The Island’s 2 leading auction rooms, Island Auction Rooms and Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms have announced that they have joined forces in a merger this month.
Island Auction Rooms, based at Regent Street in Shanklin and Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms, based at Quay Lane in Brading, began trading under the new company name of ‘HRD Auction Rooms Ltd.’ on 1st June.
Initially, the Company will operate from the 2 current premises, but the long-term plan is to operate from a single, larger site.
Managing Director of the newly formed company, Warren Riches, said:
“This is a joint venture which will combine the expertise of two very successful firms and enable us to streamline and extend the services which we can offer to Solicitors and Island residents alike”.
Fellow Director, Jamie Busby, Partner at Hose Rhodes Dickson, confirmed that he is equally confident that the new company has a bright and exciting future.
Rex Gully, who has been running the Brading salerooms since its inception, will continue in his management and valuation roles within the new set-up and has enthusiastically endorsed the exciting prospects provided by the merger.
It is intended that the published sales calendars for both salerooms will be adhered to in the short-term, with Antiques and Fine Arts sales on Tuesdays in Shanklin and the Modern and Vintage sales to continue on Saturdays in Brading. Shanklin’s Wednesday sales of Modern Furniture and Effects will no longer take place.
It is planned to hold more Specialist Sales, which are becoming more and more popular since the advent of live internet bidding, which has brought the salerooms into people’s living rooms around the globe. There will also be an expansion of valuation events throughout the Island.
Pic of Warren Riches, Hugh Riches, Jamie Busby and Rex Gully enc.
