A Seat at the Table: Auctionet Brings Together the Industry at The Travellers Club

Tradition met transformation as Auctionet welcomed auction professionals from across the UK and beyond for an afternoon of insights, shared experiences, and future-focused discussion in the heart of London.

In an industry built on legacy and tradition, moments of shared reflection and forward-looking dialogue are rare. On 23 May 2025, Auctionet stepped into that space with an event designed to unite the industry, welcoming a room full of auction professionals to The Travellers Club on Pall Mall, London.

With UK at the very heart of the global auction market, it’s surprising how seldom the industry comes together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and exchange practical insights. Auctionet’s vision is to change that. By creating a space for dialogue, innovation, and shared ambition, the company aims to support the continued development and preservation of the auction trade - values at the core of Auctionet’s mission.

The lunch seminar took place at The Travellers Club on Pall Mall in the heart of London

The hosts Andy Sagar, Oskar Tornvall and Tom Österman from Auctionet are welcoming guest Olivia Hatt, director at Lots Road Auctions in London.

Insights over Lunch

The afternoon unfolded over a three-course lunch, where three keynote speakers delivered compelling perspectives on the state and future of auctioneering. Each speaker offered a distinct lens on how tradition and technology can (and should) coexist if the industry is to thrive.

Oliver Miller, founder and director of Bishop & Miller, shares how applying LEAN principles helped streamline operations at his auction house.

Hanna Hellberg of Stockholms Auktionsverk, the world’s oldest auction house, shared how a centuries-old institution has embraced digital transformation in “How the World’s Oldest Auction House Embraced the Future.”

Oliver Miller from Bishop & Miller illustrated the power of process refinement in his talk “Auctioning Smarter, Not Harder, with Lean”, offering tangible examples of how LEAN methodology is reshaping operations for the better.

Matthew Denney of Lawrences Auctioneers offered both a humorous and insightful take on collecting and evolving buyer expectations in “The Kew Gardens 50p Piece – The Worst and Best Coin Ever Produced.”.

Community and Collaboration

Among the attendees were representatives from a broad spectrum of British auction houses, including Woolley & Wallis, Griffins Auctions, Vectis, Young’s Auctions, Lots Road Auctions, Reeman & Dansie, Batemans of Stamford, Antikbar Auctions, Roseberys, Sworders, Windsor Auctions and Fieldings Auctions. Their presence highlighted a shared appetite for collaboration, learning, and transformation.

Insights, bubbles, and brilliant company at The Travellers Club.

Daniel Wright, Director of Reeman Dansie and Oskar Tornvall of Auctionet.

The UK is a global powerhouse in the auction world, but we’ve needed more places like this, where we can step back, learn from each other, and look forward.

Kayleigh Davies, specialist at Auctionet and Judith Woolgar from Fieldings Auctioneers.

Olia Bozhko from Roseberys Auctioneers.

Christopher Young and Henry Chui from Youngs Auctions meeting James Pickup from Sworders.

“The UK is a global powerhouse in the auction world,” a participant explained, “but we’ve needed more places like this, where we can step back, learn from each other, and look forward.”

Next Steps

Thanks to overwhelming interest and engagement, Auctionet is delighted to announce a follow-up event scheduled for 10 October 2025. The company remains committed to fostering a culture of openness, innovation, and shared expertise.

To everyone who joined us in May: thank you for helping create a new kind of meeting ground, where heritage meets progress, and where auctioneers are not competitors, but colleagues.