Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Lesher.
Hi Sam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school, did four years, and then got out and started going to school mostly because I figured that was what you were supposed to do. But it never really held my interest. It felt more like a placeholder than something I was truly invested in.
Around that time, I was getting a tattoo at a local shop and started talking with the artist. I mentioned that it would be kind of cool to own a tattoo shop, because I had always been entrepreneurial-minded and knew I wanted to own a business. The artist told me that the guy who owned that shop was actually trying to sell it. So I sent him a message, and he told me he was open to it and would even teach me how to tattoo. At first I was a little apprehensive about that part, but I decided to go for it.
I ended up owning and operating the shop, and tattooing, for about 12 years. During that time, I had always been interested in Magic: The Gathering, sci-fi, Star Trek, Marvel, Pokémon, and all the nerdy stuff I had loved since I was a kid. Because I already had a business license, I was able to get a distributorship through a company that sold Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and similar products.
At first, it was honestly just because I wanted to get products for myself. In my head I was thinking, “Man, this stuff is expensive. I know stores aren’t paying this much for it.” But I also started a website and began selling some of it too. Eventually I realized that if I had an actual building, I could maybe turn it into a full-time business.
So I started looking for a building and eventually found a really nice place that fit what I was envisioning. We got to work, remodeled the entire building, and put a lot of time, money, and energy into it. Luckily, everything worked out.
The big difference for me is that when I was a tattoo artist, people would always say, “At least you get to do what you love.” But that wasn’t really the case. Tattooing was a good job, and I made good money, but I didn’t necessarily love doing it. What I did love was owning a business. And now I get to own a business that deals with things I genuinely enjoy. So working every day for three or four years straight really wasn’t that difficult, because I enjoyed it so much.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting financed and pulling the money together to invest in the building, buy inventory, and get everything off the ground was definitely a challenge. There were a lot of long hours involved in getting the building ready, especially with the remodeling and setup.
Right when we first opened, we also had a water pipe burst and flood the entire building, so that was a pretty rough thing to deal with early on.
Other than that, though, it has been relatively smooth sailing. There have definitely been challenges, but nothing that made me feel like we were on the wrong path.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Cape Fear Collectibles?
Cape Fear Collectibles is a collectibles and tabletop gaming store built around the things I have personally enjoyed for most of my life: Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, miniatures, sci-fi, fantasy, comics, and all the nerdy hobby stuff that comes with it.
We sell trading card games, collectibles, tabletop gaming products, miniatures, hobby supplies, and a growing amount of custom and 3D-printed items. A big part of what we do is try to make the store feel like a place for people who are genuinely into these hobbies, not just a place where products sit on shelves. I wanted it to feel welcoming, interesting, and community-focused.
What sets us apart, I think, is that the business comes from a real interest in the products and the culture around them. I’m not just selling something because it happens to be popular. These are things I grew up loving and still enjoy, so I understand the customers because I’m one of them. We’re always trying to expand what we offer, whether that means cards, miniatures, gaming accessories, custom products, or events.
Brand-wise, I’m probably most proud that Cape Fear Collectibles has grown from an idea into an actual place where people can come in, shop, play, talk about the things they enjoy, and feel like they are part of a community. That was always the goal: to build a business around things I genuinely care about, and to create a space for other people who care about those things too.
Any big plans?
We’re focused on expanding our visibility and continuing to grow the business in a smart, sustainable way. A big part of that is continuing to build on our distributor relationships so we can offer more products, better selection, and keep growing the retail side of Cape Fear Collectibles.
We’re also putting more time and energy into the custom products we make in-house. That has become a really exciting part of the business, because it lets us create things that are more unique to our store and our customers instead of only carrying what everyone else can get from the same distributors.
Long term, the goal is to keep growing the brand, keep improving what we offer, and keep finding new ways to serve the gaming, collectibles, and hobby community. I don’t necessarily want growth just for the sake of growth. I want to keep building something that feels useful, interesting, and true to what Cape Fear Collectibles is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.capefearcollectibles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capefearcollectibles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeFearCollectibles
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeFearCollectibles
