Harold Nicoll is the host of a weekly internet-based radio show called "The Collector's Show." Featuring guests who are "single minded folks whose collections are not just important but help to define them," Mr. Nicoll has created a space where collectors and experts can speak on what they know and love best. We had the opportunity to ask Mr. Nicoll about what brought him to found his show, his interests, and what's in store for The Collector's Show.
Tell us about yourself and The Collectors Show: what gave you the stroke of inspiration to start a show about collecting? What did you do before the show? What finally made you decide to do it? HN: My background and education are in media relations and advertising. I was working at The Dow Chemical Company in marketing communications and public affairs. I had a broad background in all different types of media, behind and in front of the mike or camera. My wife Marla and I had developed a large collection of Christmas ornaments. I wrote an article that was published in one of the trade magazines about it. Brad Saul, who owns Web Talk Radio (www.webtalkradio.net), read the article and called me. He proposed the idea of a podcast about collecting and collectors. I told Brad that I did not know the first thing about podcasting and my knowledge of collecting did not extend very much beyond my own collection. He said it did not matter, that he would teach me how to be a host and mentor me and he has. I always like to do and learn new things, so I agreed to do it. So the inspiration really came from Brad and he deserves the credit for coming up with the idea.
What made you decide to start an internet radio show, as opposed to a blog, a television show, or some other form of media? HN: Talking to people and getting acquainted with them is the biggest benefit. I am not naturally outgoing, but when I get to interview someone, then I have a reason to talk to him or her, which is not something I would be likely to do otherwise. With only a blog, all the audience would get was what Harold thinks, which is fine but will wear thin and only appeal to a very limited few. By hosting an unscripted interview format, the audience has the opportunity to meet people who have other experiences and knowledge. The interviews are spontaneous, so it's like the listener is able to be in on the conversation. Internet radio is growing much faster in terms of audience than other media. Podcasting can also reach a more focused audience. It is also much less expensive to produce than TV. Our show appeals to people who like to collect and learn more about collecting. Every person who downloads The Collectors Show went to the site with the sole purpose of hearing that show. So if I were a marketer and wanted to reach that audience, I could think of each download as a qualified lead. The show now has a blog (collectorsshow.net) and we are in discussions about a TV show. But the podcast will always come first. It is not likely that I will evolve into outgoing anytime soon. What do you like about the opportunity to discuss collections and collectibles at length? HN: An average person can have the most interesting collection imaginable. It does not take a lot of money to own or develop an important collection. Collecting and collectors are an entire universe and industry with no boundaries. There is no end to what people collect. Many collections relate to a person's childhood and memories of it. Others relate to a childhood they wish they could have had but did not. Those are not conversations (at least in my experience) that come up very often. Collections teach us about ourselves, history and the progress of humanity. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a great example. In it, visitors see how household items have evolved over the centuries. But you do not have to own a museum to have a collection that is important and meaningful. For example, a man on the show owned a collection of vacuum cleaners. Health researchers in the late 19th century learned that by removing dust and dirt from a military barracks; they could reduce infectious respiratory diseases among the troops living there. The first vacuums were truck mounted and powered by diesel. This collector could tell me all about this, and trace the advance of technology from steam and diesel power, to electricity through to the types of advanced materials used to manufacture modern vacuums. Who would have known that the vacuum was invented for health care and not cleanliness or how it related to other advances in technology? Every person we talk to on the program has a story like that one. Who have been some of your favorite guests? What about them or your conversation did you find truly memorable? HN: I was thrilled when Lark was on the program. He was the first member of the Antiques Roadshow group of experts to be on with me. He was very gracious and generous with his time and the audience loved him. His presence gave the show an air of legitimacy and opened it up to another group of collectors. One of the more memorable guests was a woman who collected banana stickers. It turned out that the fruit companies changed those stickers for various marketing campaigns, and could also be used to trace the origin of the bananas. She had hundreds of them and each told a different story about bananas. Part of her collection was a full catalogue of information about that industry, complete with graphics. But instead of that collection being the exception, her way of collecting was the rule. There is a history and pattern to things that collectors appreciate and document. What kind of dynamic do you want to foster on your show? Would you say the purpose is to learn more about the collection or the collector? HN: Regardless of the collector or his or her collection, the program has to be entertaining and interesting or no one will listen. The show exposes us all to people who collect things that are not always traditional types of collections. Unfortunately, not everyone can describe their collections in interesting ways. So the key is to find interesting collections with collectors who are interesting and articulate. Someone may have tremendous knowledge and a compelling collection. But if they are unable to describe it, we do not have a show. What do you see in the future for The Collector's Show? HN: I am not very good at predicting the future, so I guess this is more of a hoped for list than a vision of the future. Since September 2013 we have added about 1,000 new listeners who download the program every month. There is a limit to that, but I think we can get to 50,000 downloads per month by the end of 2014. More listeners will lead to advertising. If we had just one advertiser, we could take the program from 30 minutes to an hour, and I think that is realistic for us as well. Beyond that, I can see us taking the show to a traditional radio network for broadcast around the country. I mentioned the possibility of a TV show tied to us. I'd love that, but have to manage my own expectations.
Visit The Collector's Show online
Listen to Lark Mason of iGavel Auctions/Lark Mason Associates on The Collector's Show
Listen to John Nye of Nye and Company Auctioneers/Appraisers on The Collector's Show
