Dear Claude,
Excellent post and excellent suggestions. One of the
things that I had suggested to JR early on was that we could create a small
flyer that I put into every box of frames that go out. Since I ship about a
thousand frames a month, it couldn't hurt. However, since a lot of my customers
are collecting new posters, if they go to MoPobid and don't find any new posters
to buy, they might not go back. So JR has encourage some dealers with newer
titles to try the site out.
About a month ago, I had responded to a similar
post from another collector and told anyone that was interested in putting a
flyer for MoPobid in their boxes and tubes to contact me or JR for a copy
that can be easily printed from your computer or xeroxed and it is printed 4 up
on a page. To date, I have had no one email me for the flyer. Your
suggestion to have the flyers at the various movie paper shows around the
country is excellent, but you have to get some dealers to put them on their
tables and pass them out. If you put them on the common area tables that have
other flyers on them, they often get "lost". I know, because I put my
flyers out at the Hollywood Poster Show.
I'm sure it would be difficult for JR himself to attend
those shows personally, but between MoPo and Style B, there are enough
collectors and dealers around the country that could make sure the flyers get
there as distributed. You might even be able to work something out with the
various promoters that often pass out flyers when you come in the door. Anyway,
I think the site is a great effort and I appreciate JR taking it on.
Sue Heim
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 12:45
PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] FROM A COLLECTOR:
Where have all the sellers gone, long time passing
JR
Everyone who has written in this thread has expressed a great deal of
truth about the hobby. Your site is wonderful and I truly hope you
succeed. However, there are major needs such as advertising and
knowledge of your site. If people do not know about the site then they
will not bid. If they do not know what is coming they will not bid.
On ebay, except for Bruce, you must search and search daily or miss
out on items you want. With Bruce, because of his newsletter and
advertising, you know in advance. I collect inserts and half sheets and
knew the dates that Bruce was selling them. With ebay I never know when
anything will be on. I am a member of mopo and learned about your
auction site here. Bruce has over 14,000 people who have bought from him
on ebay and the numbers climb weekly. Ebay has become a household word
and the sheer volume has become both good and bad at the same time.
MCW never got much beyond 5000 subscribers and ebay took their
business away. MCW basically grew by word of mouth and at a snail's
pace. It was eaten alive by ebay within a two year period.
Your
site has tremendous potential but what it needs is advertising to grow.
People need to be made aware of the site and what posters are coming up
for auction. Note--Bruce is already advertising his forthcoming major
auctions and creating intense interest. My question to you is -----how
are you going to increase buyers to your auction site? Also, the site is
being managed by you at this time and you are in control. What will
happen if you experience rapid growth? I recall ebay had very serious
growth problems. They were user unfriendly at the beginning and today,
impossible to reach.
I realize that any newcomer on the block
who opens a store to challenge WalMart is tilting at windmills. Your
task is enormous and I applaud your efforts. I am raising these issues
with the hope that it may aid in your cause and make people respond to help
you succeed.
I would like to start the ball rolling by
suggesting you go (or have a representative) to all the shows and take a
booth. Hand out flyers at the shows advertising your site. Next
Saturday is the Atlantic City antique show in New Jersey. Morris Everett
has a booth there and he would be a perfect person to help advertise
your site. This show is twice a year and there are always movie poster
dealers and buyers. There are monthly shows by Phil DeMario in northern
Jersey, and of course, the Hollywood Collectors shows.
Claude
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