When Aaron Cordero and his family decided to start the South Carolina Card Show, it was an opportunity to create something the state lacked.

The pandemic hit and many small card shows around the country struggled to start back up once regulations eased. With few options around, Cordero, the owner of the Lexington-based business, Palmetto Cards, decided to start a show in Columbia with lofty ambitions.

“There’s never really been what I would call a big show in South Carolina,” Cordero said. “There’s always been some little regional shows … but I feel like they’re pretty small. They’re pretty niche to local communities. What we’re trying to do is do something bigger. Our goal is to make it bigger. Bigger and better the next time.”

Cordero and his family have attended card shows as vendors all over the country. After opening their shop in 2022, they decided to give hosting a show a try and thus the South Carolina Card Show was born. The first edition of the show took place last weekend with vendors from all over showing up.

“I was killing for something like this in college,” said Boyce McCool, a USC alumni and vendor at the show. “There was only really small shows, and the fact that this reached a vast amount of people, it got more in.”

The event was held at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Cordero said getting that location helped sell the idea that this could be the premier show in the state.

“We didn’t want to call it the Palmetto Card Show. We wanted to call it the South Carolina Card Show because we want it to be big,” Cordero said. “We want to include all the dealers across the state and invite them. We felt like the best way of doing that is calling it the South Carolina Card Show and hosting it at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds.”

To get the word out, Cordero started reaching out to his friends. He went to shows and recruited there, and the news spread.

“I bought from Palmetto Sports Cards for the last couple of years, and [Cordero] just had it out on Instagram, and so we jumped all over the opportunity,” Cody Williams, another vendor at the show, said.

Preparations for the event started about five months before. Cordero and his team had to coordinate with vendors, the fairgrounds, autograph companies and auction houses, while also trying to inform the public about the event.

“There’s just so many moving pieces, and we’ve got a good team. I’m really blessed in that manner,” Cordero said. “My fiance, Meredith, she’s awesome. She puts in so much work. I kind of call her the glue, if you will, of the whole thing because she keeps everybody organized. My son, Jacob, he’s the shop manager and he deals with the people face to face more often.”

The show ran from June 28-30 and brought people from all over the region to South Carolina’s capital city. Vendors were impressed by the size and seamless execution.

From seasoned card show veterans to people just arriving on the scene, many said the first edition of the South Carolina card show was a success.

“I started in 1990,” said James Ball, an experienced vendor who sells exclusively at shows. “It’s been great. They’ve done a good job.”

The show featured collectible sports cards, Pokémon cards, action figures, presidential cards, comic books, video games and more. There was also a table set aside for members of the Gamecock football team to sign autographs.

Many vendors said business was strong. But while making money is part of the appeal, most said they were just happy to meet new people with a common interest.

“I like talking to people and seeing the cards,” Ball said. “I think people need to see the cards instead of buying them over the airwaves.”

McCool said he is already ready to come back and do another show.

“I’m hoping for another one because it was really successful for me,” he said.

Cordero’s lofty ambitions came to fruition and proved this area is suitable for a large card show. With some experience under his belt, next year’s show will look to go bigger.

“I think this area of South Carolina is a great location,” Cordero said. “I think college towns often get overlooked because we don’t have professional sports like these major cities do. And I go back to South Carolina, Columbia is kind of a sleeper for the hobby.”