1. How did you get your start?
I was born into the business as the son of house clearers.
I studied fine art valuation at Southampton Institute under Scott and Anne Anderson before having a 10-year career in auctioneering brought to an abrupt end. However, being made redundant was the best thing that ever happened as it gave me a chance to set up a firm on eBay and online with my now ex-wife.
2. Describe your business now?
I run the firm alone with a 2500 square foot warehouse trading mainly from eBay (where we are called southeantiques) and on Instagram (@southeastantiques).
The logo I use is a compass with my own tattoos rendered in the background, even down to the diamonds as pointers.
I get occasional stock buying tips from my 6 wonderful Pekin bantam hens, all named after women I have admired, such as Lily Allen and Yolandi Visser (of Die Antwoord).
There has been a shift in the market since I joined – I hit at the high point of eBay and the bubble has burst a bit. I think the main change is the continual drop in prices for generic furniture. It really is unbelievable what salerooms and dealers deem ‘unsaleable’ or ‘non-market worthy’ these days.
3. One dealer you try to emulate?
Ted Few. I remember as a young London auctioneer, going to his Tooting house and being blown away by a bath full of busts and a wall of picture frames. There were cabinets and curios rammed into every space.
It’s intimate, engaging and fun, exactly what so many stuffy shops, malls, centres and fairs are not, and with a glass of wine and some excellent tales from the man himself to boot.
I get occasional stock buying tips from my 6 wonderful Pekin bantam hens, all named after women I have admired, such as Lily Allen and Yolandi Visser (of Die Antwoord).
There has been a shift in the market since I joined – I hit at the high point of eBay and the bubble has burst a bit. I think the main change is the continual drop in prices for generic furniture. It really is unbelievable what salerooms and dealers deem ‘unsaleable’ or ‘non-market worthy’ these days.
4. One thing you’ve learned in the past 12 months?
I’ve attempted to further embrace technology and learned you can genuinely sell 200-year-old things on a 200-day-old iPhone.
5. Real ale or espresso martini?
Espresso Martinis at the Alex Cafe Bar in Felixstowe made by Dom, Billy or James. The perfect end to a perfect day living by the sea, and after a few real ales…
