Budget friendly geekery. That’s my focus. We all have a role in keeping the fandoms alive. There are many tiers of collectors. I know the place where I feel most home. It’s the balance between collecting and spending. Welcome to 7Shadows Market.
What I Do
Regarding my various implements of geek and pop culture collectibles, my business model is a bit different from what some folks might expect.
Some people have pointed out that I don’t have extremely rare expensive items or high-end grail Funko Pops. I don’t know if these were simply observations or if they were disappointed. I never mean to disappoint.
Hopefully, clarifying my approach will shine the proper light on my perspective and how I approach the geek side of my business.
Rarities
While I have certainly had my fair share of super vintage and rare finds, those aren’t items I actively pursue. It’s not even mentioned in my marketing. It’s not my specialty. Specialization is a key part of a retail business plan. You have to define your objectives. Once that’s achieved, you have to swim in the waters that support your objectives.
Don’t get me wrong I love discussing those elusive rarities. Finding one to sell is pretty dang cool too. It’s just not my main focus.
Stretching Dollars
Geeks of all ages are looking for budget friendly geekery. An extra $50 needs to go a long way. Afterall, we all have a lot of bills to pay. You are my people. As a shop owner, I get a bigger rush out of stocking a whole bunch of smaller things that might make a lot of people happy. I don’t relish tying a lot of capital into a couple of statues or super rare Funko Pops.
Different Vibe
A lot of collectors aren’t looking for investment pieces. The high dollar collectibles market often has a whole different vibe. It’s not a bad vibe, just a different market. Sometimes the dollars and cents of everything overshadows the most basic aspects of fandom. I don’t mean that in a negative manner.
Investing
If you are going to plunk down $500 on an item, it’s a major investment. There is a certain amount of energy that must be centered on the financial matter at hand. It’s those rare collecting moments when you’ve climbed a big ol’ mountain and scored something that has been on your wish list of “Things I’ll never be able to afford”. The flip side of high-end collecting is that frequently youngsters are lost in the shuffle. There’s simply not much there for them. It just goes with the territory.
Family Fun
7Shadows Market is a place where everyone in the family can find a Funko Pop, poster, action figure or some other memento without breaking the bank. Teens can spend a few bucks of their lawn mowing money on a pack of new Pokemon cards or some other bauble.
I always feel extremely blessed when children bring their birthday or allowance money into the shop. The kiddos start figuring out the math regarding the money they have vs the items they want. They look up to their parents searching for that magical phrase, “If it runs over a little but, I’ll cover it.”
Budget the Bucks
When I first started out in the workforce, I collected many things. It was always frustrating when I walked into a specialty shop, and I couldn’t find affordable items. So, whether the prices were fair or overpriced didn’t really matter because most of it wasn’t in my financial universe. Who cares what the price is if you can’t afford it? Sometimes store employees would alter their enthusiasm once they realized I didn’t have the big bucks.
Past Influences
That’s one of the things that has stuck with me over the years. The tight money scenario is real. When I was a Store Manager for a national music retail chain, I remembered those times when every price tag was out of reach. As much as I enjoyed selling the high end $5,000 guitars, those weren’t my most memorable experiences.
Struggling Musician Money
My favorite moments revolved around families and struggling musicians trying to get the most bang for the buck. That was my wheelhouse. They needed good items and a decent price. I needed to make that happen. They needed to know I wasn’t just there to take their money. Trust me, there’s a lot of crappy instruments “on sale”. Those instruments are best suited for bonfires, not your dollars. But that is a totally different conversation. Besides, every exotic collection starts with items that didn’t cost mega-bucks.
Budget Friendly Geekery
7Shadows Market is a place where folks can find cool stuff and stretch their dollar a little more. Of course, the conversations matter the most. I enjoy it when we are all talking about our favorite characters or sharing photos of our collections.
Ain’t No Hokey Pokey
It’s about the memories we’ve made and the new realms of geekery we are pursuing. It’s about always remembering to bring the younger generation along for the ride. That’s the future of our fandoms. The young and the young at heart can all have fun collecting together. That’s what it’s all about. That’s why I focus my attention on stocking budget friendly geekery.
BOLO
But if you do have something you want me to be on the lookout for, please let me know. Items come across my radar regularly, even though I don’t usually peruse them. I’ll be happy to be on the lookout for you.
Keep On Geekin’ on My Friends.
DW-Owner, 7Shadows Market
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