have become a hot commodity across the board, as have professionally graded, mint condition cards. Even new packs of cards are flying off store shelves. There are many factors contributing to the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s increased value and appeal. For one, it’s the 25th anniversary and people are excited, but cards have also been hit by a complicated mix of supply chain issues (as a direct result of the pandemic) and a surge in aftermarket resellers. Eventually, supply will increase to meet demand, but one thing is clear: 2021 is the year of Pokémon.
4
NEWFRONTIER.US
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter