I was at the Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto this past weekend, and the turnout was incredible – packed crowds, strong activations, and a real sense that the hobby is in great shape here in Canada. Throughout the weekend there was a ton of buzz around The Hobby Awards. The Expo itself is nominated for Best Collectible Show, and many other nominees were on-site.
I had the chance to catch up with Johnny from Mintink (nominated for Best Hobby Shop), Mary Gamble Gamble (nominated for Influencer of the Year), Mojo Sports (nominated for Influencer of the Year), and King of the Kards (nominated for Influencer of the Year) to get their perspective on the awards.
Johnny – CEO of Mintink: “It feels like the whole country is cheering for us.”
Mintink’s nomination for Best Hobby Shop was a major point of pride for Johnny – and for Canadian collectors.
“Being nominated with Burbank, AAMint, CardHQ- it’s humbling,” he said. But the standout for him has been the support from home:
“It’s like the (Blue) Jays. It feels like the whole country is cheering for us.”
The competitive landscape doesn’t intimidate him – in his view, it strengthens the hobby.
“Competition is great. The customer wins when the landscape is competitive. But yeah… there are definitely some fun [categories].”
As for excitement, he highlighted the Influencer of the Year race:
“I know a bunch of those guys – Mojo (Mojo Sports), Ryan (Card Collector 2), Kyle (King of the Kards) – they’re all amazing humans.”
Mary Gamble Gamble: “It means the world.”
Mary Gamble Gamble described her nomination for Influencer of the Year as deeply meaningful.
“I really appreciate all the support… it means the world,” she said. “My goal is to have a positive, supportive community around me.”
What stood out most to her about this year’s awards was seeing newer companies gain recognition.
“I loved seeing smaller or newer startups get recognized. That was really special.”
And on the idea of controversy, she kept things grounded:
“I don’t think anything is controversial. It’s all healthy competition.”
Mojo Sports: “The community feels like a family.”
Mojo enters this year’s awards as both a nominee for Influencer of the Year and one of the official judges – a role that means he cannot vote in his own category. Despite that, he’s approaching the recognition with humility.
“I want to see someone else win,” he said. “The other nominees are excellent.”
What truly stood out in our conversation was how deeply he values the people who support him.
“The community feels like a family,” Mojo said. “The people in this hobby are some of the best I’ve ever met. It’s bigger than cards.”
When asked which category he thinks will draw the most attention, he pointed immediately to Auction House of the Year.
“I remember the first time I met Ken Goldin at the National,” Mojo said. “I asked him how it felt to be one of the best auction houses in the world. He stopped me and said, ‘We are the best.’” He laughed and added, “Those auction houses are competitive and prideful. It’s going to be interesting.”
King of the Kards: “It’s become something deeper.”
For King of the Kards, also nominated for Influencer of the Year, the recognition reflects the depth of connection he has built with his audience.
“I’m very excited. Recognition like this is rare in the space,” he said. “Accolades are one thing, but seeing our community show up – that’s what means the most.”
He emphasized how the support has grown into something beyond content:
“It’s become something deeper than just wheeling and dealing. I’m humbled to be in a position where people care enough to support what we’re doing.”
When discussing controversy, he pointed to his own category – not for drama, but because of the sheer talent involved.
“There are so many individuals doing great work who don’t get the chance to be recognized.”
Voting Is Now Open
Voting for The Hobby Awards is now open at TheHobbyAwards.com.
Collectors can cast votes across categories spanning innovation, media, retail, and creativity through November 21. Winners will be announced mid December, including the debut of the limited ghostwrite Trophy – created exclusively for The Hobby Awards.
Want to win a Trophy for yourself? One lucky voter will get to take one home. More details here.
