PENNYWORTH SALES
This years event was sponsored by
JSGeare is who he is.
“Makin Tracks!” is what he calls his booth – and what he does
Why does he do it? Well, we have to go back in time.
Most of us had youthful intrigues, and JSGeare was no exception. His intrigue was trains. His dad gave him an HO train set for Christmas one year and JSgeare was hooked. But then again, just like most of us, the preoccupations of teen years pushed more childish interests onto a siding.
Fifty years later, jsgeare bought his retirement home. And in this home he made his first discovery; a basement which included a, huge, empty room. And that could mean just one thing: a train layout. JSGeare set to work, and quickly made his second discovery -the cost of the hobby had been growing for a half century as well, and appeared to be no where near retiring.
He started buying second hand lots of equipment on the Internet, when he made his third discovery: to buy what he needed, he had to buy a lot of what he didn’t need, too. He therefore turned to Ebay to sell his excess stock and materials. Not satisfied with this cost reducing technique, he also explored ways to cheaply build scenic features and model structures, leading to his fourth discovery: Convincing tunnel entrances, bridges, rock outcroppings, trees and other features may be built from items found in the trash. So as to provide some extra service and value to his customers, he took pictures of his work and prepared instruction manuals which he published on his web site. What started off as a simple hobby pursuit had become much more.
And that brings us to his fifth and perhaps most important discovery. While Ebay was a convenient and popular venue for buying and selling, it posed three huge problems. First of all, the fees were big, and getting bigger. Second, the bidding format tended to create higher prices for hobbyists who really sought lower prices, and used eBay as a last resort. And third, direct communication between buyers and sellers was hampered by eBay’s security measures. Of all people, rail modelers are communicators, eager to share and learn. JSGeare discovered Bonanzle, where he could set and negotiate prices, where it was inexpensive to do business, and where he and customers could freely communicate with one another. He reports that the move to Bonanzle has been successful by every measure.
You can find the full story at his website. Story of Makin’ Tracks
EuropeanGoodies is the name.
“Leave Ordinary behind” is the motto.
Just check out her booth and you can see immediately the motto fits to the “T”.
Johanna (pronounced: YooHUNna) is by birth a German. Her story is beyond interesting. She has traveled the world over. Came to the US over 14 years ago.
Her father really did invent the “snow globe” in 1951. They are now called “Dream globes”. He was also a Master Ivory craftsman. So Johanna has quite the array of interesting items in her booth.
Johanna is a web-designer and is very creative. Her ancestor’s page on her website is full of interesting information about her, her family and life. So be sure to check it out at www.JFK-Site.com
EuropeanGoodies Bonanzle booth was opened October 22, 2008. She found a home to sell her array of unique items.
