UK antique dealers attempt market disruption

With the growth of online auction platforms and peoples' willingness to bid for works of art on tablets and smartphones, the traditional dealers' model of owning a shop and listing items on their website feels like a rather static environment. In a bid to improve sales and compete with the worlds auction houses, the British Antique Dealers Association is taking their members' stock live online where buyers will be able to bid for stock. Their Chairman, reasoned that they were dealing with "a whole generation that only felt comfortable buying at auction". This follows similar art world innovations such as the online shop Auctionata, founded in 2012, where bidders can buy works from around the world in live auctions. This growth in live internet bidding last year saw Sothebys and eBay's recent collaboration produce a 55% growth in on line bidding in a five month period.

If you can't beat them, join them. British antique dealers are setting up their own auction website in competition with the auction houses – which have wooed away buyers with regular sales enhanced by attractive catalogues and easy internet bidding.

The scheme is the brainchild of the respected British Antique Dealers Association, which has about 330 members.

Under the dealer scheme, there will be no buyer's premium – in contrast to the auctioneers which charge buyers 25 per cent or more. Sellers will pay a 15 per cent commission.

British antique dealers are setting up their own auction website in competition with the auction houses. Rich Press/Bloomberg

Hefty buyer's premiums levied on top of hammer prices continue to be a bone of contention among auction buyers.

Britain's weekly Antiques Trade Gazette, the bible of the industry, says BADA plans to launch the scheme in June.