Collectors around the globe can spend hours scouring stores, surfing the Web, visiting flea markets and swap meets, and checking out online auction sites for new items to add to their growing collections. But with no definitive catalog for many of the world’s greatest collectibles, building out or completing a collection can be an adventure in frustration. Collectionbuddy, a new social network and online resource, is changing that by enabling collectors to capture, catalog and share their treasures; interact with other enthusiasts; and discover new collectibles to acquire.

Collectionbuddy embraces a unique architecture that combines the best of object classification, search, social networking and Wiki technologies. It includes an evolving and growing online searchable catalog of collectibles that includes almost 21,000 catalogued items to date across more than 1,200 groups – ranging from action figures and bobbleheads to perfume compacts and snow globes.

Using Collectionbuddy, enthusiasts can check the completeness of their collections and share their collections with other like-minded individuals. Listing on Collectionbuddy is free, and provides a resource for both novice and sophisticated collectors who are looking for more than a trading floor.

“Our goal with Collectionbuddy is to create the world’s largest interactive, searchable and user-generated catalog of collectibles ever assembled; and at the same time serve as a gathering place to showcase collections and facilitate socialization between collectors. It also offers an alternative marketplace from online auction sites since researching, trading, buying and selling items can occur naturally between collectors.” said Trevor Abramson, partner and co-founder of Collectionbuddy.

Professional, amateur or aspiring collectors register to set up an account, create a username and upload photos of items from their collections. They can then organize, sort, order, display or hide their collections, and use optional ‘tags’ to filter items in their collections as being for sale, trade or wanted. Collectors can also edit, update, and correct information in links and news, and chat in forums related to their collection group.

They can also review other groups and compile items they mark as wanted or owned from the global catalog into their personal collection list. Enthusiasts can create a public profile that can serve as a personal web page for organizing content and information to facilitate social networking and community building.