Kickstarter may not be the go-to place for collectors, but it should be. Many projects offer rewards that displayed in another setting, like, say, an art gallery or museum, could later go for high prices. And undoubtedly, the project creator has those settings and others in mind, but at a later step on their journey. But right now, getting the project funded is the goal, and so these future collectibles are offered as rewards at a cheaper value. Rewards that are Exclusive to a Kickstarter project, may tend to add a bit rarity to the item, as does Numbered, Limited Edition Signed pieces.
The project may be ahead of its time, or even ingenious, and still be ignored by prospective supporters. And as the rewards are often directly related to the project, they too may be passed by. Of course, there are many reasons that a pledge is made, and sometimes it may very well be a certain reward that prompts the pledge. History shows that many creations once ridiculed are now considered masterpieces. So, with that said, as a collector, how do we pick out a reward that would make a good investment? Well, we can’t always go by the degree of success the project has, as many projects with modest success may have highly collectible rewards, and vice versa. A successful campaign could in some instances be more the result of a creator with an impressive social network – ready to pledge on almost anything that creator proposes – even if the project is mediocre, than a project worthy of accolades. When it comes to art, for instance, we can find if any academic credentials can be attached to the artist whose work is being offered as rewards. If so, the work may gain more credentials, which may add to its value. However, nothing is definite – the work of a complete unknown artist can take off like a bullet, and the decorated artist can abruptly slip into anonymity. With all the science in the world, we still can’t predict with certainty that which is still a product of mystery to a degree. So, whether we guess on a whim, or hypothesize with research, the outcome could be basically same. What a joy it is finally realize that we don’t have to always think out our decisions – we can be intuitive on deciding what to make a pledge on.
The non-supporters will feel a royal Kick in the butt when they realize the project they passed up, has become quite the work, and the little REWARDS offered for cheap, are now PRIZED COLLECTIBLES demanding high prices. And those that took a chance on that successful underdog project, may find joy in seeing their rewards rise in value. Yeah, that little pledge on the LIMITED EDITION ART PRINT or ORIGINAL ARTWORK, may turn into a major INVESTMENT. So, let’s just say, that a reward may be worth much more as a collectible, and “purchasing” it as a reward may be the best time to get it, and in some instances the only time to get it. But, all this speculating and predicting is for naught, if the project is not funded. So, spread the word, and before you know it, you may see a win-win situation – you get the rare collectible and the project creator gets to see his or her dream come true. Additionally, as the creator uses the new funding to materialize the project, its success may just add to the value of the original reward. Of course, there is much more to a project than tangible rewards, and the non-tangible rewards of feeling you have helped somebody’s dream come true may very well be your most valuable reward – it may even be priceless.
