As part of an acquisition strategy, Lauritz.com has bought Helsingborg Auktionsverk. Together, Lauritz.com and Helsingborgs Auktionsverk will be market leaders in southern Sweden. The acquisition presents exceptional opportunities to exploit the synergy between Scandinavia’s largest online auction house and the region’s most-renowned traditional auction house.
Over the years, auction enthusiasts throughout southern Sweden have valued Helsingborgs Auktionsverk’s expertise, wide assortment, high quality and fantastic auction premises. It is this passion for the objects and the solid specialist knowledge that represent the core values and common denominator for the collaboration between Lauritz.com and Helsingborgs Auktionsverk.
Total annual turnover in the Lauritz.com group is expected to top EUR 160 million in 2014. In time, lots at Helsingborgs Auktionsverk suitable for online auction will be sold on Lauritz.com’s website and app, and in so doing be exposed to Lauritz.com’s more than 1.2 million registered customers and over 130,000 daily visits. However, physical auctions will also be held for that part of the assortment best suited to this, for instance, highly exclusive lots or lots belonging to a special theme.
Bengt Sundstrøm, founder, owner and Chairman of the Board for Lauritz.com comments on the acquisition:
'Collaboration with Helsingborgs Auktionsverk is a natural choice and a great benefit to both parties. Lauritz.com has a modern profile among consumers and is especially known for modern art, furniture classics and unique design objects, while Helsingborgs Auktionsverk has a more classic profile and is skilled in particular in Scandinavian antiques and art as well as Swedish decorative arts and collections. We see an enormous potential in developing the common customer base further with room for all types of people, just like we look forward to commencing an inspiring collaboration between all our passionate specialists. We are very proud to bring Helsingborgs Auktionsverk into the family. This new collaboration will contribute to manifesting the Lauritz.com group as market leader in Sweden.’
Joakim Bengtsson, Managing Director of Helsingborg Auktionsverk, is continuing in this present role next year, but thereafter will devote himself to working with the objects, the auctions and the customers as senior specialist and the auction house’s face to the outside world. He says:
’It has been decisive for me to secure Helsingborgs Auktionsverk for the future by becoming part of Lauritz.com’s well-developed, strong and internationally-based concept. In future, we will reach out to many more potential customers all around the world and be able to exploit the synergy in order to introduce even more people to selling and buying at auction. Our sellers will still be local, but many buyers in future will be able to bid online 24 hours a day at home from their sofa on the other side of the world, or be able to browse through a digital catalogue before they bid in the physical auctions. Personally, I am greatly looking forward to having the time and the freedom for that which I’m most passionate about, namely the unique items, contact with the customers and the role of valuation specialist.’
Visit Helsingborgs Auktionsverk webpage here
About Helsingborgs Auktionsverk
Joakim Bengtsson, a well-known personality in the world of Swedish antiques, took over the auction house in 2001 from Yngve Sandgrenauktioner AB and has since generated significant progress for Helsingborg Auktionsverk, both in terms of turnover and staff. The auction house currently employs 12 full-time staff. Since 2008 the auctions have been housed in a highly modern auction building designed especially for Helsingborgs Auktionsverk and where the auction house creates its unique auction settings from auction to auction. Helsingborgs Auktionsverk has 28,000 registered customers. They hold 24 physical auctions a year; for instance, auctions focusing on classics, ceramics, gardens, Scandinavian country and farmhouse furniture and assorted collections. Helsingborgs Auktionsverk sells everything from basic household equipment to exclusive antiques and art.