Everybody is aware of the importance of networking: it helps both in your current career and opens new opportunities for your perspectives (sometimes even unexpected). Thus, according to surveys, almost 70-80% of working places are occupied thanks to networking. There are some paradoxes of such a phenomenon:

• when you make contacts for no reason (you don’t need something concrete from this person now), it becomes more effective. So, do it whenever and wherever you are.
• be ready to give more than to take
• it works if you are confident enough. The more you network, the less you feel shy.

• Rule #1: Any person is your potential member

  Almost every person can turn out to be an important member of your network. Even if he or she can’t directly make a positive impact on your career, possibly he/she knows a person who can. Besides, one day it can happen that you decided to make cardinal changes, and the person who initially you didn’t pay attention to can help you.

  Rule #2: Make them remember you

  In the special networking meeting, where the common purpose for everybody is to make as many contacts as possible, it can be quite difficult to stick in a very important person‘s memory. So, invent something that may distinguish you from other “candidates”. However, don’t try to follow Lady Gaga’s style. Be moderate enough!

  Rule #3: Basic etiquette

  A) Like, in any other field of people communication, networking has its own rules. So, respect both your interlocutor’s time and your own. Several phrases are actually enough (it concerns the network events).
  B) Ask questions giving the opportunity to speak.
  C) Besides if you’re seeking a job, don’t directly ask for it, but ask for information concerning it.

  Rule #4: Be sincerely interested in the members of your network

  Networking doesn’t serve the only purpose – job hunting. So, your attitude towards people shouldn’t be too “pragmatic”. Besides, sincere interest will also stimulate you to keep in touch with the people in your network which actually is the crucial point. This will maintain the “system”.

  Rule #5: Increase the amount of the members

  Never be satisfied with what you have. Develop and expand your network.

  A network is a great tool that helps you to succeed. So, train in order to make it work effectively.

People who are unfamiliar with the market frequently ask us if they should put their money into Bearbrick toys. The answer is a resounding yes from us. If recent years are any indication, then yes. (If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start rubbing your hands together, that moment is now.) But first, let’s simplify and explain everything.

In 2018, Bearbricks were created as a joint effort by Yuta Hosokawa’s READYMADE, BAPE, and MediCom Toy. Japanese label collaborations included 100% and 400% versions in the release. The one hundred percent model was the show stopper. The 700mm Bearbrick sported vintage military cloth from READYMADE and a camouflage BAPE Shark Hoodie—a match made in streetwear heaven. The braggadocious bear would sell for around $3K at a handful of shops.

For the sake of argument, let’s pretend you have $2,000 to drop on a Bearbrick statue. In 2018, you could have had a Bearbrick x Readymade x A Bathing Ape 1000% for the exact retail price of $2,480 with that kind of cash. Get ready to have your mind blown.

Only four years later, in 2022, the same Bearbrick statue sold for a staggering $20,799. How ludicrous! You will understand why so many individuals are putting their money into the Bearbrick market. Keep in mind that this is but one brick in the wall.

So, let’s have a closer look at the that make Bearbrick figurines worth purchasing. (The value of Bearbrick figures is also arbitrary. It’s all about the buzz, and supply and demand.

I’m no financial whiz, but if we judge this Bearbrick’s return on investment in comparison to the S&P 500’s average annual return of 10.67%, we get a rather respectable return. Nothing unusual has happened here.

Bears from Bearbrick (also written BE@RBRICK) partnerships have fetched premiums of between 7% to 1800% above their original retail cost, with the most limited drops fetching even higher prices.

An odorous BE@RBRICK from the world of high fashion

Let’s take a closer look at the popularity of this anthropomorphic bear before you start rubbing Birdman’s hands together. Don’t expect to get rich by trading bears. If you’re trying to convince your landlord to buy you some Bearbrick, the phrase “it’s an appreciating asset” could help. As a result of increased power and collaboration, costs have increased.

For what reason do Bearbricks fetch such high prices? Triplets. These kind of alliances don’t happen very often. Quickly after the turn of the millennium, the Kubrick bear from MediCom Toy became associated with many individuals, groups, fashion houses, etc. The toy company has worked with a wide range of artists and brands before, including KAWS, Baccarat, Nike, Andy Yun Minjun, Jean Michel Basquiat, Creative Japan, Hermes, Pixar, Tom & Jerry, Daft Punk, CLOT, Takashi Murakami, and many more.

Brand loyalists are a natural audience for these collaborations. Famous people and affluent youth alike have been spotted showing off their Bearbrick collections on Instagram, including Grace Coddington, JJ Lin, Pharrell Williams, Nigo, Dj Khaled, and Ben Baller. Like a collection of rare shoes, a gallery wall of original paintings, or a row of Birkin bags on a nightstand, the bear has evolved into a symbol of wealth and status. This devoted following is what has propelled the bear to stardom.

We only have so many BE@RBRICKs.

MediCom Due to low production and a lack of distributors, Bearbricks are difficult to get in stores. Rarely do we see bearbricks again. Only two big releases occur each year, in the summer and winter, with a few other general and special occasion releases spread out throughout the year. In the end, rarity.

Their rarity is established by the bearbrick kind.

In general, simple figurines are the most common in collections. Bearbick is formed using the letters of “basic” bears’ names. These are just as accessible as “Standard Type.”

Common or Average: The Most Popular Version. The majority of the Bearbricks in this collection follow one of the several MediCom-designated themes, such as animals, science fiction, heroes, flags of various countries, and so on.

In the art world, the most talked-about Bearbricks are among the rarest and most costly of all. Collaborative works by Daniel Arsham often fetch secondary market premiums of around 1,100%. The bears are hot commodities.

A small percentage of Bearbricks (less than 1%) are made in secret or are the result of a covert collaboration, making them really rare.

The retail selection from MediCom is limited. The Japanese company Bearbrick does not ship outside of Japan. Thanks to Highsnobiety, you may buy Bearbricks.

The elusiveness of the bear has increased demand, and thus, prices. Most Bearbricks are interesting, but the best bets are the ones that boast a collaborative effort, especially those involving artists. There is a 90% premium on Mika Ninagawa Goldfish, 549% premium on Hebru Brantleys, and 11,455% premium on KAWS Bearbricks. It makes sense. It’s common to buy directly from the creator. The advertisements for Chanel and READYMADE are very similar. Bearbrick is more fun when you start with them.

The importance of size

To a Bearbrick, size matters. Stop listening. Half (35 mm), 100% (50 mm), 200% (145 mm), 400% (280 mm), and 100% (100 mm) Bearbricks predominate (700 mm).

Collectors place a higher value on 400% desk models and 1000% sculptures, and the prices reflect that. The price jumps up with each upgrade. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol Collaboration When compared to their 100% counterparts, 1000% Bearbricks fetch a price four to five times more on the secondary market. Bearbricks with a value of between 400 and 1,000 are most likely to increase in value.

The worth of BE@RBRICKs

Why, yet again, do customers shell out such astronomical sums? To put it simply, bearbricks are bricks. There are some metal, wood, and crystal bears available now thanks to MediCom Toy, but the company’s trademark toys are still plastic. Bearbrick is unique for more than its restricted supply or star bears.

Bearbrick is a tangible cultural extension that will outlast shoes by 20 years and screen-printed t-shirts by a decade. They’re blank canvases that some of culture’s most interesting artists and corporations have utilised to tell their narratives, engage with followers, or grow their universes. The MediCom toy is a captivating mashup of art, streetwear, and nostalgia.

BE@RBRICKs — good investment?

Bearbricks as an investment? I don’t see why anyone would. If you want to start collecting toys, Bearbrick is a great place to do it. Similar to the resale value of Star Wars, Transformers, and Barbie toys, Bearbrick has made its way onto online auction houses like eBay and prestigious auction houses like Christie’s.

Bearbrick and other artefacts are riding a perfect storm of social media and its influencers, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens, FOMO (fear of missing out), and a strong yearning for nostalgia. Even that trend will endure for quite some time. In 2020, the global collectibles market was worth $372 billion, and by 2028, that number is expected to increase to $522 billion.

Bearbrick fans, though, might not give a hoot. Die-hard fans get a kick out of having their imaginations sparked by pop culture objects. As a youngster, I didn’t care if I had to sell my Charizard to get my hands on the Kanto region starter from the Pokemon TV show. Bearbrick provides collectors with easy access to their preferred artists, designers, and brands.

You have a deep interest in Bearbrick figurines and are prepared to learn more about them. In contrast to many other investments, these collectibles have a high potential for growth over the long term. It’s something to have as you ride out any economic downturns.

As a result, adding these collectibles to your portfolio might serve as a great means of diversification. If you care deeply for them, this won’t feel like work. Bearbricks provide us with something lovely and thought-provoking to contemplate.

Especially if they are unusual and sumptuous, like Karimoku Bearbrick figurines, or if they are a collaboration with a famous artist (like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, or Andy Warhol). Those are the more ideal numbers to aim for. Moreover, their value is unparalleled.

To the untrained eye, resale figures like this are tough to ignore. Spending money on Bearbricks may be worse.

Is Money Saving as a single man easy? No way! We live in a world where the social structure for most men underlines wasting money. Wait, there’s nothing impossible, so there are many ways of saving money that single people can choose that couples and families can’t. If belief a study held by Experian and published in the USA Today, the average debt pressure of people aged 22-29 is $16,121! That’s too much and more than sufficient to put an obstacle to a young man’s quality of life. Check out the tips that can help you save some money.

Thrifty Housing
One of the biggest fixed costs of living is housing. Before you set up a career, please, do not take on a mortgage. There are two better options for young, single men: whether to live with family or to share a room with friends. Even in urban areas with otherwise high rents, it’s possible to share rooms or houses with benefits. Rents in New York City, for instance, can range from approximately $1,000 per month in select neighborhoods in the outer areas to $4,000 per month and above in richer neighborhoods. Dividing those apartments between two or three people can save thousands of dollars per year. Living at home, of course, can save a young man well over $10,000 per year even if spends some bucks on food and utilities.

Less Personal Expenses
Think of decreasing monthly personal expenses, such as phone bills, cable bills, and Internet bills. Instead of using an unlimited phone plan, you can save considerable amounts of money – at least $100 per month depending on how often you use those services – by switching to a prepaid plan and forgoing data services. You can cancel your cable television subscription and either find new hobbies or rent DVDs of television shows, later on, saving you anywhere between $30 to $50 per month. If you live with roommates or at home, you can share a broadband Internet connection, cutting monthly bills to $20 or less.

Food
Learn to cook and eat at home. Meals outside usually cost at least $10-12. Most prepared meals cost hardly $5, moreover, you can save even more money if you buy the raw ingredients and prepare them yourself. It’s also wise to stop wasting money at bars and other similar venues. Alcoholic drinks usually cost several times more when served at a bar or restaurant. For example, you can buy a six-pack of high-quality domestic beer for $12. And at a bar, you’ll buy a bottle for $5 to $6. So, it’s high time to think of staying home for entertainment!

Debt Decrease
Paying down debt as quickly as possible and paying off credit cards in full every month decreases the amount of money that you need to spend on interest payments. Debts grow up quickly. Student loans in particular can eat away at your ability to save. Paying those off more quickly than required can cut down on your stress level and improve your budget flexibility.