If you’re looking to diversify from financial investments such as stocks and shares, collectibles are a great alternative.

Starting a collection can be a lot of fun and potentially earn you huge returns in years to come. The key is to choose something you’re passionate about, or genuinely interested in, and to learn as much as you can about this. These 5 collectibles are a great place to start…

Trainers

Fashion items like trainers are certainly worth considering as a collectible investment item. There is a massive, growing community of trainer enthusiasts. Many high-value shoes have celebrity associations or were only available in certain markets, making them rarer and more desirable.

The Nike Air Jordan I, released in 1985, is a good example of a trainer that had no limited-edition releases but has still increased dramatically in value. Today, a pair of these shoes can go for as much as £30,000.

When investing in trainers, look for highly desirable pairs from big brands as well as limited edition or rarer shoes. Even short-term investments in trainers can earn you a decent profit if you stay on the ball, with many trainer ‘flippers’ buying and selling relatively quickly, often making hundreds or thousands of times the original price paid.

Funko Pops

Funko Pops are vinyl toy figures that depict characters or celebrities from TV and movies. They have come a long way since they were first released back in 1998 and have become a popular collectible item with a large community of collectors. While many Funko Pops are mass produced, some rare or limited-edition releases have only been available at specific events, such as Comic-Con.

Some of the most valuable Funk Pops released to date are worth in excess of £15,000. Examples include the ‘Freddy Funko as Venom’ and ‘Clockwork Orange’ figures. It’s worth noting that, as with many collectible toys, having them in pristine condition in the original box will maximise the resale value later on. If you’re looking to start a Funko Pops collection, seek out rare, limited-edition and exclusives as these are likely to increase in value over time.

Game consoles

Gaming has become so popular these days that consoles are not as rare as they once were. However, if older game consoles are anything to go by, this is still a collectible worth investing in. Consoles or games that were the first of their kind, or made a significant impact in the gaming world, are ones to watch. Examples include the Nintendo Wii console or Oculus Rift VR headset.

An example of a game that has significantly increased in value over the years is ‘Elemental Gearbolt’ game for the Sony PlayStation which was released in 1997 and is now estimated to be worth over £7,000.

When investing in consoles or games, seek out rare, iconic, game-changing or limited-edition items in good condition.

Fine wines

Fine wines are capable of improving in both quality and value over time. It can be quite costly initially to start a fine wine collection as they need to be stored safely and correctly to preserve their quality. Due to its low supply and supreme quality, the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 is one of the most expensive wines in the world today. A bottle of this was sold at auction just five years after its release for a staggering £399,740!

If you’re looking to invest in fine wines, it’s a good idea to do some research first. Factors such as region, vintage, producer and age all contribute to the value of a wine. Popular regions include Napa Valley, Tuscany, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne.

Modern books

Literal works can appreciate in value tremendously over time. By investing in modern books, you can potentially make a fortune in years to come. The Harry Potter books are an excellent example of this, with rare first edition copies having been sold for tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds over the past few years.

The catch here is that it is difficult to know what modern books might be worth a fortune in years to come. You’ll need to have some knowledge of literature and a good sense of what could become iconic to do well here but the returns could be great.

If you’re looking to start collecting as an investment, choose something you’re genuinely interested in and learn as much as you can. This will keep you engaged and help to maximise your returns in years to come. As with any investment, profits are never guaranteed but the smarter you are with your money, the more likely you will be to see a good return. To make the search easier, have almost 400 auction houses available to search through using our easy search function. Don't forget to set up an alert so you don't miss out when an auction house lists anything you're looking for.