EASTON — Dean O’Donnell got into Pokémon card trading a few months ago after his uncle-in-law introduced him to the vending world.
Sierra Roe and Dean O’Donnell at Saturday’s Easton Card Show at the Talbot County Community Center.
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He’s kept in the family, with his fiancee Sierra Roe tagging along to conventions and joining in the process by creating art pieces to sell alongside the cards and other trinkets at O’Donnell’s booth. In the three months of entering this world, he has created a name, brand and aesthetic that attracts folks to see O’Donnell at conventions from across the tri-states.
“As soon as I started, I couldn’t stop,” he said. “I do it every week now. I’m addicted to it.”
O’Donnell’s business is dubbed Three Tails, after his and Roe’s three cats: Lancelot, Lucy and Stark.
Saturday, Three Tails took part in the Easton Card Show at the Talbot County Community Center, which Roe said there was a “big turnout.” She described the atmosphere as friendly with “awesome people” and “very cute kids.”
On display were Pokémon Cards, sports cards and other fun regalia.
Roe said the day leaned more toward trading and selling rather than buying, which she characterizes as typical for smaller, hometown shows. Roe began painting “random stuff” like charcuterie boards, collages and other knickknacks to add a creative, personal touch to the booth.
One of O’Donnell’s favorite parts of the gig is the community.
Sierra Roe displays a cute knickknack behind the Three Tails booth.
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“The community is actually insane about how loving and how many connections I build every week,” O’Donnell said. “Every week I meet someone new and cool.”
Additionally, he enjoys giving stuffed animals and stickers to the kids who come by his booth. O’Donnell is a dedicated Leafeon collector, maintaining a personal collection of Leafeon cards. His generosity towards young attendees and niche passion drive folks to the Three Tails booth.
“They show me their collection, I show them mine, and it’s just the connections are crazy and I live for it,” he said. “I look forward to every Saturday because of it.”
Three Tails has three upcoming shows: Aug. 22 in Frederick, Aug. 29 and 30 in Ocean City and Sept. 5 and 6 in Hagerstown. To stay up to date on all things Three Tails, check out it’s Instagram at @threetailstrading and @three.tails.artworks.
Alongside Pokémon cards, sports cards were displayed at booths at the Talbot County Community Center.
LILY TIERNEY/STAR DEMOCRAT
