About Sports Trading Cards UK

Sports Trading Cards UK is carving out its own lane in the ever-growing world of sports collectibles. While the United States drives much of the market in pricing and supply, this UK-based brand has become the local go-to for anyone hunting rare basketball, football, or baseball cards—and even signed memorabilia. Beyond an active Shopify store, they also have a brick-and-mortar shop where customers can see and feel the excitement of collecting firsthand.

“In the UK, the industry’s still growing, and not everyone has the same knowledge as the US,” says James, Head of eCommerce, describing how they help collectors navigate the vast (and sometimes confusing) world of trading cards.

Their commitment to customer service and a diverse range of products has quickly made them a trusted name in the niche.

 

Goals & Challenges

1. Guiding New Collectors Confidently

Sports Trading Cards UK wanted their online store to educate and reassure newbies who often ask, “Which card set should I buy?” or “What’s the best product for a new collector?” They needed a way to show these shoppers exactly what they might like—without bombarding them with too many choices.

 

2. Dynamically Showcasing Relevant Products

They had tried basic Shopify theme recommendations, but it wasn’t enough.

As James puts it, “It’s not ABC. People collect different sports, teams, or athletes, and there are so many different sets coming out.”

The store needed smarter, real-time product recommendations that genuinely resonated with each visitor’s interests.

 

3. Upselling Without Annoying

They aimed to raise cart value and encourage multi-item purchases. However, James was adamant about not resorting to intrusive pop-ups or aggressive tactics.

“We don’t want to force anything down anyone’s throat. We don’t want horrible pop-ups every time you click; we just want a subtle nudge,” James says.

 

4. No Code, No Headaches

As a growing small business, they couldn’t afford to spend weeks re-coding their store or hiring specialized developers. They needed a plug-and-play solution that just worked.

 

How the Partnership with ConvertWise Helped

1. AI Recommendations That Delight (Not Overwhelm)

Rather than static, one-size-fits-all suggestions, ConvertWise’s AI recommendations analyze visitors’ on-site behaviors, showing relevant products in real time.

 

 

“We used to get through two cases of a product a week, and now it’s four,” James shares. “And it’s not because we suddenly started pushing pop-ups—it’s because ConvertWise just subtly guides them. If they’re interested in one product, it shows something similar. It’s a better experience, and it leads to more sales.”

 

 

The store also uses a “Most Popular” section by ConvertWise on the homepage, nudging curious shoppers to explore trending sets or memorabilia.

“It’s like a big store where someone politely asks, ‘Need a hand?’ without following you around.”

 

2. A Better Cart Experience

Previously, every time a shopper added an item to the cart, they were taken straight to the cart page—derailing product discovery.

With Wise Cart, the cart slides out neatly on the side, showing complementary items and a free shipping bar that nudges shoppers to add more products to their basket. This boosted the average basket size from 1.5 to 2.4!

 

“Installation was a breeze,” James recalls. “Our theme was a bit weird, but five minutes with the customer support, and it worked seamlessly. Now, people can see their cart, get suggestions, and keep looking around—no disruption at all.”

This small but powerful tweak led to more multi-item orders and higher average cart values.

 

4. Non-Intrusive Upselling That Actually Works

ConvertWise’s approach sits quietly in the background, analyzing user behavior and providing relevant suggestions at just the right moments—such as on product detail pages (PDPs) or in the slide-out cart.

“It’s not about ‘Buy this, buy that!’ James notes. “It’s about showing collectors something they might be genuinely interested in. The AI is actually learning, and every month, the recommendations get even better.”

 

5. Built to Handle BFCM & Beyond

When Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Thanksgiving rolled around, Sports Trading Cards UK saw heavy traffic spikes—but no slowdown. ConvertWise kept serving product suggestions in real-time.

“It definitely stress-tested the site,” James laughs. “But everything ran smoothly. That’s what we need as we keep growing.”

 

Results

Just within a few weeks of using ConvertWise, Sports Trading Cards UK saw remarkable improvements:

1. 294X ROI – For every dollar invested, they earned 294 dollars back.
2. 1.3X Higher Cart Conversions – Shoppers were 1.3 times more likely to complete their purchase after adding an item to the cart.
3. 1.5 → 2.4 Units per Basket – Smarter recommendations and a frictionless cart fueled multi-item orders.
4. 1.8X Higher CTR – AI-driven suggestions nearly doubled click-through rates compared to Shopify’s default.

 

Coming Up Next

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Sports Trading Cards UK shows no signs of slowing down.

They’re planning to open new stores in the UK and work with partners in the US. On the online storefront, they’re excited to:

1. Keep improving recommendations for their growing base of collectors.
2. Expand the cart features to make checkout even better.
3. Explore cool new features like 360° product views to make online shopping more engaging.

 

“The reputation we’ve built in five years can be broken in five minutes if we do something wrong,” James Duckhouse, says. “That’s why we’re so careful about who we partner with. We trust ConvertWise to keep supporting us as we scale.”