Attracting new collectors - what have you seen?
Aug 10, 2023 21:40:37 GMT
Ryan, jkjblue, and 4 more like this
Post by madbaker on Aug 10, 2023 21:40:37 GMT
Hi everyone,
jkjblue 's recent post on the Worldwide collection market inspired this comment from paul1 (portion repeated below):
like any hobby or interest, the past half century or more has seen changes in stamp collecting far greater than occurred in the same time span before that. It's probably not adequate to single out WW collectors in particular which which to illustrate change - change is right across the board, and has been gathering pace ever since the first 'toy with plug on the end' appeared in the Christmas stocking.
It's probably true that there is a particular kind of person that is attracted to philately - it's certainly not the average teenager - long gone are the days when most folk of that age collected stamps. So, who is this certain kind of person - I'd suggest they're a collector by nature, and likely either have or still do collect other 'things'. It also appeals probably to those who have a liking for regulating and ordering their lives - having an ordered place where the past is neatly presented and categorised - a dislike of randomness, and perhaps too a liking for a challenge.
I enjoyed your take on things Paul, and would like to build on it a bit. Specifically, your comment on attendance declining at shows / bourses, etc. You're correct that tastes have changed with youth and the like. No surprise there. And yet, I don't know of any stamp clubs that have changed their approach to attracting collectors over the 30 years I've been collecting as an adult. Keep doing what you always have done, even when it's shown not to work, and one can't be surprised by the lack of results.
I think we missed an entire generation (other than freaks like myself
) who don't collect stamps, so aren't bringing their kids to shows, and on an on. Compared to sportscard shows where there are young and old in attendance, parents and kids with something for everyone, and a lot more buzz about things.
I think we missed an entire generation (other than freaks like myself
) who don't collect stamps, so aren't bringing their kids to shows, and on an on. Compared to sportscard shows where there are young and old in attendance, parents and kids with something for everyone, and a lot more buzz about things. All the Harry Potter / Barbie / Lord of the Rings stamps in the world aren't going to get a parent to bring a child to a stamp show when it's the first time for both of them. Not the stamps on their own, at least.
But rather than give you my observation and treat it like the Gospel, I'm curious what others have seen and experienced. Specifically, what techniques / ideas etc have you seen recently (say, in the past decade) that has attracted kids and young adults to a stamp show / club meeting / philatelic event?
What have you seen that was:
a) intentional
b) successful (and how do you gauge success? tell us that too!)
c) geared at children? Or the under-30 crowd? Or the under 50 crowd?
Does location help? Some specific advertising? Something on site? I'd love to know.
I have some speculative ideas but haven't seen them tried. So I'll wait for some folks to share facts before I share more wild opinions.
