Oskar Tornvall and Archie Foale, Auctionet.
Press release -
Auctionet Expands in the UK – Appoints Archie Foale as Head of Sales and Establishes New Headquarters
Auctionet strengthens UK presence with senior appointment, new office in Bath and expanded logistics network.
In recent years, the online marketplace Auctionet has concentrated its growth strategy on the UK. Now the company is strengthening its physical presence further by appointing British auction professional Archie Foale as Head of Sales, the opening of a new office in Bath and the establishment of an additional logistics centre in West London. The move marks an important step in Auctionet’s long-term growth strategy in one of the auction industry’s most significant markets – where it currently partners with ten auction houses and operates a logistics centre in Westbury. Archie Foale brings extensive experience from the international auction industry. He has previously held senior roles at Auction Technology Group and Sotheby’s, and most recently served as Head of Fine Art at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
”Archie has proven to have strong expertise in consignments combined with a highly business-driven and commercial mindset – qualities that are invaluable as we continue to expand in the UK market,” says Oskar Tornvall, Director of Sales at Auctionet. ”He shares our vision for how to develop and future-proof this historic industry, and his unique combination of auction experience, technological insight and international perspective makes him a key strategic hire for our continued growth.”
Most recently, Archie Foale held the role of Head of Fine Art at Stockholms Auktionsverk, where he had first-hand experience of how Auctionet’s model – where continuous online sales are combined with carefully curated themes and high-quality live auctions – can support growth across the Fine Art segment while having a positive impact on overall business performance.
“I think the traditional view in the UK auction world is that Fine Art and volume sales can be incompatible,” says Archie Foale. ”Auctionet is a case study in how they can coexist – and strengthen one another. Fine Art is important for building brand equity and generating PR value, while volume sales drive revenue without being dependent on headline lots.”
Compared with the Northern European market, the British auction landscape is described as larger and more traditional. Continuous online auctions are still largely absent, yet they sit at the heart of the digital transformation that Auctionet has spearheaded among Nordic auction houses.
“We hope to build even stronger relationships with British auction houses, while contributing to a more dynamic market by introducing more partners to continuous online auctions and the possibilities they bring – all while refining the traditional live auction format. Our ambition is to modernise the British auction industry while respecting and preserving the very best of its
traditions," says Oskar Tornvall.
traditions," says Oskar Tornvall.
A key component of Auctionet’s offering is its fully integrated logistics solution. Every item sold through the platform is assigned a pre-calculated shipping cost, and the company manages the entire process – collecting the item from the auction house, packing it
professionally and delivering it worldwide.
professionally and delivering it worldwide.
”Today’s buyers are accustomed to the standards of e-commerce, and delivery has long been a barrier to growth in the auction industry,” says Archie Foale. ”By fully integrating the auction marketplace into the auction process, Auctionet is removing that barrier and enabling a more seamless customer experience.”
The new Bath office will serve as a strategic hub, well-positioned in relation to Auctionet’s partner auction houses and its existing logistics centre in Westbury, and further supported by the expanded logistics infrastructure in West London. The Swedish auction pioneers see a bright future here.
”The UK is both the heart and the engine of the international auction market, so it is only natural that we want to make a meaningful impact here”, says Oskar Tornvall.
For further information contact:
Kayleigh Davies
Phone: 07891 635 521
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Auctionet is Europe’s leading marketplace for valued objects. At Auctionet auction houses sell art, design, jewelry, antiques, collectibles and much, much more. Auctionet has a network of more than 70 partner auction houses across Europe and has sold more than 2 million items to buyers from all over the world since it was founded in 2011.
