FRΞNCHIΞ@ethFRENCHIE
WHAT MAKES [thing] COLLECTIBLE?
Sometimes I can’t help but 🤦🏽♂️ when a company says “check out this collectible [thing] we created”.
The [thing] is very often [junk].
We all have “edge skills” where we possess a natural talent, usually supported by countless hours of passionate hard work, that out performs 99.9% of humans.
A deep understanding of collectibility, the mindset of collectors, and the best value drivers across a wide range of collectible genres, is one of those edge skills for me.
I miss often but I have an established track record of being right a lot more than I’m wrong.
A lot of it comes from all that experience (and learning from my many misses) but there are some basics anyone can apply.
For [thing] to HAVE A CHANCE at proving to be collectible (i.e., have, hold and grow value), you must ensure that the components are in place for someone else to formulate a thesis (for themselves) on why they can also believe in [thing].
This is by no means an exhaustive list…but some stuff I look at (when I create - and when I collect):
- Can the provenance be trusted? Have you undertaken measures to ensure future buyers are confident [thing] is authentic and unaltered?
- What are the potential catalysts for future demand of [thing], and how "far-fetched" are they? You only need one catalyst if it's potentially powerful and/or far reaching. However, in most cases, it's a combination of potential catalysts that solidify a strongly held thesis.
- Will [thing] be difficult to obtain once demand reaches the catalyst driven projections? Many people fumble here because they grossly under-estimate “catalyst driven demand” because current demand skews their perception. It’s critical that you utilize these lower demand windows to accumulate if you believe in [thing]. From there, trust your thesis’ catalyst to take care of that future demand.
**TIP - if you don’t see a POTENTIAL catalyst for 10x future demand - question your overall thesis.**
- Does [thing] forge an emotional connection with the owner for the duration of their ownership? Or might [thing] just end up in a junk drawer of apathy after a brief honeymoon phase? (We will skip the counterplay of including "trash bin deflation" from the potential thesis.)
- Is one of the emotions [thing] sparks a sense of "pride"? Collectibles can create a wide array of emotions and be successful but if one of them isn’t a sense of pride…tough sledding.
- Does [thing] help the owner to create a new community or fit neatly into an existing one?
- Are there enough units of [thing] for a market to form with reliable sales comparisons over time?
- How does the uniqueness of [thing] contribute to its perceived value? Is there something inherently special or rare about [thing] that cannot be easily replicated?
- What is the historical significance or potential future historical importance of [thing]? Does it represent a moment in time, a cultural movement, or an innovative breakthrough?
- How does the craftsmanship or artistic merit of [thing] add to its collectibility? Is it made with exceptional skill or creativity that sets it apart from other similar options?
- Is there a story or narrative associated with [thing] that enhances its appeal?
- Does [thing] have the potential for cross-collectibility, appealing to collectors across different interests or demographics?
This is a good starting framework. If you form your thesis for [thing] using this checklist and then have patience…I think you will win a lot more than you lose.
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