Ready for a crazy-but-true story? Here we go.
Last summer, a woman named Jessica Vincent was wandering through a Goodwill thrift store in Hanover County, Virginia.
At first, she saw nothing but old lamps, shirts, and shoes. But soon, a pretty glass vase caught her eye.
It was shaped like a bottle and had red and green swirls on it. When she turned it over, she saw a small “M” on the bottom of it. This piqued her interest. She thought it might stand for Murano, an island off Venice that’s the historical home of Italian glassware.
She had a tingling feeling it might be worth something — maybe even $1,000 or so. But since she wasn’t sure, she decided she wouldn’t pay more than $8.99 for it. When she brought it up to the cashier, she got some good news: $3.99. Sold!
But what happened next is the stuff of legends. Furthermore, it explains why the wealthiest 1% keep getting richer. Curious? Read on…
“I Had a Really Good Feeling…”
When Jessica got home from the thrift store, she found a Facebook group that focused on identifying glass artwork.
Before long, someone said it looked like a design from Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. To get to the bottom of it, they referred her to Wright Auction House — and considering what happened next, that Facebook group should get a cash reward.
You see, Jessica sent photos of the vase to Richard Wright, the head of the auction house. Here’s what the photo looked like:
Wright responded immediately. As he said later, “The minute I saw the photos I had a really good feeling.” A good feeling, indeed. Specialists soon determined the vase was part of Carlo Scarpa’s “Pennellate” series from the 1940s.
A couple of weeks ago, the vase sold at auction to a private art collector in Europe — for $107,100. In other words, Jessica turned her $4 thrift-store find into more than $100,000.
The Thrill of the Hunt
Ms. Vincent has been visiting thrift stores with her mother since she was a girl. And over the years, she believes she’s developed an eye for hidden treasures.
In the past, for example, she’s bought things for a few dollars — a woodcarving from Bali, Burt Groedel lithographs — that she believed might be worth a thousand dollars or more. But in all her years of thrift-store shopping, she never came across something like this vase.
“You never know what you’re going to find,” Ms. Vincent said. “It’s the thrill of the hunt.”
An Alternative to Stocks and Bonds
And now, to explain why this “hunt” might be a thrilling — and financially worthwhile — activity for investors like you to explore, let me explain how the rich invest.
As I've written in recent months (for example, here and here), the rich invest differently.
They don't have typical 60/40 portfolios. And this difference might explain why they keep getting richer.
You see, according to the Motley Fool, the rich mainly invest in "alternative assets." These alternatives include private startups and private real estate deals – the kind we focus on here at Crowdability.
But they also include collectibles, like rare glass vases...
Investing in Collectibles for $100
Recently, a new type of website has emerged to give ordinary people the ability to invest small amounts of money into collectibles.
Essentially, just like you can buy a $100 stake in a startup, now you can buy $100 worth of a vintage Bordeaux, a classic piece of art from Keith Haring, or a rare vase.
One such website is called Rally Rd.
Rally features everything from rare wine and whiskey, to comic books and cars. It also features many pieces of fine art.
Interested in learning more and doing some hunting yourself? If so, click here »
Beware!
Keep in mind — all the typical caveats about investing apply here:
For example, don't invest more than you can afford to lose, and be sure to dip your toe into the water before diving in.
Furthermore, many alternative investments aren't entirely "liquid." That means they can't necessarily be converted into cash at the snap of your fingers.
So don't invest your rent or grocery money into these offerings.
But if you're looking to invest like the rich — and you’d rather browse online from your couch than rummage through thrift-stores in person — this could be a worthwhile avenue to explore!
Happy Investing.
Best Regards,
Founder
Crowdability.com
