SHINY THING$ 0168 ✨

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Rally
January 26, 2025

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just curious about the stories behind some of the world's most fascinating treasures, this week we're bringing the insights straight to your ears.

For the 168th installment of Shiny Thing$, we've curated a lineup of podcasts from the past and the present that are perfect for a lazy Sunday. Some short, some long, they each dive deep into the culture of collecting, the history of iconic assets, and the art of finding value in the unexpected. 

From tales of legendary brands to discussions on what makes certain items truly timeless, these episodes are packed with inspiration and knowledge that resonate with the Rally ethos. Hit play, learn something new, and maybe even spark ideas for your next investment…

👜 Hermès: The Luxury Icon - Business Breakdowns, Ep. 92

The Birkin Bag, and the pathway to securing one from a boutique at retail price, has been a conversation (and a mystery to many) for decades. This Business Breakdowns episode from 2023 features a long time institutional shareholder of the legendary fashion house breaks down the nearly 200 year old business of Hermès. The in depth story of how a saddle maker has become synonymous with luxury — and in the case of the Birkin, scarcity. 

🏎️ The History & Strategy of Porsche  - Acquired, S12, Ep. 6

A 2023 conversation from the Acquired team about the brand that has somehow managed to stay relevant for 75+ years in all circles of collectors, enthusiasts, dreamers, and the general public — even the ones that don’t love cars. This episode offers a deep dive into the (pretty dark) origin story of the carmaker, and goes into both the scarcity and the accessibility of the modern Porsche line, touching on what makes Porsche special relative to Lamborghinis and Ferraris. This convo also features insight from “the most qualified person in the world” and friend of Rally, Doug DeMuro, the largest independent car reviewer in the world and former member of the Porsche corporate team.  

🤝 Building a Stock Market for Collectors  - Collectors Gene, S1, Ep. 48

A shameless plug for one our earliest hires, Rory Tait, who sat down with host Cameron Ross Steiner to talk about the culture of collecting, and a little bit about what we’ve built at Rally along with the incredible items that have come across our desk over the last 6 years. In addition, Rory gives some insight into the annual 24 Heures Du Montauk — the event that brings some of the biggest collectors and their insanely rare classic cars out to the east end of Long Island for a drive up the coast. If you know anything about Rally, this one is worth a listen.

→ Listen on Spotify // on Apple 
👟 Sneakerheads: Nike vs. Adidas  - Business Wars, Season 2

The collectibility of sneakers — whether it be prototypes, rare releases, or those worn by iconic athletes in memorable moments — has created an entire generation of entrepreneurs and modern collectors. Until recently, that collectibility extended mainly to the two titans: Nike and Adidas. In this 7-episode series of Business Wars from 2018, host David Brown digs into everything that made these brands what they are today, and how the fight for lifestyle relevance has taken them both in an entirely different direction than they ever intended. A must listen for fans of sports, design, and collectors of all things culture. 

⌚ The Rolex Effect  - The Detours Podcast

One of the most popular episodes from the team behind Antiques Roadshow, this episode is a quick but thorough conversation about the state of the vintage market right around the time of the pandemic boom in 2021. At almost the exact moment this was recorded, it became nearly impossible to get any “important” Rolex direct from a Rolex boutique — the cases were literally empty, and the waitlist stretched years for some of the most sought after models. As such, the vintage and pre-owned market for Rolex and nearly all luxury timepieces started to get more attention than it ever had before. Host Adam Monahan discusses some of the reasoning with some of the most shared and most viral Rolex examples from the Antiques Roadshow set.

Until Next Week…