Enthusiasts are often on the lookout for rare pieces to grow their collections, but what is perhaps even rarer than these collectibles is the opportunity of finding a bulk of them under one roof! However, the clouds have parted to let through a ray of sunshine for Parker Bear enthusiasts because Jesus Marquez, one of the biggest collectors is selling off hard-to-find, limited-edition pieces.
Born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Jesus moved to the United States at a very young age. Since the very beginning, he had an entrepreneurial mindset and always wanted to do something of his own. And although he started small, his business soon put him on the map as one of the top five collectors in the entire United States. He always had a keen interest in tools, and although he didn’t start collecting them early in life, he would use his expertise, even as a kid, to fix things around the house. However, what really ignited his passion for collector items was when he first heard the story of vises and what an incredibly important part they played in the history of America. He instantly fell in love with, what most people thought, was just another tool.
As his interest grew, Jesus launched his own company called MexaShop1. With time, it grew into more than just a brand—it is a place that truly represents Jesus and his love for antique collectibles. He started with collecting vises and anvils as his target audience was mainly tool collectors. “The vise collection niche is hard to understand for many but this niche stems from many passionate individuals who love collecting tools and antiques,” he explained. However, he remains optimistic about the future of antique tool collecting as he believes that the community is slowly growing with time and more people are getting aware of the value of these rare items.
Vises and Anvils, however, are not the only rare items that Jesus collects. Quite recently, he started his Parker Bear collection. He came across them while conducting online research and saw old catalogs and noticed how these cast iron bears were used as a marketing strategy to promote Parker products. Since then he got hooked. Parker bears, unlike most, are limited edition and extremely rare. They were issued with the purchase of a Parker catalog but since most people do not buy catalogs, it makes it difficult to find them. So much so that people who own these bears did not even imagine that they will become a rare asset in the future. However, Jesus always had an eye for unique items; hence he soon realized the value these adorable bears hold.
Jesus’s aim is to become the biggest collector in the world. He wants to open his own museum where he can showcase his vises, anvils, and all his other collectibles. However, currently, he believes in taking it one day at a time. “I sit down every day to think what I can do better, and try again the next day,” he added. He has had a remarkably successful rate of growth even though it’s not an easy market to excel in. But as times are changing, Jesus makes sure that he takes complete advantage of social media to reach out to more people like him. His social media presence on different platforms has led to him getting some of his finest deals, resulting in instrumental growth.
People like Jesus Marquez don’t do it for the money or fame but purely for the sake of the thrill they get from owning rare items. So if you are a fellow collector, now is the chance to get your hands on rare limited edition Parker Bears and enjoy the thrill that comes with owning what no one else does.
