The market:

Collecting has become a trend
There is no doubt that collectable items are a real growth area in the leisure sector. Favoured collectables include stamps, coins, paper money and telephone cards, along with related accessories.
This important market sector alone can boast an annual turnover of around €1 billion: and the trend is growing. In contrast with other collectable items, stamps, coins and telephone cards can also be seen as solid objects of investment, sometimes even offering a high return.
PROPHILA GmbH was set up in 1985 to make these collectable items readily available by using innovative concepts (useful even for the most advanced collectors) outside of the traditional sales channels used by the sector: these new areas were specialist shops, zoos, department and retail stores, and also more recently the internet.
This concept is called:

COLLECTOR'S SHOP

The products:

• Stamps (150,000 different items)

• Coins

• Paper money

• Telephone cards

• Collectable figures (e.g. figures from Kinder Eggs)

• Complete range of all items associated with collecting (accessories)
  

The system:

• Free, sales-promoting presentation furniture with patented anti-theft devices, display cabinets and additional special applications

• Approx. 20 different system configurations with plans for every conceivable combination of shelves (number of shelves x shelf width)

• Clear shelf markings for each stipulated system item

• Shelf care by sales representatives in 8-week cycles

• Inventory control service: our own software permits customer-focused, demand-oriented additional supply/pricing, and prevents duplication of stock and problems with surplus stock

• Training sessions for client staff

The target group:

PROPHILA is the only German company with a self-service enabled product range (including approx. 200 different stamp divisions and approx. 180,000 different individual items and sets) that can respond professionally to the demanding target group of advanced collectors in specialist shops, and now also for the first time in department stores. We provide a range of products that collectors are eager to buy.

The secret of our success:

A lucrative market niche can only be captured with the high-volume target group sector of advanced collectors.

We acquire extensive old collections of items at auctions and from inheritances for these specialist clients.

Our product knowledge, which has been developed over many years, and our experienced staff can then transform individual, sought-after sets into a sophisticated individual product: the stamp approval card.

We are the only German company with a self-service enabled product range of approx. 180,000 different individual values and sets that can respond professionally to the requirements of the well-funded target group of advanced collectors in department stores (see diagram).

Good value pricing, demand-oriented price differentiation and inventory control "tracking" of goods delivered to customers: these factors all combine to realise the optimum potential and guarantee the unique success of our extensive product range.

The opportunities:

• Acquisition of new client groups

• Upgrading your store to give it the character of a specialist shop

• Differentiation from local competitors through speciality product range

• Self-service enabled merchandise presentation

• Above-average sales volume per unit of floor space and contribution margin

• High retail margins (VAT for most items is 7%) despite particularly low display prices
  

The guarantees:

• Up to 1 year value dating, with right of return for new clients

• Exchange guarantee for all articles that remain unsold for more than 1 year

• Revenue guarantees and sales increase guarantees for new clients