About CollectorsBlueBook

collectorsBluebook’s mission is to make the world of collecting more open and connected by organizing information in a way that makes it universally available and useful.

 

What We Believe

Relationships Matter

People Do Business With People

collectorsBluebook’s focus is on the Art of Collecting and the People behind the Industry. We Believe that Collectible Businesses and the Art of Collecting as a whole are better served when the veil of anonymity inherently created by the Internet is lifted.

It is an accepted truism that all things being equal, people do business with people that they know and like. Our Listing Profiles provide a dynamic space where our Business Members can share their vision, the focus of their collecting interests, and the opportunity to build effective communication channels with current and future customers.

Effective Communication is the Cornerstone of Success

Content Driven Vs. Social Media

It’s about Relationships, NOT Technology. We are dedicated to organizing the chaos of the web. Our goal – support our members in the management and control of their web presences by providing a central location that offers connections to all the disparate Social Networking Sites, Web Stores, Auction Websites and Information Websites where they may have a presence.

Social Media Marketing tends to focus on two main objectives, brand awareness and discussion around the brand, but in and of itself, lacks the full set of tools a business requires for effective promotion and communication.

collectorsBluebook is focused on content. Our mission is that of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action to our business listing members.

The Need for Information is Universal

Information is Liberating

There are thousands of websites that offer auction, buy/sell platforms, and information resources to the world of collecting.  The intrinsic focus of most collecting oriented websites inhibits the creation of a broad and generalized database of collectible resources.

First, their focus is object based, on a specific type of collectible. Second, these sites often charge members to post a directory listing.

Our mission at collectorsBluebook is one of empowerment. To that end our goal is to gather anything and everything to do with the art of collecting into a single, easy to use resource.

We have removed the barriers of cost and collectible specific fragmentation. Our focus, on the art of collecting instead of a specific genre of collectible, and our decision to offer high quality listings free of charge, are unique steps forward on the path to empowering the world of collecting in the 21st Century.

Innovation Leads to Growth

Adapting to Contant Change

Amplified by technologies that are enabling the world to become smaller by means of the internet, today’s business world is evolving faster than ever before. To survive and be successful, businesses must adapt, be more efficient, receptive, and innovative.

collectorsBluebook is committed to providing the latest information about emerging technologies to its subscribers, and adding services that support those technologies for our subscribers use.

Bigger is Not Always Better

Growth Does Not Always Mean Getting Bigger

Growth is about moving forward and making progress, not necessarily getting bigger. It is the ability to generate effective action and to take what is best about a business and nurture it.

collectorsBluebook is dedicated to the support our local business subscribers in the development, control and effective management of their online presence. In our guest blog series, “Collecting in the 21st Century”, our members share how they have successfully utilized the internet to build and grow their businesses.

Ethical Behavior is Good Business

Our Commitment To You

collectorsBluebook is committed to customer satisfaction, good corporate citizenship, and responsible environmental, community and financial stewardship.

We will clearly, honestly, and accurately describe our products, services, terms and conditions.

We will deliver our products and services as represented.

We will communicate in a respectful and courteous manner.

We will respond to inquiries, suggestions, and complaints in a constructive, timely manner.

We will maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard information.

We honor requests not to receive future solicitations from our organization.

We will return a minimum of 10% of our net profits to the communities that we serve through grants to organizations that support the advancement of the art of collecting.

 

A Few Statistics

A few statistics regarding the world of collectibles, however, because dealers operate both privately and publicly, it is impossible to gauge the actual size of the collectible industry in the United States.
Somewhere between 42-64% percent of Americans state that they collect in some form or another: 133,000,000-203,000,000 people
Source: Collecting in a Consumer Society-Russell W. Belk
Estimated Number of Antique, Thrift, Collectible, Memorabilia and Used Merchandise Stores (Brick and Mortar Storefronts) in the USA as of
July 2012: 73,097 Shops and Stores
Source: IBIS
Our country has over 1100 flea markets that provide opportunities for approximately 2.25 million vendors conducting over $30 billion in sales annually. Flea Markets are visited by over 150 million customers each year.
Source: Flea Markets.Org
Number of Online Antique and Collectible Marketplaces(i.e. eBay, 1stDibs, Rubylane, Amazon, etsy)1218 with over $5 Billion Annual Sales in the USA.
Source: IBIS