Stanley Gibbons Share Discussion Threads

[superiorshares] 28/5/2015 08:17

I agree with that. find it strange that they didn`t know about the issues ? when I get round to it I will have a good look around the website . as ive said before im just an amateur at the stamp game. The investment customers shouldn't worry about the computer issues, but about product demand. SURPRISE !! it appears the EU ( CLONE OF FIFA ) has whitewashed the greek debt issue. so its off to the stockmarket party. it cements my view, that new investors wont be driven to alternatives at the minute. If the share price drops below £2 I will be in, even if they heave the computer into the skip and revert to pen and paper.

[2020hindsight] 28/5/2015 07:46

Glitzy ? Snazzy ? Must-have fad ? No, totally agree.

But something that works - yes. Putting Marketplace live but at the cost of not allowing any of your Investment customers to access their accounts and either not noticing it for days or not letting your customers know ? Well, at the very least the senior manager responsible should not be getting their bonus - or should be made to fall on their sword.

[superiorshares] 27/5/2015 21:21

Time not to invest heavily in IT, I hope. Im hoping that Stanley invests the amount it need`s to and not a penny more ! in my view the vast amount of todays "must have technology " is a pile of expensive tosh ! . I always rememeber years ago, back in the workplace. an excited computer geek telling me, " this new piece of kit can send the equivalent of 136 bibles in a second ! " I asked him.. who was going to read them at the other end ? It killed the conversation stone dead ! Problems with computers- Stanley`s definatly not the first and they certainly wont be the last, regards.

[2020hindsight] 27/5/2015 15:56

Good grief. I was aware of the earlier stuff up to Bidstart, but didn't realise they decided not to use the platform. Time they invested heavily in their IT Director, Senior Management and systems ... oh wait .....

[graham1ty] 27/5/2015 15:36

2020 have you seen my past posts about the IT ? They have written off millions on this project which was first flagged about 6 years ago. They sacked the inhouse team in about 2010, sacked the consultants in 2011, bought bidstart in 2012, decided not to use that platform in 2013, announced new platform in 2014 and went live with it ( badly) in 2015. I cannot be bothered to dig out the original work I did.

However, a quote from the March 2011 Annual Report " During the past THREE ( my emphasis) years we have invested substantially in our senior management and IT systems.....the most important of these developments is the long awaited re-launch of our substantially developed websites. The online trading platform.....will be launched in the second quarter of this year"

So, four years late, enormous expense and it does not work

[2020hindsight] 27/5/2015 14:56

I have a reason why investors are not able to view their portfolios on the SG website.

Apparently (and I paraphrase here) the IT guys have screwed up yet again and when putting their beloved Marketplace live they forgot to do some pretty basic testing, but here's some pleasant music and please go and buy stuff off the Marketplace.

The most important part of the website for investors has been offline for at least 3 days - and I'm assuming more. Having spent my entire career in IT in a fast-paced, cost-conscious, delivery-focused environment managing both systems and data centres I can honestly say their IT Service management is awful !

"Thank you for your email. We are very sorry you have encountered issues logging in to your account to view your portfolio. Our team are busy ensuring investors are able to view their online portfolios, but in the meantime, I am pleased to supply you with your log-in credentials for the Marketplace"

[graham1ty] 26/5/2015 17:54

2020 think that the investment bit is meant now to be in the new website.....tell them if it is not working in the feedback facility ( though when I tried leaving feedback on the test site.....it was not working).

Superior, I am sure there are examples that will disprove the rule. In my collecting a superb unmounted well centred is worth TWICE a poor centred stamp, so SG was good value. however, patience is the key. I would be staggered if the same stamp, in better condition than the SG one ( ie higher grading) did not come up at half the price, within a few weeks on EBay or at auction (( where I find stamps are now even cheaper). BTW what was the stamp and I can look out for one !! As a rule of thumb I pay 10% of catalogue value for a F/VF stamp in any condition. A superb stamp I will go up to c50%. And generally that gets you the stamp you want. I collect mainly Canada and use Unitrade catalogues. they quote about four different prices for each stamp, depending on condition. And the premium for a superb stamp is evident. I do not have the catalogue in front of me, but the range might be ( all made up numbers) about $50 for Fine Mint; $100 for VF Mint; $250 for VF unmounted; $1000 for XF unmounted. The very best worth probably 20x a "jollly good but nothing special". Also as an aside, if you look at the Unitrade grading system you see what they mean by F/VF/XF and see that actually most EBay stamps are misdescribed: very dodgy centring nnd heavy hingeing described as VF.

[2020hindsight] 25/5/2015 10:52

Hmmm... didn't realise they'd implemented a new website. Does anyone know how to log into Investment accounts ? I've logged on, but that seems to be to the market place. I've found "Stanley Gibbons Investments" but that then takes me back to the market place. Round and round in circles I go !

Thanks.

[superiorshares] 22/5/2015 21:06

graham-your way out of my league on the stamp purchases. im basically a novice.
I trawl e-bay and when I see a stamp I like, I compare it with the Stanley offering, if they have one . I will give an example- stamp on e-bay- superb unmounted mint £175. the same stamp on Stanley £225. the centering on the Stanley stamp was spot on ! the 175 stamp, centering wasn`t. as an amateur I wound`t know if that was worth 50 pound or not ? but new investors would be wise to pay the extra I think. I agree with you though there are plenty of good dealers about. as a saddo that watches all the antique type shows- they always bang on about quality, will always pay, in the long run !

[graham1ty] 21/5/2015 17:32

Superior, I do disagree fundamentally. There are many places to get better stamps. The difference is price as SG is blooming expensive as you are paying for their name. At the absolute mega level I have no doubt they can source exceptional stamps but then there are other dealers who also deal with the £100,000 stamps. I spend c£10,000 per annum on stamps and just do not need to pay SG prices. I have an account with them but have never bought......and I am looking for specific items all the time

[superiorshares] 20/5/2015 19:40

in support of Stanley, I still think you cant beat their stamps for quality ! any collecters on here have a different opinion ? im no expert mind .

[superiorshares] 20/5/2015 19:36

graham-not very good with the computer :-).. apart from looking for stamps and the stockmarket, they bore me. just cant get interested in them. Stanley gibbons marketplace- is that the right thing ? seemed ok to me. I liked the page layout for the Stanley stamps. had a quick look at the antique section, not a lot on offer but then its new. im going to stick with my theory though an share price sub 2.00 in the near/mid term. I just cannot see, new investors being driven to alternatives at the minute. The one thing that could change my view in the near term is the greek issue ? I`m almost sure the EU will whitewash this over rather than upset the GRAVY BOAT ! regards.

[graham1ty] 20/5/2015 18:38

superior, have tried three times and each time has failed. Got in third time

[superiorshares] 20/5/2015 16:02

new web site looking good .

[superiorshares] 15/5/2015 21:46

Folks- I think your all missing a trick with regard to Stanley. sgi`s fortunes aren't resting on the auction website, or the lack of new stamp clubs and collecters ? its wether the percentage of the global population, that is willing to invest in alternatives, rises. you are always going to have the people, with silly amounts of money investing- note the recent art and ruby sales . The problem for sgi as I see it, the rich people that arnt rich enough to throw it around ! but need to invest to make money, will not look at alternatives at the present but look to the stock market .QE makes that a no brainer. I would not be surprised to see a share price a lot lower ! im thinking below 2.00. people always talk about sgi being too pricey ! but their stamps are the very best ! mint means mint ! and superb means superb !! When the financial system starts to creak again and it wont be long. The wealthy will look for somewhere to park their money, at stanleys door a portion of it will arrive .

[robinnicolson] 15/4/2015 11:20

Re: share price rise this week. Tipped again by ST in IC.

[jadeticl3] 15/4/2015 10:44

Notwithstanding all the above, the recent recovery in share price is pleasing--be it due to those buyers with knowledge or those without a clue as to the fair value of SGI shares.

[shanklin] 07/4/2015 07:45

If they cannot sell the stock, at the ">150m at retail prices", then presumably they need to take a more realistic view. How much of their stock is just a value trap?

[briggs1209] 04/4/2015 10:38

hxxp://www.shareprophets.com/views/11432/stanley-gibbons-profits-warning-buying-op

[thuja2] 02/4/2015 15:48

As always the over reaction to a lower profit margin, they have to invest in order to grow the business and that can only be done by investing some profits, they need to become an on line company to compete.

[graham1ty] 02/4/2015 15:20

I have now found the commentary from Peel Hunt. Eps down from c20.2p to 13.5p. That is a massive cut and much lower than the 15p I had speculated. It is actaully lower than all the years 2009-13, so less profit than almost any time over the last 6 years. Ouch.

"Stanley Gibbons# (Under Review) Profit warning.

Some high value sales have not completed during the year (but are expected to do so shortly). As a result, profits will be c£7.5m vs our expectations of £11.2m (EPS 13.5p from 20.2p). These have predominately been in the stamp business, which is the area most exposed to high value sales. Going forwards, the company expects to be less reliant on high value sales as the spread of business has broadened and there is greater emphasis on auctions, commission business and online. The hard launch for the Marketplace will now be in May and the company will be stepping up marketing post launch. We are reviewing our 2016E in light of this announcement, but would expect to see a significant improvement given the benefits of the Mallett deal as well as progress in growing the auction business. Although the shortfall is disappointing, the company still has significant stock (£57m at book value and worth >£150m at retail) and the opportunity to materially enhance the business through the online channel."

[graham1ty] 02/4/2015 15:17

bookbroker: every statement for the last few years HAS highlighted the online platform as the way forward. In 2012 they wrote "Our strategy is directed towards becoming more of a service provider than a traditional dealer and we believe this is possible through the development of the online trading portal". 2014 interims: "....consolidate the market further, particularly from the commercialisation of our recently launched online marketplace". This trading statement today, what is bullet point 1: "Launch of online market place and implementation of marketing and commercialisation plan to achieve material growth in online GMV"

The 2012 fundraising at the time of bidstart was ALL about the great leap forward in IT and the online platform. This is why the acquisitions of traditional auction houses and antique dealers seemed a step back. However, bullet point one today: get online working. Interestingly today's RNS does not mention Noble at all ?? ( or Dreweatts, or Bloomsbury or the component parts)

Anyhow, we shall see ! Happy Easter

[bookbroker] 02/4/2015 14:36

Superior = it's just the lumpy nature of this business, 4/5 years ago exactly the same situation, big sales failed to materialise over the course of the year, it helps to diversify into other asset classes, providing they employ the same level of expertise in acquiring goods, although nothing is immune, I don't necessarily see a collapse in asset values, if it does then it does not matter you hold, I think the least attention to be given would be to the AIM market, thankfully this is one of the few cos. on that market that has a reasonable trading record, most of the cos. there should not be even listed!