About CRIT!
CRIT is an independent retailer specializing in all things pop culture. Our large high street store is packed full of TCG, Funko, Loungefly, figurines, blind boxes, video games and much more.
We’re not your typical hobby shop. We pride ourselves on creating an atmosphere that is immaculately presented yet friendly and inclusive. No clutter, no gatekeepin; just a clean, bright space to find your next obsession, or add to your existing one. Since we’re constantly updating our stock, no two visits to CRIT are ever the same. Pay us a visit and see what’s landed on the shelves this week!
Who we are, and how we got here
CRIT is owned by us—lifelong best friends and business partners, John and Nathan. To say we go "way back" is an understatement; the first birthday party Nathan ever attended was John’s 4th, and we’ve been friends ever since.
After leaving school, our careers took different paths. John followed his interest in computing, moving from teaching into IT, and eventually to Mexico, where he programmed laser-cutting machines. Nathan worked a variety of roles across sales, graphic design, and data analysis before becoming a firmware developer for a large tech company in Florida.
Starting a business together was always the goal, and we spent much of our twenties figuring out exactly what that would look like. In our early thirties, we began attending conventions to sell video games. This quickly grew into a large online business specializing in games, pop culture collectibles, and Pokémon cards.
A physical shop had been the plan for years, but COVID arrived at precisely the wrong time. With events cancelled, our dream of a storefront was almost lost. During that period, we shifted our focus entirely to Pokémon. At the height of the pandemic, we became the largest seller of individual Pokémon cards on eBay with 40,000 active listings. If you bought single cards during lockdown, there’s a good chance they came from us.
Finally, the stars aligned. As restrictions lifted and events returned, we opened our first shop on Knifesmith Gate in May 2024. Following a successful first year, we took over the former GAME premises on Burlington Street, opening the new doors just four months later in September 2025. Our background in software development and graphic design means that all our systems are developed in-house, giving us total control over every aspect of the business.
The Wider Team
CRIT simply wouldn’t be the same without our Store Manager Josh, Retail Assistant Chloe, and Admin Assistant Georgia. We met all of them through opening our first shop on Knifesmith Gate, recruiting them directly from within our own community and customer base.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create the region's ultimate pop culture destination—a store that is as welcoming and friendly as it is packed full of goodies. The way we see it, this is just the beginning. You can always expect to see growth and improvement from us, as neither of us ever "settles" in anything we do.