TWO BROTHERS · ONE VERY BIG IDEA
They own Izzi’s Gym, one of Sioux Falls’ most exciting trading-card destinations. They built Cardboard Capital to give collectors the kind of clear, useful market research they wanted for themselves.
THE FOUNDERS
CO-FOUNDER · ENTREPRENEUR · GROWTH THINKER
Christopher is the big-picture builder. He brings years of entrepreneurial experience, a sharp eye for growth, and a stubborn belief that ambitious businesses can still put people first. He pushes Cardboard Capital to ask better questions, explain the answer clearly, and build something collectors can trust.
CO-FOUNDER · COLLECTOR · COMMUNITY BUILDER
Nick is the heart of the mission. His bond with Izzi inspired the store’s name and its belief that a local business can help people feel less alone. He brings the collector’s perspective: the excitement of the hobby, the importance of the details, and the responsibility to welcome newcomers without judgment.
WHY IZZI’S GYM EXISTS
Izzi’s Gym began as a tribute to Izzi, the beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who changed Nick’s life, and to the brothers’ father. The Hamze family turned grief into a place built around joy, connection, and community.
That purpose still shapes the business. Cards bring people through the door, but the real goal is to create the kind of place where collectors, players, parents, and curious newcomers all feel like they have a seat at the table.
READ THE IZZI’S GYM STORYWHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT
They see what collectors ask for, what actually sells, and where price data can mislead people.
Izzi’s Gym was built to be more than a shop—a welcoming place where people can learn, play, collect, and belong.
They believe serious market research should be understandable without a finance degree or a spreadsheet obsession.
They would rather show that evidence is missing than dress up a weak signal and call it an opportunity.
WHY CARDBOARD CAPITAL EXISTS
Owning Izzi’s Gym gives Christopher and Nick a front-row view of the card market. They see the excitement, the confusing prices, the thin sales histories, and the questions people ask before spending real money. Cardboard Capital turns those questions into tools anyone can understand.
They will never promise that a card must rise in value. Their promise is better: show the evidence, explain its limits, and help every collector make a more informed decision.