How we started trading at Comic Cons

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a comic con trader, or how small businesses get started at events like Comic Con Liverpool—this is our story.

And spoiler… it didn’t start with a big plan.

Honestly? This is hands down one of the questions we get asked the most at events… and the answer isn’t some perfectly mapped-out business strategy.

It was a total whim.

Col had been over at Comic Con Liverpool in the November while I was across the water doing our usual craft fair. He rang me and said, “Babe… your cold cups would go down an absolute storm here. There’s nothing like what you do.”

So the next day, sat at my office job, I fired off an email asking how to apply for Liverpool 2022.

And the rest is history…

Well—not exactly.

The Early Days (aka Chaos & Blind Faith)

Our first Liverpool Comic Con gave me six months to prep. Six months of making cold cups around a full-time job, evenings, weekends… basically every spare second.

Then we booked Edinburgh. Then another Liverpool.

Back then? It really was as simple as asking what trader spaces were available (if only it was still that easy now—hello application forms and the stress of waiting for acceptance emails 😅).

Then came Manchester.

We were on a much needed family holiday in Turkey when I got the email—someone had cancelled, did I want their table?

I said yes.

Did I ask Col first? Absolutely not.

We had six weeks to prep when we got home, and somehow in that time we also launched a brand new product line—our now-infamous double-sided glitter keyrings.

The pressure? Unreal. But with Col jumping in to help, we pulled it off… and somehow did even better than Liverpool.

From there, things just kept growing:

• More designs

• More products

• Bigger setups (hello two tables 👀)

• New launches like metal bookmarks, insulated tumblers and tote bags

By the November Liverpool event, we genuinely couldn’t keep up with demand.

The Big Leap

By 2023, we’d been accepted to 10 comic con events.

Now… four events alongside a full-time job? Hard. Ten? Completely unrealistic.

Add in running a house, two kids (and Adam having already headed off to the Navy), and something had to give.

So we had the conversation.

Because here’s the thing—this? This was my happy place.

So I handed in my notice.

The biggest gamble I’ve ever made.

All the “what ifs” were there:

• What if it didn’t work out?

• What if I failed?

• How would we pay the bills?

But the biggest one?

What if I didn’t do it?

Could I really spend the next 20 years in a job that was fine—great colleagues, good pay—but didn’t light me up? Didn’t fill my cup?

So… I jumped.

Building something that's ours

Since then, we’ve been incredibly lucky to trade at so many shows, especially with Monopoly Events—they really are leading organisers of UK pop culture events, and their belief in us has meant everything.

Because of that, we’ve been able to grow in ways I never imagined:

• Trading across the UK (including finally ticking off Northern Ireland!)

• Expanding our product ranges while staying true to our core drinkware and gifts

• And now… heading into Europe with Prague and (hopefully) Dublin 👀

Some people might say it’s luck, or favouritism.

And hey—maybe a little bit of luck never hurt anyone.

But I’d rather believe it’s this:

• People recognising the constant evolution of our stock—there’s always something new on the table

• The amount of work that goes into new designs for every single event

• The graft behind the scenes (and when I say graft, I mean all of us—even the boys get roped in… those paper bags you get your goodies in? Yep, entirely hand stamped)

• The incredible feedback we get from you guys, both at events and across the groups

• And the fact we never just stand still or coast on past successes

And the thing is—we’re still taking massive gambles to this day.

Our first For the Love of Wrestling? We had no clue if we’d succeed. Would wrestling fans even like our faceless cups? Our glitter coasters?

Turns out… they absolutely did.

We sold out of coasters by 4pm on day one, then had to get up extra early the next morning to heat press more… which also sold out again 😂 and we now sell wrestling designs at pretty much every show we attend.

We don’t copy what others are doing.

We don’t completely change direction after a bad event.

We build our brand. Our way.

The Reality of Trading at Comic Cons

At this point, a lot of people don’t even need to see our name.

It’s just—“Oh! Ive been looking everywhere for the purple stall!”

And honestly? I love that.

I love:

• When customers come back just to say hello

• Hearing that a cup from two years ago is still going strong

• The “I’ve got a whole cupboard full of your cups” (please send pics, I NEED to see them 😂)

• Cosplayers matching my designs and letting me grab photos for reels

• Pinky promises with kids buying bookmarks, swearing they’ll do their reading

And those little moments you don’t expect…

Like handing a business card to a child whose parent has clearly done all the spending already—letting them know Santa’s elves can always get in touch with me for “special cups” and seeing that silent thank you when a meltdown is successfully avoided.

Finding Our Place in the Comic Con Community

I love the chats with people who share my fandom obsessions. I love laughing with the ones who don’t.

I love when you come back to show me your photo with the celeb you were so nervous or excited to meet.

And more than anything, I love that the comic con community is one of the most accepting, welcoming spaces out there.

All of this… from one impulsive email back in 2021.

I found my people. My place.

And somehow, I get to make a living doing something I love—creating things that make other people just as happy.

And that? That will never not feel a little bit surreal.

Want to see what we’re bringing to our next event or grab your own cold cup? Keep an eye on our socials or head over to the website to shop the latest designs 💜