A childhood fascination with bouncy balls and locks sparked a passion for collecting in Trey Andrews that has evolved into a thriving business. Savage Cards & Collectibles has become more than just a store for its customers — it’s an experience.
Andrews’ interest in collecting began at a young age.
“If I got one thing, I wanted all of it,” Andrews said. “I had a bouncy ball collection, I collected locks, and I had tons of keys for all my locks. I just collected everything.”
After graduating from NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Andrews joined his family’s business, Plymouth Glass, where he worked for about 10 years before helping his girlfriend run her business.
As he transitioned into adulthood, Andrews put his collecting on hold, prioritizing more practical expenses. However, after he had his son, his love for toys and collecting was rekindled.
“When I had my son, it brought me back to toys,” Andrews said. “Seeing him want to play with toys made me think about what I used to have. I found some of my old things and played with them alongside him.”
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point in Andrews’ life. As his girlfriend’s business struggled, he stepped in to help her keep it afloat, but he eventually found himself out of work. Instead of seeing this as a setback, Andrews discovered a new opportunity.
“During COVID, when I wasn’t working, I spent a lot of time selling toys and cards online,” Andrews said. “It went really well for me, so much so that when things with COVID calmed down, I decided to find a place to try it out in person.”
Andrews wanted his shop to offer more than just trading cards. He wanted it to be a place that catered to a variety of interests and evoked nostalgia for all ages.
“A lot of card shops only sell cards, but I didn’t want to do that,” Andrews said. “I wanted to offer a bit of everything — vintage toys, modern toys, cards — and just be different, doing my own thing. I wanted kids, parents, and grandparents to come in and find something that triggers a memory, something they’ve never seen before, or something they can enjoy together and connect over.”
In June of 2021, Andrews got the keys to his own shop and began renovations right away. After three months of preparation, he decided to open the store during the Nappanee Apple Festival even though it wasn’t quite ready yet.
“September 16, 2021 was my first day open,” Andrews said. “I really wasn’t ready, but I decided to open during the Nappanee Apple Festival because of all the people coming through town.”
Andrews’ favorite part of his business is connecting with fellow collectors. His dedication to his customers is apparent as he continually remembers their collections while looking for new items for the shop.
“I keep my customers in mind and think about what they like or what they’re looking for when I’m hunting for myself or for new inventory,” Andrews said. “When I’m out, I might pick something up for them too.”
Outside of work, Andrews spends time with family, plays video games with friends, watches Chicago Bears football, and of course, still collects.
“I collect a lot of things — World of Nintendo Sonic figures, especially the four-inch ones, NECA original Ninja Turtle movie figures (I think I have pretty much all of them), Macho Man wrestling figures, and Pokémon cards,” Andrews said. “I also collect arcade games and have been working on making my game room at home really nice. I’m buying the WWE Superstars line, which is hard to find, but I’m caught up for now. Lately, I’ve been opening a lot of One Piece cards, too. I also collect things for my son, like the Pokémon Select figures; he has nearly every regular Pokémon Funko figure.”
For Andrews, the real reward comes from the relationships he’s built through his store.
“I really appreciate all the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made,” Andrews said. “It means a lot when people tell me how much they enjoy coming into the store. I love what I do and feel like I know a lot about toys and cards, so it’s fun for me.”