9-28-2020 Newsletter: Celebrating 22 Years on eBay, CwP Ep. 14: Scott English, APS
September 28th, 2020
NobleSpirit Newsletter - Celebrating 22 years on eBay Anniversary; CWP Episode 14: Scott English (APS) American Philatelic Society, Executive Director
Today September 28,
marks our 22nd Anniversary on eBay!
From (0) Feedback to nearly 1/2 million sales!
When we bought our old rambling New England colonial farm house built in 1787, we found this Civil War soldier's pocket bible on a ledge of the old barn attached to the house. Normally, one would keep such a historically as well as personally significant antiquity. Instead, we had a mission for the bible. We sent it on a journey of good fortune to launch our new inaugural business on eBay.
Some 440,000 eBay sales ago, this was our first ever sale. I remember our first sale on eBay as though it was yesterday.
Within the retaining band, the front inside leaves were inscribed, "This book went through the Great Rebellion with its owner, A.W. Bartlett. Bought in the city of Concord, 1862".
It was instantly clear that eBay not only captured our target demographic collector/investor, it encompassed the perfect auction model within a vibrant and comprehensive vertical and lateral cross merchandising marketplace. Soon after we decided eBay delivered a perfect global distribution system, we started to replace all those staples in the top left margin by investing many $100,000's in our Meridian software. It was a time well before professional business solutions existed on eBay around the turn of the century. Where each staple told an admin story, technology made it possible to run complex operations with seamless automation. Once we noticed the astonishing loyalty that provided unprecedented consistent daily, weekly and monthly traffic, we committed 100% to the platform. Exclusively. Who wouldn't when customers are in the 10's of millions and page views are in the hundred's of millions!
Our eBay NobleSpirit username was adopted from a boat I named in my father's memory. It was fitting that the business he fostered should continue his legacy.
Prior to eBay, dealing in stamps here in the US and abroad, Europe, South America, Middle East, and beyond meant that if you weren't prepared to drive 100's of miles or fly 1,000's of miles, you weren't in the stamp business. This was the norm for NobleSpirit for decades before eBay provided global access at one's fingertips.
It was 1997 on an overnight sleeper train on one of my regular trips to visit with clients in Florida that I found myself sharing a dinner table with the Chief Marketing Officer of Amtrack. The usual exchange of queries regarding respective occupations, led him to share his story describing how he spent his free time selling his military memorabilia on eBay, which was on the Internet.
"What's an eBay?", I exclaimed.
"You just take photos, create the listing, and the checks just keep rolling in...", he explained calmly.
To be sure, on reflection, I now feel delighted, I never followed with a question asking, "What is an Internet?"
It wasn't until a full year later on this very day in 1998 that I decided to see what all the eBay chatter was about. The journey from (0) feedback to (100,000) plus does not actually tell the full story.
The reality is many 100,000's of sales to over 150,000 customers in nearly 80 countries around the globe, encompassing 100's of millions (100,000,000's) of page views over the years. We ship 55,000+ packages a year.
If there is any doubt that eBay has fundamentally reconfigured the stamp industry at its very core, think again. With over 200 million sales in stamps, eBay has sold more stamps for more money than all other secular markets combined over the last 22 years. You can actually now search Stamp Market Index to access each and every one of those sales.
That eBay has transformed our industry along with virtually every other collectibles sector and maintains the leading first mover role is indisputable.
It has been an incredible journey on eBay since that remarkable dial-up modem started screaming for a better way to communicate on this day back in 1998. In 2003, I founded a trade organization of professional eBay merchants. The Professional eBay Sellers Alliance (PESA). We amassed over 8,000 members world wide turning over some $20Billion GMV. We held 12 conferences in the US and Australia. It was a first of its kind organization that shaped how marketplaces would draw benefit from uniquely qualified engagement with its merchant and service provider resource. Several eBay Presidents delivered powerful keynotes, bringing their C-Suite management teams with them at these summits to tap into the vast seller base knowledge bank of experience and expertise that drives the eBay engine at its core.
That the possibilities are limitless going forward regarding the core foundation and innovation that will continue to put the global eBay marketplace at the fore of the stamp industry is a factual certainty.
Now, to celebrate 22 years as a thriving company on eBay, we have launched a brand new NobleSpirit website!
Visit the new NobleSpirit website!
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NobleSpirit in the National News, USA Today and NH Union Leader on USPS Delays,
'Like somebody turned off a switch':
"In this 2019 photo, US Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, tours the inside of NobleSpirit - a Pittsfield - based eBay seller of rare stamps, coins, and antiques - with the Business's managing partner, Joe Cortese. Cortese spoke with Hassan during a recent roundtable on the impacts to businesses caused by the USPS slowdown." - NH Union Leader file photo
Read the articles here:
USA TODAY: ‘LIKE SOMEBODY TURNED OFF A SWITCH’: SMALL BUSINESSES SAY USPS DELAYS ARE HITTING THEM HARD
“For rural businesses like NobleSpirit, the USPS is a lifeline.”
UNION LEADER: NH BUSINESSES HIT BY USPS SLOWDOWN, POLS PUSH FOR SOLUTIONS
“Think about how much money is frozen out of the economy when that economic machine stops moving because somebody unplugged a sorting machine somewhere.” – JC
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Conversations with Philatelists
Episode 14: Scott English, Executive Director (APS) American Philatelic Society
There are 3 types of leaders;
-Those who take the helm and sink the ship on the rocks they failed to see below the surface.
-Those who take the helm and merely steer the course.
-And finally, those who take the helm and venture into uncharted waters, to new discoveries.
Scott English is the latter visionary thought leader, taking the APS at its most pivotal time in its history forward into a future full of opportunity and adventure. The APS indeed is, as all stamp collectors are, fortunate to have Scott at this key moment in its history.
If you collect or invest in stamps, and are not a member,
you are leaving both money and the knowledge that drives informed decisions on the table.
Tap into the vast resources at your fingertips at the APS, join today!
Disclaimer: NobleSpirit does not have any economic affiliation with
Two young visionary entrepreneurs, watch as Michael Cortese (30 yrs young) and Charles Epting, HR Harmer (27 yrs young) usher our industry into the future. Watch the podcast weekly as this new generation of young philatelists share insights from the most accomplished luminaries and resources in the world of stamps, in a unique new conversational format. For those wondering what the future of the stamp industry looks like, this is the place to find the answer to that question.
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Visit our NobleSpirit booth at Stampex
Virtual Stampex is the first ever virtual international stamp show. Bringing together internationally recognized dealers, auction houses, societies, and specialists from all over the globe, this 72 hour event will allow you and fellow philatelists from around the world to come together to buy, sell, learn, explore, network, showcase, and enjoy a philatelic experience, all from the comfort of your own home. There will be over 100 PTS Members and affiliated philatelic organisations and societies taking part.
Virtual Stampex is live 24 hours a day from 1st to 3rd October (UTC-8/GMT-8).
London: Open 08:00 on 1st October, closes 07:59 on 4th October
New York: Open 04:00 on 1st October, closes 03:59 on 4th October
Los Angeles: Open 01:00 on 1st October, closes 00:59 on 4th October
Hong Kong: Open 16:00 on 1st October, closes 15:59 on 4th October
Sydney: Open 18:00 on 1st October, closes 17:59 on 4th October
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Announcing: Meridian Ecommerce Management
Do you run an eBay business? Are you looking for a method to streamline your sales management?
We have a solution for you.
www.usemeridian.com
Announcing: Meridian, a state-of-the-art online sales management tool.
Whether you're a single user looking to take your business to the next level, or a multi-national company, you can automate your business with the push of a button. Meridian is the ultimate solution for online auction management.
Meridian allows you to manage every step of the management process in one convenient place, from inventory tracking and consignment information to customer contacts, payment tracking, and shipping.
Some of Meridian's Easy to Use Features:
Meridian offers several state-of-the-art features that will make your selling process more efficient:
Cloud Hosting
Access your data anywhere, anytime – even on the go – no installation files necessary.
Discounted Postage and Shipping Insurance
Enjoy the benefits of the partnership between Meridian and the USPS: First Class and Priority postage rates up to 25% lower than you get at the Post Office!
Inventory Management
Keep track of current listings, record costs and keep track of ROI.
Consignment Management
Running your own consignment business? Meridian lets you customize your consignment terms, quickly generate payout reports, and offers complete transparency to your consigners, allowing you to bring in more business!
Analytics and Reporting
Meridian offers in-depth reporting on sales numbers and workflow, easily allowing you to keep track of daily profits.
Customer History
Boost customer retention rates by tracking and utilizing customer purchase history and contact information!
Plus many, many more!
Why You Should Sign Up:
Receive a FREE two week trial period with no payment upfront!
Be one of the first to try our state-of-the-art software, and provide essential active feedback on its functions!
You'll be ahead of the curve in ecommerce management, beating out your competitors in efficiency and productivity.
Search the largest database of stamp prices realized ever compiled
and made available to the public
Our mission is to excite you on eBay!
Do You Have a Collection to Sell outright or Consign?
We're always looking to buy and consign collections and large estates!
NobleSpirit's commitment to excellence, expertise, and efficiency breaks from traditional consignment models to bring you directly into the process of selling your material with the most comprehensive and transparent state-of-the-art reporting system.
Servicing 150,000+ customers in over 76 countries, NobleSpirit is eBay's #1 no reserve high volume Titanium PowerSeller of coins, stamps, and collectibles.
We travel throughout the continental United States and Europe.
We guarantee 100% buyer and seller satisfaction!
Phone #: (603) 435-6672 consignment@noblespirit.com
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