There's a key difference between a "packrat" and a collector: While the former tends to hoard things in general, the latter holds on to items with a similar theme or category—whether 1950s jewelry, vintage comic books or retro SLR cameras. Collectors only have a few viable options when it comes to finding items that fit their hobby or interest, though, like eBay and Etsy. And they have an even more limited channels for finding like-minded people that share their obsession.
Now, they have their very own online community in Gemr—which launched about a month ago and seeks to fill in the gaps of sites like eBay and Etsy by adding a Pinterest-like social element to collecting. Those involved with the company include co-founder Gary Sullivan, a longtime appraiser on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow" and owner of Gary R Sullivan Antiques in Sharon, Mass.
Gemr, which is based in Portsmouth, N.H., has also developed a corresponding iOS app to its site, which allows collectors to share, discover, buy, sell and trade the items that excite them most. The items you’ll find for sale are, for the most part, what you’d expect—antique housewares, vintage baubles, and the like—but perhaps the most innovative aspect of Gemr lies in the CrowdScore technology. This tool enables buyers and sellers to access real-time market valuation and feedback on their collectibles. Additionally, Gemr has a section that’s divided into various clubs, including sneakers, fine arts and musical instruments, where users can showcase their collections and meet new people with the same passions.
Last year, Gemr raised a $200,000 angel round and a $500,000 bridge to the $4.9 million Series A round in early November. Investors include Sullivan and James B. Hawkes, the former chairman and CEO of Eaton Vance Corp. CEO Terry Anderton, the founder and former CEO of Trunity, told me that the company is anticipating raising a much larger Series B round in the relatively near future.
The startup’s mission is a personal one for Anderton, who is himself a collector of cars.
“The site isn’t just about things but also the stories that go along with the collections,” he said in an email. “People make meaningful connections with other collectors and access expert feedback and learn from the community.”
The company, which employs 20, is currently focusing on museums, major brands and artists that can benefit from creating a presence on the Gemr platform.
“Brands realize that someone who collects their product is true ambassador and key influencer, so it makes sense for these organizations to participate in our community,” Anderton said.
While still very new, Anderton told me that Gemr already has about 2,207 members, more than 13,000 Facebook "likes" and more than 4,000 followers on Twitter. And given the unexpected early growth spurt, Anderton says the goal is to exceed 10,000 members within the first 90 days of our public launch. To put that in perspective, Pinterest had just 3,000 registered users at the end of its first three months.
“Gemr will exceed both Pinterest and Twitter in terms of early market adoption—and our fundamental advantage is that we also have a full commerce capability allowing transactions on the platform right now,” he added. “Both Twitter and Pinterest went years without generating any significant revenue. We believe we have a much greater value proposition to our members and ecosystem than other sites attempting to reach this marketplace.”
Image of records via Shutterstock.
