Collectibles: A Classic Case of Supply & Demand

The phrase of one man's junk is another man's treasure holds true when it comes to collector's items. Purchasing collectibles is a fun way to remember past events and time periods of long ago. For those who know what they are doing, it's becoming a lucrative business.

People collect all kinds of things. Some people collect books or magazines. Some people collect posters or postcards. Some people collect teacups or figurines. Sometimes these items increase in value while sometimes they do not. Often items used to advertise a popular movie increase in value. Comic books are very popular. Many original comic books in mint condition are worth a lot of money. Anything can sell if you find the right buyer.

People who buy collectibles buy them in a variety of different locations. There are specialty stores, such as comic book stores and sports memorabilia stores. There are also a lot of junk stores, like thrift stores where people donate their unwanted items to support a charity. Estate sales often have a variety of surprising items. Many collectors frequent auctions, including online auctions, as well.

Some great examples are sports collectibles which include autographed baseballs, old jerseys, posters, and baseball cards. Sports themed collector's items are very popular, because there have been so many great athletes. People like to remember the great athletes and great teams with small tokens. Often times an item autographed by a great athlete turns out to be worth a lot of money. Sports are a large part of our culture, and that is reflected in the commerce of sports memorabilia.

Another very popular niche in collectibles are the Coca-Cola collectors items. They include tins, posters, glasses, old Coke bottles, figurines, and ornaments. They often have a retro feel to them. Early Coca Cola memorabilia often depicted women in beautiful clothing drinking a soda. More recently, many of the Coke items feature the signature Coca-Cola polar bear.

The saying is often true- one man's junk really is another man's treasure. As a result, there is now a thriving market for commemorative objects. We all have certain kinds of things that we'd like to buy and thus watch for on the market.