TRAFFIC New York in PRIME TIME!

Good Afternoon again folks!!

 

The vision came out to be a reality. Something good was cooking and the result was better than even I expected. Thanks everyone for making T.R.A.F.F.I.C. New York 2008 perhaps the most memorable TRAFFIC ever. Ask anyone that attended TRAFFIC. It was quite the tale of two cities. Two economies. Two eras. Across the river they were in panic mode. They were in turmoil. All scratching their heads and wringing their hands. On the other side were 350 renegade domainers. Investors in this new century real estate partying like New Year's eve and feasting on delicacies many have never seen before. The spread we had was unparalleled at any wedding or Bar Mitzvah. Nobody has ever seen anything quite like it. There were reasons we did this.

When folks arrived many were very unsure of their futures. They were concerned. They were questioning this and that. We decided that we needed to FIX that FUNK. So we pulled out every stop. We had more lobster than one could eat. I promised shrimp the size of your fist and we had them even bigger. King crab legs nearly the length of your arm. Sushi stations, Just ask around what the opening night cocktail party looked like. Then we continued that level right thru the entire show. This changed the entire mind set of the industry. We stood there and realized how lucky we all were to be in this business. We counted our blessings and then things got in the proper perspective. The word was shhhhh, hush, don't tell anyone how well we are doing. But we are. That does not mean that our earnings may not have declined, but compared to the rest of the universe, we have no business having our minds not focused on domains and not the doom and gloom.

 

The auctions were solid and here is the secret formula. If auction houses want to sell a lot of domains, just have good domains at good prices and they will sell. That is exactly what occurred at TRAFFIC. The good domains with reasonable reserves sold. The others did not not. In a true recession, not even the good sell. But there was no question as bidding was lively on any domain of substance with a reserve targeted at domainers.

 

In total, over $4 million of domains changed hands. Not bad for an economy in meltdown mode. Domains once again will show their resilience in the face of collapse. Their safety when folks are looking for places to invest. Category killer domain names are as solid an investment as I can think of.

So congratulations to Moniker, who retained their crown. In the face of challenge Monte just refined what they did and the outcome was good for everyone. Congratulations to Rick Latona and his crew for entering the business with a BANG and putting it together in WEEKS! And Aftermarket.com which was just the first event of Thought Convergence's "Afternoon and evening" which consisted of the auction, cocktail party, dinner and wild after party. You all did a great job and we will build it from here. You did the industry proud! The competition created great energy and it was obvious throughout the show. Winners winners, all winners!

 

Have a GREAT day!
Rick Schwartz

Comments

[Jeff Meyer]

Just wanted to say thanks for another great show Rick. The TRAFFIC conference is truly like no other. New York was my second time attending and I can already say (just one day later) it was the most valuable investment in my business this year. Looking forward to seeing what's next.

[Damir]

Rick you have done GREAT with the TRAFFIC conference.

You are a TRUE Leader with a GREAT vision.

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. - Elbert Hubbard

[Andy Botzer]

Rick - First time to TRAFFIC this last week and I was very impressed. Learned alot, ate alot and made a bunch of new friends. AWESOME.

Thanks!!!
Andy

[mark]

Hi Rick,

I can't wait to attend

TARFFIC when the economy

turn around.

$4 million of domains changed hands in this

BAD condition market

Best for all domainers

Mark

http://www.comics.mobi

[Joel S.]

Hi Rick,

The show was great! Thank you for your efforts in having it. This was my first and I learned so much. I look forward to the next.

Thanks again!
Joel

[Jeff Schneider]

When you take into consideration the current value or buying power for the American dollar, whose value has dropped in excess of 40% since 2002. The latest auction name FinancialAid.com would have gone for well in excess of $ 1,120,000, instead of the bargain basement final sales price of $800,000.

Anyone who thinks there is not a lot of bang for a buyers buck in this marketplace, needs to move to the back of the class. People will look back at this photo frame of the domain name market, as possibly the greatest asset opportunity, of a lifetime. But incredibly some people, right now, can not see this. This is what makes markets folks.