"Shameless Self-promotion" seemed like a good name for this page, but the link would have been a bit long, so instead the more conventional "About Us" was used.
Amvona is a blog that provides opinion and analysis on issues of Faith, Investing, Economics and Technology. The word Amvona is derived from the ancient Greek word for "Pulpit" (άμβων).
Amvona was started in 1999 by American Entrepreneur and Investor Gregory M. Lemelson as a graduate student. The site was originally built as a hybrid e-commerce and social networking platform to sell photo accessories which were also developed by the company. Between inception in late 1999 and the end of operations in early 2010 the company shipped over 1 million photo accessories to approximately 300,000 customers worldwide, receiving ~200,000 positive comments along the way.
The Compound Annual Growth Rate between 1999 and 2006 was ~120%.
According to Google Analytics the original Amvona photo-related site received approximately 750,000 unique visitors per month at its peak and is referenced in numerous books and manuals as a primary source for photo equipment. By 2005 Alexa ranked Amvona.com amongst the 10 ten most visited online photo retailers.
In the Fall of 2009 Amvona added a blog to it's eCommerce platform and by April 2010 discontinued its e-commerce operations in order to focus exclusively on the blog.
A notable aspect of the site is the "update" articles, published at one year intervals that confirm Amvona investment ideas consistently outperform the benchmark S & P 500 index and produce "better than average" result.
There is a bit more on Wikipedia.
Readership and Influence Today - Security Analysis
Amvona articles are often published on top blogs such as "Zerohedge" and "DailyBail" and are frequently featured as "editors picks" on top financial news and analysis sites such as SeekingAlpha and GuruFocus as well as countless other places. The following are just a few of the thousands of comments that can be found online:
*click on the link under quote to find online.
“Brilliant.”
“This is a truly superb article...”
“Strictly awesome analysis...”
— Christopher D Licata, Rayfield and Licata, CPAs
“Fantastic analysis. I wish analysts are half as logical as you...”
“Wow, amazing breakdown of this company and its stock. Very informative and highly detailed...”
— W. Walker Jr., Contributor, SeekingAlpha.com
“I have never commented on an article in my life but I felt I must take time out of my day to say thank you Mr. Lemelson for the well written, excellent analysis of the Skechers Company... Your article added a great deal of clarity to the situation and I think your assessment is fair and closer to the truth than any that I have seen in a while. Keep up the good work sir, I was beginning to believe that there were no more sane, rational analyst/ commentators out there and you have restored my perspective. Good job and a good day to you....”
“Spectacular analysis and conviction and you have proven yourself to be an incredible analyzer of companies. You really put the time in and you share every nook and cranny of your analysis. Wall street analysts should be embarrassed by their research compared to yours. Plus, you are committing your own capital to your ideas. Three people I now follow obsessively: Doug Kass, Mohammed El Erian and Gregory Lemelson. Well well done. ....”
“In my mind an extraordinarily well written and thought provoking article, not to mention a refeshing change from the gridlock of "Apple Valuation" articles out there. I really enjoyed reading it and in fact, it is one of the few on Apple of late that I read from beginning to end. I thank the author sincerely for his unique contribution.”
“A fascinating article; much more informative and well-written than the usual fare...”
“Love your humor and insights...”
“...Your article on Cisco from Feb. 13, 2011 ranked 265th that year (out of 67,978 articles), putting it in the top 99.9961%. Pretty impressive stuff...”
“Thoroughly enjoyed your article. Great writing style. One of the best I've read recently. Thank you.”
“I look forward to your next idea - I am very impressed with the work you put out... it's never to late to read one of your reports”
— Anonymous RIA (100 M AUM), Menlo Park, CA
“This article is just fantastic!!! It is the best written logical and to the point discussion on the topic. I am sure if you use the same logic in your priesthood then I am sure God exist!!! I actually was in search of inspiration like this but could not find it on my own.”
“Thanks for this compelling and well researched overview of WDC overall business world... with a humor touch as a bonus.”
“Excellent piece...”
— Adib Motiwala, GuruFocus.com
“Nothing more to add but Bravo.”
“Excellent article in describing investor psychology. Appreciate you taking the time to prepare as this is good reading for any type investor. Also, very good timing.”
“Interesting analysis...”
— Aaron Greespan, Original Author - Facebook
“...thank you so much for preaching to this choir member. I feel as though Matt Taibbi and, now, you are the only people, of whom I am aware, that adequately articulate that: Not only does the emperor have no clothes but possibly no Empire without our cooperation. Well done!”
“I was recently re-reading your Oct. 31 article (here) on how Western Digital is an ideal acquisition target. The stock is up 40% since you wrote that article, so a hearty congratulations on the long position... The share price appreciation has certainly paid off for investors... I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic... I'm sure SA readers would feel the same...”
-Best,
“Thank you very much for such a thorough and detailed article.”
“...your article was a very good read...”
“Finally, someone is telling the entire truth about Cisco... I am thankful for your research and candid article. History will prove you are right... Thank You”
“...while generally agree with your article, I'd like to point out something you may have missed: You may have a great second avocation as a writer of humorous financial articles. Heaven knows, WE NEED IT!
Thanks for a very deliberative essay, and delivering it in a very readable format!”
“This is yet another clear, concise, yet thorough analysis of Western Digital and the HDD industry, thank you.
...your captioned blog is leading the list of article links I am publishing in my aggregate news service today. It is emailed to over 400 HDD, investment, and supply chain execs in the industry twice per week. I really felt that you nailed it and that you have done so consistently over the last several months.
It was time to highlight you to friends and clients in the industry.”
— Gary Davis, Davis Consultants Asia
“I give credit when credit is due and you Gregory really do your homework when you invest I give you that...
I been following you for a few years now and all your articles on WDC, and I for one will be buying again if it dips, or has some correction, I think it is an outstanding business and at a very undervalued price like you pointed out.
You are really good at analyzing businesses that is for sure.
I take few peoples advice when it comes to investing since most people simply don't have a clue even on here, but I always listen to yours since our investing style is so similar and since you make so much sense and everything is so well thought out by you.
Keep up the good work...”
“Congrats on being correct about SKX... thank you for making us $$$...”
Readership and Influence Today - Economic Analysis:
On October 21st, 2011 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds (which is overseen by the Secretary of the Commonwealth) published a link to a pdf version of the amvona article "Houston, we've got a problem - Bevilacqua" on their home page with Register of Deeds John O'Brien commenting:
“Keep doing what your doing. Not many people are willing to stand up to the big banks that have decided that they don’t have to play like everyone else... Thanks to people like you the complicated matters and cases involved are being broken down into understandable, common language that is getting the information out Main Street. Wall Street isn’t happy … but shame on them in the first place for participating in these fraudulent schemes.”
—John O’Brien, Register of Deeds
In October of 2011 the same article was featured by SeekingAlpha (which has over 50 million unique monthly readers) in "Market Currents" with the editors commenting:
“Greg Lemelson makes the case that a little-noticed Massachusetts Supreme Court decision this week basically made all foreclosure sales in MA over the past 5 years "wholly void." Of particular interest is the remedy to those who find themselves with worthless title - it's not against the foreclosed homeowner, but against the bank/servicer that improperly foreclosed.”
—SeekingAlpha, Market Currents
Prominent Attorney and consumer advocate Neil Garfield has said of the Amvona article "Houston, we've got a problem - Bevilacqua":
“...the best current status report for the mortgage mess that I’ve seen this week or for that matter, this year. It’s worth studying because it fills in a lot of spaces with real information and reality applied to the gaslight environment created by Wall Street.”
—Neil Garfield, LivingLies Weblog
Nationally recognized homeowner advocate Lisa Epstein commented on the Amvona article "Eaton - Dividing the Mortgage Loan and Affirming the Consequent":
“
Beautifully written. Lyrical and truthful. Thank You Gregory M. Lemelson
”
—Lisa Epstein, ForeclosureHamlet.org
Writer Mike Bevel says of the Amvona article "Houston, we've got a problem - Bevilacqua":
“Hey, do you live in Massachusetts? And did you buy a bank-foreclosed house? In the last five years? Oh boy. You’re probably going to want to sit down for this. You kept your moving boxes, right? And receipts? Because things are about to get a little complicated in the Bay State...”
—Mike Bevel, InsideArm.com
Nationally recognized foreclosure defense Attorney Mark Stopa says in referencing the Amvona article "On the ethics of mortgage loan default":
“...a fascinating article about strategic default. There are a ton of terrific arguments and one-liners, but two parts I really like: (1) the conclusion it is unethical to pay a mortgage; and (2) criticizing foreclosure defense lawyers who advocate against strategic default, concluding that position is a byproduct of fear, shame, and guilt, not reason.”
—Mark Stopa, Stopa Law Firm
Blogger Lane A. Houk of "War on the Home Front" says of the Amvona article "Eaton – Dividing the Mortgage Loan and Affirming the Consequent":
“This is a fantastic article written by Gregory M. Lemelson... I like his writing style... this article is a fun read, while somewhat tragic, when you understand what is and has been happening in our country. It is also highly instructive and articulates well many of the pertinent issues in this foreclosure scam around our country – which is nothing more than the seizure of homes and wealth in a massive transfer of money and property to the 1%.”
—Lane A. Houk, War on the Home Front
Blogger Tony Wikrent "On the ethics of Mortgage loan default" writes:
“This is an incredible Article....”
- Tony Wikrent, Real Economics
A Few References
"Editors' Pick" - Gurufocus - "Apple's Crime and Punishment" (March 14th, 2013)
Investment Underground - Amvona Unites Thinkers On Multi-Faceted Blog (Mar. 4th, 2013)
"Editors' Pick" - Gurufocus - "Is Western Digital an Ideal Acquisition Target?" (Oct. 31st, 2012)
Do You Have a MERS Mortgage? [p. 99] (Richie Collins, Oct. 11th, 2012, Createspace Publishing)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Registry of Deeds "Henrietta Eaton and the Boston Foreclosure Party" (June 26th, 2012)
Neil Garfield LivingLies Weblog "Mass Supremes Declare Note and Mortgage Must Be Owned by Same Party" (June 25th, 2012)
4closurefraud "Henrietta Eaton and the Boston Foreclosure Party" (June 24th, 2012)
Stopforeclosurefraud "Henrietta Eaton and the Boston Foreclosure Party" (June 22nd, 2012)
"Editor's Pick" - SeekingAlpha - "On the value of Users, Hard Drives and Batteries" (June 13th, 2012)
"Editors' Pick" - Gurufocus - "On the value of Users, Hard Drives and Batteries" (June 13th, 2012)
Neil Garfield LivingLies Weblog"OWNERSHIP IN QUESTION: Is it ethical to pay your mortgage?" (February 23rd,2012)
Neil Garfield LivingLies Weblog "REQUIRED READING: WHETHER THE MORTGAGE IS PERFECTED" (October 27th, 2011)
"Editor's Pick" - SeekingAlpha - "Implications Of The Bevilacqua Ruling" (October 25th, 2011)
Mike Bevel - InsideArm.com Massachusetts Set to Overrule Past Foreclosures; Harbinger for ARM Industry? (October 25th, 2011)
Ethan A. Huff - NaturalNews "Supreme Court rules that thousands of home foreclosures are invalid because banks do not have promissory notes" - Mistakenly attributed to Dailybail.com (October 25th, 2011)
Mortgage Fraud Investigations - Miami Houston, we’ve got a problem – Bevilacqua (October 24th, 2011)
COTO Report Massachusetts Supreme Court Voids Most Foreclosure Sales from Past 5 Years (October 23rd, 2011)
Neil Garfield LivingLies Weblog - "Best Post of the Week: Houston, We’ve Got A Problem – Bevilacqua" (October 22nd, 2011)
Tyler Durden Zerohedge Amvona article featured on Zerohedge (October 22nd, 2011)
BlackListedNews BOMBSHELL - Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules That Most Foreclosure Sales From Previous 5 Years Are VOID (October 22nd, 2011)
Social Apocalypse I Clarify How Catastrophic This Is: Houston, We’ve Got A Problem (October 22nd, 2011)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Registry of Deeds "Houston, we've got a problem - Bevilacqua" (October 21st, 2011)
"Market Currents" SeekingAlpha US Economy "Greg Lemelson makes the case that a little-noticed Massachusetts Supreme Court decision this week basically made all foreclosure sales in MA over the past 5 years "wholly void"... (October 20th, 2011, 6:01 p.m.)
4closurefraud GREGORY M. LEMELSON | HOUSTON, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM – BEVILACQUA (October 20th, 2011)
DailyBail Dailybail.com"BOMBSHELL - Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules That Most Foreclosure Sales From Previous 5 Years Are VOID" (October 20th, 2011)
Stopforeclosurefraud Guest Post: Houston, we've got a problem - Bevilacqua (October 19th, 2011)
Lane A. Houk - War on the Home Front Dividing the Mortgage Loan and Affirming the Consequent (October 13th, 2011)
Stopforeclosurefraud Guest Post: Eaton – Dividing the Mortgage Loan and Affirming the Consequent (October 11th, 2011)
Matt Weidner Law Do The Cops Who Are Violently Attacking Peaceful Protestors Understand The Fraud OCCUPY Is Protesting? (October 11th, 2011)
4closurefraud EATON – DIVIDING THE MORTGAGE LOAN AND AFFIRMING THE CONSEQUENT (October 11th, 2011)
"Editors' Pick" - Gurufocus "Update: - “640K ought to be enough for anybody…” WDC vs. STX" (Aug 12th, 2011)
ForeclosureGate Gazette On the ethics of mortgage loan default (June 6th, 2011)
Mark Stopa - Stayinmyhome.com Fear, Shame, and Guilt? Or Reason? (June 5th, 2011)
Tyler Durden - ZerohedgeGuest Post: On The Ethics Of Mortgage Loan Default (June 4th, 2011)
4closurefraud GREGORY M. LEMELSON ON THE ETHICS OF MORTGAGE LOAN DEFAULT (June 3rd, 2011)
"Editors' Pick" - Gurufocus - "Lions and Tigers and Cisco Bears! Oh My!" (May 28th, 2011)
Martin Andelman - Mandelman Matters Mass Hysteria – The Iabanez Decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court (January, 2011)
4closurefraud GUEST POST | IBANEZ – DENYING THE ANTECEDENT, SUPPRESSING THE EVIDENCE AND ONE BIG FAT RED HERRING (January 12th, 2011)
Tyler Durden - Zerohedge Guest Post: Ibanez – Denying The Antecedent, Suppressing The Evidence And One Big Fat Red Herring (January 12th, 2011)
ForeclosureHamlet EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS OPINION IMMEDIATELY... (January 12th, 2011)
4closurefraud TATTOOS, PYRAMID SCHEMES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (November 17th, 2010)
Photography and E-commerce References
"Digital Art Photography for Dummies" (page 140)
"eBay Photography the smart way" (page 195)
"EventDV: the authority for event videographers" (Volume 21, Issues 1-12)
The Sun Chronicle Frugal business - Mansfield CEO never lost sight of his bottom line (May 16th, 2009)
Related Patents
United States 11/750,321
Filed May 17th, 2007
United States 11/674,516
Filed February 13th, 2007
United States 11/564,108
Issued November 28th, 2006
United States 11/198,841
Issued August 5th, 2005
More History
In 1999 Amvona reluctantly launched its site to sell its "homespun" photo equipment wrapped up in a social context (before the word “social networking” meant anything to anyone other than 1950’s era sociologists). We also created an integrated and "open" community for our users to share their images. Given the fact that some folks still thought the Internet was a passing fad, (particularly in the wake of the bursting .com bubble) "open" was hardly cool. It is difficult to believe in retrospect, but back then, photo sharing not to mention digital cameras were almost unheard of, and they were certainly not linked to any sort of online commerce. Putting it together in 1999 took a bit of an intellectual stretch and a streak of imagination.
Long before social meta-data was common place or even understood, its derivatives such as user profiles, product reviews, exif data and online tracking, were already being employed by Amvona to sell products. Through the use of proprietary technology, this fluid, constantly updated and real time user-centric content was being regenerated and wrapped around products across multiple online platforms. This allowed Amvona to seamlessly launch products into a vast network of potential customers; when a purchase was made, the Amvona member became part of an unbroken and automated feedback loop across these multiple platforms, thus sales begot more sales, and revenue grew exponentially. In fact sales grew at a far greater calculus than the products could be manufactured and restocked especially given the entirely self-financed nature of the operation through its early years. User content which was generated on one platform could automatically be regenerated and shared in real time across multiple other platforms. This technology and the approach resulted in Amvona being cited in several prominent publications on Internet marketing (although few knew about or understood the tools we had developed to produce these results).
However, our story was not only about delivering products in a more meaningful fashion it was also about trying to shatter a boutique industry that sometimes functioned more like an "exclusive club", and bordered on anti-competitive practices that were ultimately unfriendly to the consumer. We felt that in addition to being unethical, it was also incongruent with the advent of increasingly low cost digital cameras which would ultimately re-energize the industry and make photography accessible to millions more. This meant competing on price, which strange as it may seem, few others appeared to be thinking of given the incestuous DNA of the industry. Despite meeting the pricing objective Amvona maintained operating margins which we believe were at the very top of the industry.
In order to achieve this, in 2000 (believing that China could ultimately manufacturer high tech products that were at least "as good" as European manufacturers) we moved our manufacturing base to China (at the time understood as the destination du jour for shoes and T-shirts, but not photo equipment). In those "stone ages" of the Internet, many thought "made in China" was a four letter word when it came to photo equipment. However, because the competition actually understood the potential implications of this part of what we were doing (unlike our technology), this move created an interesting backlash. Nonetheless, when you undercut your competition by 70%, they tend to not only notice, but follow. It is safe to say that not long afterwards, the "Amvona business model" was downloaded more than once, and all feelings about Chinese manufacturing were put aside. By 2006 most major photo retailers had some form of the "Amvona model", many also copying Amvona product designs along the way.
But if we had a passion, it was for creating innovative web technology and products that incorporated significant invention in their design. We are amazed to find the concepts we developed back in those days (which many called crazy) in wide use across a spectrum of sites today. This of course was not as easy to replicate, because of the transient nature of real technology, and the necessity of seeing trends long before they occurred in an environment where life-cycles were increasing in frequency.
Rarely does a day go by that we don't hear from former customers complaining that we no longer sell photo equipment. We did not realize just how many people we had reached with our value proposition, or how important the brand had become for so many. It is fulfilling to know that we had a positive effect in some way on so many people and that our products are still be used by photographers all over the world.
