How much is your collection worth?

Ryan Zintgraff realized about six years ago that the market couldn’t offer him anything off-the-shelf to assess his stamp collection’s worth and manage inventory.

So the self professed computer “piddler” built his own software.

Five years later, in 2010, Zintgraff, and his partner Ryan Holllister, launched Austin-based KLECT, a web community for collectors to come together on shared passion. They can upload their collection, then track, manage and value their inventory.

Users are also able to use a built-in market place to put items for sale or make purchases in a collector-to-collector environment, where people can’t hide behind pseudonyms like on Ebay, thus detering unscrupulous sellers.

Since launching in July 2010, KLECT has added 1,064 users.The service starts off free and pushed users towards a subscription that’s currently $4 a month, but offers more tools. Currently about 10 percent of the user population are subscribers, Zintgraff said.

So far, KLECT is focusing on two collector communities: stamps and the My Little Pony brand of toy ponies produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro.

KLECT has become so popular within the My Little Pony space that Hasbro caught wind of it and the two companies are currently talking about partnering on content or promotions, Zintgraff said.

The key to engaging passionate collectors is creating a venue to keep the passion going and bring collectors out of geographic isolation, Zintgraff said.
To that point, KLECT is also considering launching a new platform focused on Boy Scouts of America, around the Stamp Collecting Merit Badge, then expansion to other Merit Badge collections.

In addition to subscription revenue, KLECT plans to generate sales from advertising withing its site and has also stumbled upon a treasure trove of data regarding collector preferences that could be telling to marketers.

“We know what people are looking for,” Zintgraff  said. “We have an active and loyal base, we noticed the collectors are coming back routinely to view collections online.”

Ryan Zintgraff, cofounder of KLECT featured in both pictures.

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About Jacob Dirr

Jacob Dirr is the managing editor for the Texas Entrepreneur Networks and can be reached at jake@txenetworks.com. He also helps businesses with public relations, strategic intelligence and social media at www.jakecommunicate.com