Context
Our client is a privately owned, well-established London auction house which is fast becoming a major player in the international art market. With 20 specialist departments, around 60 staff, regular dedicated and themed sales are held across a breadth of specialisms. In addition, monthly Interiors, Homes, and Antiques sales contribute to a busy calendar of 100 auctions per year.
Opportunity
Our client’s Wine, Whisky & Spirits department curates specialist sales and auctions throughout the year and contribute a significant section to the regular Interiors, Homes and Antiques auctions. The department has established a track record remarkable sale, offering a varied array of wines, from the classic oenophile’s favorites of Bordeaux and Burgundy, right through to up-and-coming premium New World wines.
Purpose of job
To contribute towards the consigning, valuating, and cataloging of Wines in line with the department and business year-on-year growth objectives.
Main contacts
Internal: Managing and Executive Directors, other specialist departments, client liaison and other business functions especially marketing and photography
External: collectors, dealers, other auction houses
Areas of Responsibility
Strategic and business development
- Maintain an overview of market trends for the Wine market at all levels, and the implications for the business
- Identify and maintain relationships with all client categories (collectors, dealers, other auction houses)
- Identify and grow the client base for sourcing and selling of Wines
Consignments, valuations, cataloging, pre and post-sale responsibilities
- Lead on the consignment of Wines
- Respond to incoming walk-ins, written, phone and email enquiries to determine sale potential, along with other members of the department
- Work to determine provenance, authenticity, value, condition, and marketability
- Catalogue consignments and work on the production and layout of the online catalogue
- Liaise with the assigned photographer on the photography of Wines for marketing, press and the online catalogue
- Work with the Art Handlers on pre-sale exhibition set-up
- Work with potential buyers to provide condition reports, and attend weekend previews, to market and sell the sale
- With the marketing team, take the lead on developing a coordinated marketing plan to achieve budgeted sale totals
- Participate in telephone bidding with clients during the auction, as required
- Participate in the full after-sales analysis, and implement any agreed changes
General
- Ensure compliance with all internal policies and procedures and any relevant external bodies or processes.
- Participate in organization-wide meetings, activities, and processes, and develop internal contacts, networks, and interactions as appropriate.
- Actively participate in events, valuation days, and other functions to represent auctions.
- Carry out other duties as required by the Executive Directors and Managing Director
Person Specification
- Proven knowledge of Wines gained both through study and work experience
- Experience in the field, preferably at an auction house
- Specialist qualifications in a relevant aspect of the department would be desirable, but not essential, as experience and exposure to the market is known to be far more crucial to the success of the department
- Proven ability to develop relationships with the major collectors, dealers and auction houses
- Excellent writing skills in English, and ability to combine an understanding of the material with a commercial sense of marketing and promoting value
- Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including first class spoken English
- Ability to work to tight auction deadlines, balancing photography, cataloguing, sale organisation, marketing and promotional details
- Experience working on projects of all sizes, long- and short-term; demonstrated ability to prioritise a variety of concurrent projects
- Ability to learn Auctions’ systems, with excellent IT proficiency and sound knowledge of the Microsoft 365 Suite
- Superior customer service skills
- Strong follow-up skills with attention to detail
- Ability to thrive within a fast-paced team environment
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location: London
Salary: flexible DOE