What are Slab Guards?
Graded guards are protective silicone guards that slide over trading card slabs to help prevent damage from everyday handling, while adding a nice touch. Since they are removable, collectors can add protection without changing or re-slabbing the card itself.
Think of it as a phone case for your graded card!
The Opportunity
I knew going into this that the slab guard market was already busy and saturated. There are dozens of companies selling similar products, many of which are likely sourced from the same suppliers. Instead of trying to avoid that or overthink my way out of it, I leaned into a simple opportunity that felt obvious.
👀 A crowded market, but one with proven demand, high volume, and consistent sales
👀 An existing supplier ecosystem, which made entry low risk and easy to test
👀 A chance to introduce an iconic Pokéball-inspired colorway that did not exist from other sellers
This was especially important for my company Display Nation since Pokémon is one of the largest segments in the collectibles space, and my previous products had very little presence in that market.
At the end of the day, it was simple, low risk, and fit well into Display Nation’s product lineup.
The Prototype
To move the Pokéball design forward, I made a physical prototype using CAD and 3D-printed it in three color pieces. I glued the parts together to check the fit and shape, then shared the final dimensions with my supplier.
About six weeks later, the first production batch arrived. The overall design came out well, but there were some issues with ink consistency and the black stripe placement. This was somewhat expected with silicone, but it was still something I had to think about when selling the product.
The Packaging
Packaging design is one of my favorite parts of shipping a new product. It’s where I get to think about the user and the feeling I want the product to create, while staying on brand.
I started with a more colorful blue concept, but quickly pivoted back to the red, black, and white design since that’s what the product is, and I didn’t want the packaging to feel disconnected.
Packaging design process
My messy Figma file of designs | ~5 hours
Leveraging AI
As image generation models continue to improve, I have started relying on them more when creating listing images. It’s impressive how they can take quick, low quality photos and turn them into something that looks close to professional product photography.
All four of my final listing images were built using AI improvements as a base, then refined with my own text, layout choices, and small visual tweaks to make sure everything still felt real.
The 4 final listing images, before and after AI
The Results
The Slab Guards launched in January of 2026, so I will be back with an update in the coming months, after my Amazon listing processes and I allow some time for market reaction/feedback. Thanks for tuning in!
Looking Ahead
Depending on how the guards continue to sell, I plan to expand the iconic red, black, and white colorway into new products, including pieces from my existing product line. I am also excited to explore and create new colorways for the guards as the product evolves.