Ravensburger UK has appointed Ben Lovell as its new category and sales manager for the company’s trading card game (TCG) business in the United Kingdom. Lovell’s immediate responsibilities have to do with the rollout of the Disney Lorcana TCG which put Ravensburger in a pickle with Upper Deck which accused the former of stealing its intellectual property.
Disney Lorcana has been set for hobby store release on August 18, with a global unveiling on September 1. The game is already being previewed at the ongoing Gen Con 2023 event at Indiana Convention Center, which is wrapping up today.
Lovell is a well-versed business professional with a passion for TCG games, having joined the company from tournamentcenter, where he was involved with the card games sector. He has worked closely with hobby stores, helping establish events, and has gradually expanded his knowledge to include organized play across different IPs.
His appointment reflects Ravensburger’s commitment and dedication to building its Disney Lorcana TCG as a long-term success, which would require a specialist that works closely with hobby stores and encourages the popularizing of the latest card game hit.
Disney Lorcana is releasing at a time of intense competition with Fantasy Flight Games revealing its own Star Wars TCG, which is also set to release in 2024. The two franchises are very popular and hold a particularly strong place with their respective player bases. Lovell will assist partner stores and help them create a dedicated TCG retail experience, assisting partners with marketing toolkits, advice and more.
Lovell is firmly focused on building the community in the United Kingdom, but Ravensburger is clearly expanding rapidly in other jurisdictions, and the United States in particular. Derek Scott, Ravensburger head of sales for the United Kingdom, said that the company was delighted to see Lovell join.
The new appointee was praised by Scott for his knowledge of TCGs in general, and his agreeing to join and bolster Ravensburger’s efforts in delivering the next big name in the industry. Lovell himself was similarly pleased with the opportunity, adding: “I can’t wait to see the brand’s launch in two weeks and how both TCG fans and new players embrace the game.”
Although an exciting opportunity, Lorell does acknowledge that there is plenty of hard work that lies ahead and that he will have to get down to it.