Howdy from PPH & Markn

markn · March 12, 2020, 08:30:29 PM

Thanks to Uni for reaching out to me on Facebook. PPH and I are still around and comitted to keeping this forum running. I've only just recently renewed the SSL certificate and installed it on the server.

In early 2018 our online software biz took fatal turn for the worse which meant I had to actually go out and get a job. I was (and still am) a digital marketing advisor for a local council and see several hundred small businesses a year helping them out with their social media, Google Ads, websites and so-on. Because I had to spend 40 hours a week working for the man I was pretty much buggered at night time and the forum dropped off of my radar. PPH was busy keeping The Purple Penny running and raising our 4 kids, so she had a similar time crunch, there's just never enough hours in the week. It turns out that I don't make a very good full-time employee and before long I was itching to try something else, so in May 2019 we opened a retail shop in a northern suburb of Adelaide. The Purple Penny became a real thing.

I'm still working a 50% workload in my council job (the people are nice and the clients are awesome), and The Purple Penny shop is open four days a week. Poor PPH is in there on Mondays and Tuesdays taking care of back office stuff and shipping out all the orders but we're not open for trade. I'm in there with PPH when we're open for business Wed to Sat and we usually spend most Sundays doing bookkeeping, housework, gardening, and running around after the kids.

Anyone who says running a coin shop is easy is lying. It's SO much work, far more than we ever expected. Most days though it's a lot of fun and we have a lot of lovely regulars who come in and keep us entertained. Also, anyone who says running a coin shop is easy money is also lying. Most of what we sell is still online which means photos and website listings and ebay listings and then packaging and mail. We try to be as fair as possible with buying and selling prices and operate on fairly low margins. We're doing OK but still haven't drawn a wage despite being open for almost a year. Perhaps in the next 12 months we can start paying ourselves.

The Purple Penny is extremely active on Facebook, so if you want to see what we're up to I suggest you head there and follow our page. It's also the easiest way to talk to me personally. It would also be great to see some familiar faces over there if you're comfortable doing so.

That's about all I've got. I'm a little sad we've not been around, but I can't say I'm sorry. Life takes the turns it does and I am super happy with were we're at right now. I do miss the personalities here and the knowledge you lot have. I'll try to drop in when I can but as I said, come see us over on Facebook. As an added bonus from time to time you get to see my hairy face!

Basil · March 13, 2020, 09:08:05 AM

Hi Mark,i hope you keep the Forum running,the various Stamp guys have been terrific over the last 25 years or so but nothing like a dedicated Oz Coin Forum. I know FB will probably take over eventually as far as collectible goes but not my cup of Tea,too many smarties trying to make a buck the last 10 years or so and then trying to hide under anonymity when some sucker complains.
I know what its like just selling Coins,have had multiple Ebay listings for Friends and Relatives over the last 20 years and its a time consuming pain packaging it all up to post,i would hate to be doing it as a Business especially in the current Economic climate that could last for years.

AtB..Bas.

JeffH · March 13, 2020, 12:14:59 PM

Hi Mark (and Kathryn),
Good to hear from you. Life does throw up some challenges sometimes.

I second Basil's comment about this forum. It is nice and friendly as well as being informative and interesting. Since joining here I rarely visit CCF which was then my forum of choice.

fred lever · March 13, 2020, 12:43:50 PM

Hi Mark, more strength to you for running a commercial business!
I don't have much to do with coin organisations or the trade but have noticed the demise of so many outlets/dealers over the years.

I find this forum interesting but do not bother with other media.
I must be getting old because the platforms seem to be infested with idiots or con merchants.
Please keep the forum alive I appreciate it.

Cheers, Fred.

markn · March 13, 2020, 02:33:10 PM

Quote from: 'fred lever' pid='121670' dateline='1584065630'the platforms seem to be infested with idiots or con merchants.

Hey, I resemble those remarks. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Mister T · March 14, 2020, 05:03:38 PM

Thanks for keeping the forum running.

Nevol · March 14, 2020, 09:37:07 PM

Very nice to see you popping in. :yahoo: :friends:

autocoupler · March 14, 2020, 10:19:07 PM

Congratulations Mark on your intention to keep this very informative site up and running. It's a good and friendly place to visit, excellent source of information and a place to even have some fun at times. All this can many times be had without even posting :yahoo: All the luck and success in the world to you and PPH in your business venture during this period of time and beyond.

Bigfellani5 · March 18, 2020, 01:09:27 PM

I know exactly what you are going through Mark. I still run Newcastle Coins as a part time family business. My shop closed in 2018 due to the light rail construction in Newcastle. I had to get real work as my business went from a healthy profit situation to loosing almost $5k a month overnight. So it was get a job or go bankrupt. In the shop I worked a 35 hour week twice every week with margins dropping all the time due to online competition and increasing running costs....it is a hard world in the coin game.

Now I work 38 hours a week as a labour hire employee for the ATO and then another 4 to 5 hours a day seeing clients, listing on ebay and my website and packaging. It is hard work but once a coin dealer....always a coins dealer.

Thanks for the website mate!