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If you are a collector, you like to play with your "stuff," show off your "stuff" and go hunting for more "stuff." If you have a lot of "stuff," a new software program can help you organize it and may even open your eyes to how impressive your collection really is.
Collectify MyStuff is a powerful software program for the serious collector. The program was designed to suit the high-end collector, but is also useful to the casual collector. MyStuff organizes entire collections, keeps records for insurance and tax purposes, and even has a "reminder" feature so you remember when to re-lacquer a piece of furniture or renew an insurance policy.
When you open the trial version of Collectify MyStuff, it is filled in with a sample collection containing items from a wide variety of collectibles, including cars, carpets, wine, comics, dolls and jewelry. To get familiar with the program, I found it helpful to click on some of these items and see how they are set up.
You'll find photographs and detailed descriptions of each piece in the collection, along with neat features such as scanned images of invoices from the place of purchase. Don't be afraid to explore the sample collection. Click on everything - it is the best way to get familiar with the all the features.
The first step in using the program is to create a collection. The next step is to "catalog" the items that comprise the collection.
Cataloging an object begins with recording basic descriptive information about it, like, what it is, who made it, where it was made, and so on. You can enter information in fields like: accounting, beneficiary, condition, measurements, permanent location, provenance & expertise, signature & marks, visuals, insurance polices, valuations, etc.
There are lots of fields and lots of features, which makes this a powerful program. I haven't touched on a fraction of what this program can do. (You can create slideshows and email them to friends or put them on your Web site!) But you don't have to fill out every field. You can use the software anyway you like. Setting up the basics is fine, and it's nice to know you can easily expand in the future. You can make this as simple or as sophisticated as you want. Wizards guide you along the way, and drop-down menus make your options clear. If you use other Windows programs, you should have no problem navigating MyStuff.
I wish there was a "Quick List" of what I need to get started in using the program, so that I could print it out and follow it step by step. The company says that it plans to create a getting started guide soon. The only problem I had was the Home page. When I created a new "object," I wasn't sure if it meant class of objects (i.e., McCoy planters), or if it was a specific object - the new McCoy planter I just bought. It also took me awhile to figure out how to switch between collections. But with time, I figured it out.
An important feature lacking is the ability to print. Collectify told me that a new feature called Report will be released soon, very likely in December, that will allow printing.
Considering this is the first version of a brand new program, it is well thought out, easy to navigate, and powerful. I especially love the "back" "forward" and "home" buttons that are set up like Internet browser buttons! Note that you need to run Windows 95 or higher on a Pentium166 Mhz (or higher) processor. See full system requirements on the Web site.
Franklin Silverstone is the man behind the MyStuff program. He has been professionally involved with antiques, art, and collectibles for 35 years. He was a fine-arts expert for the international auction house, Phillips Son & Neale Auctioneers, and is a private curator, consultant, and appraiser. Mr. Silverstone realized the need for this software in the mid-1990s after he helped Charles Bronfman, the Co-Chairman of Seagram's and MCA Universal, and his wife, Andrea, assemble a great collection of Canadian Decorative Arts. Clearly, this program has a good pedigree.
Collectify's MyStuff costs $99.95. After writing this review, I discovered we have an affiliate relationship with the company. Here's the link: http://www.collectify.com/?AID=5540265&PID=942557
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