A painting by Hilding Linnqvist was recently well above the reserve price at Bukowskis at a physical auction. However, occurs sales increasingly online, said the auction firm. Photo: Bukowskis
When Russian artist Vladimir Makovskis painting “wedding suite” was sold earlier this year for 2.6 million were heard not the classic words “first, second, third – sold!”. The reason: The painting was sold at a digital auction via Bukowskis site.
Auction House MD Anna Karin Laurell says that she notices a trend: The once conservative industry has begun to change.
– We notice a change in people’s behavior. There are more and more customers who want to manage the entire sales through the site. It is because it has a number of advantages, for example, you can sell 1900 Century, when you want the year instead of waiting for the next auction that has that theme, she says to Breakit.
The change is in the company’s accounts. According to the Bukowski, online sales increased by 22 percent so far this year, compared with the corresponding period last year.
E-commerce is expected to have sales between 140 million and 150 million in total this year, with a total turnover of 225 million. Thus, online revenues for the first time greater than the proceeds from the classic types auctions.
The logical follow-up question is of course: Is the type auction dead? Bukowskis main owner Lukas Lundin, primarily known for its investments in oil and mining, do not believe it.
There must be more exclusive with the physical auction.
– There must be more exclusive with the physical auction. It will be really high quality. One should remember that our brand is the best we have. Bukowski is an incredibly strong name and we must nurture, says Lukas Lundin.
So far, The company has not chosen to expand online concept to more countries. Lukas Lundin open to it could happen in the future, but says a lot about the logistics need to be resolved first.
– We see that the major international auction houses, such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s, all have the same problem. We are in this business have no habit of e-commerce customers who want their gadgets delivered after a few days. Often, it takes three weeks to get home a large piece of furniture. There we will be better, he said.
In order to improve the logistics unit, the company has, among other things, moving its stock from central Stockholm to the industrial area Vastberga in Stockholm’s southern suburbs, where there are bigger and better adapted warehouses. Moreover, hiring Bukowskis more people with e-commerce skills.
Anna Karin Laurell says Bukowski’s always going to be a platform for more exclusive items, unlike for example Tradera, but that digitization is still a step in do antiquities more accessible to all.
– There are probably some that are a little afraid to come to our classic premises. If we can meet them on the site and get them interested is of course a big win, “she says.
To Bukowskis expands in the online marketing course means potentially tougher competition for pure online players industry as Auctionet but potentially also a positive opportunity for the auction platform Barnebys, which collects items from various auction sites including Bukowski, and help with marketing them.
The man behind the Aftonbladet TV enters into the startup world Notified want to expand globally – with seed money from CSN
No comments:
Post a Comment