Program

When we talk about collection management, we are really talking about your own personal collection and "managing" it in ways most appropriate for you and your situation or life style.

First, let's critique a few kinds of collecting styles:

The Casual Collector

Collections can mean very different things to different people. It can be a very casual collection - something whereby you may go days and not even think about it, but it still provides you enjoyment. When you're on vacation or stop by a Saturday yard sale, you just might find something that "fits" your collection. You probably don't belong to a collecting club, and have little interest in joining one. You probably don't even know anyone else who collects the same things and, again, you probably don't really care. You may not have any real collection `goals'...and someday you might simply tire of it and start collecting something else. But the important factor here is that it is YOUR collection - YOUR decisions - no pressure - pure enjoyment!

The `Driven' Collector

This collector is basically on the opposite end of the spectrum from the casual collector. The `driven' collector is possessed. He or she lives for their collection. It consumes a vast amount of their free time - and probably an equally vast amount of their income. They normally have a goal - usually something like building towards the best or the largest collection in that particular collecting area. The `driven' collector usually belongs to a collecting club, primarily to make contacts. They are `well-connected' in their specific collecting area and it is usually known that if you have something that they want, or need, they'll pay top dollar to get it - and maybe even more! The `driven' collector keeps track of all the auctions, the shows and the mail auction catalogs. They are consummate collectors. Interestingly, they really have only one characteristic in common with the casual collector - some day they may simply tire of the collection and start collecting something else.

The Trendy Collector

The trendy collector likes to collect what's popular at the time, giving little thought to anything else. Oh, sure, we could use Beanie Babies as our example, but there are many others, too. Don't forget the state quarters. (Some may say, whatever Martha Stewart is currently pushing.) These collectors - and there are hundreds of thousands of them - cause blips on the collecting radar screen. We're not talking life time collectors here - usually two or three years. They greatly enjoy their collecting while they are doing it, but remember we are talking trends here, and trends don't last. Sadly, many experience the situation of buying high and selling low. Hopefully it doesn't discourage them from collecting something else.

The Investor Collector

This collector buys primarily for investment purposes. They get into a collecting field which is projected to grow - maybe even explode! Prices may still be undervalued and the investor collector sets goals of doubling, tripling or quadrupling their investment in a set period of time. He or she may have a genuine interest in the collecting area but investment is the driving force. (You see many investor collectors at times when the stock market and other investment opportunities are on the down side. Investor Collectors usually tend to buy "high end." This means, they will come into a collecting area and buy items in the top 10 percent of the collecting area from a value or quality standpoint. Word of caution here to other collectors - having a couple of investor collectors in a small collecting area can cause a major problem to the overall value of that particular collecting area if they all decide to liquidate and move on at the same time.

The Life-Time Collector

The life-time collector is in it for the long haul. They enjoy collecting, and its important to them - but it doesn't run their lives. It is not uncommon to see the life-time collector continue to collect for 30-40-50 years. They develop a quality collection - perhaps not the best one in the field, but very respectable. The life-time collector will belong to a collecting club and will usually at some stage of their life be active in the club. They are an educated collector, knowing a lot about their collecting area. They have developed life-time friendships with other collectors and consider their collecting to be an integral part of a quality life.

The New Collector

The `new' collector is just getting his or her feet wet in a specific collecting area. They think they would like to pursue collecting in this area but they're not quite sure yet. They realize most of the other collectors know more about collecting than they do - but that's all right, so long as someone doesn't take advantage of them. They may not have located a collecting club which serves their chosen area of collecting yet, but hopefully they will run across it before they get too far down the road. In many respects they are the future of the hobby. It may all depend on who is observant and notices them and takes them under their wing - the life-time collector, the investor collector, the `driven' collector...or perhaps no one.