Earlier this week, The Curator’s Eye and London-based dealer Michael Backman continued their conversation about the integration of technology into the business of dealing art. As an early adopter of the marketing tools provided by The Curator’s Eye, Backman is well-suited to discuss the merits of the platform and to describe the evolution of these tools. In particular, Backman noted the addition of “well-targeted, cutting-edge Internet-based advertising.”

The Curator’s Eye: “Unique Opportunity to Reach New Clients”

He began, “From a dealer’s point of view, Curator’s Eye offers an almost unique opportunity to reach new clients and to follow up with them about items in which they have shown an interest.” The marketing platform delivers proprietary client lists, which Backman said “allows us to contact prospective clients directly with more information about items they seem to be interested in, or with details of related items that we might have.”

“Not a Free-for-all Aimed at the Interior Decorator Market”

In contrast to other online art and antique listing sites, Backman said The Curator’s Eye “really is targeted to serious and well informed collectors and curators. It is not a free-for-all aimed at the interior decorator market.” He continued, “It is important to buy from curator-dealers and importantly, The Curator’s Eye is a venue for hand-picked, high-end dealers who in most cases have as much knowledge and, in some cases, more knowledge than many museum curators.”

When asked about his items that have had the most success on The Curator’s Eye, Backman reported, “Items that have cross-cultural appeal are popular – items made in the East, perhaps for the 18th century European market - attract a lot of interest. I think collectors and museums today are very interested to show that globalisation is not a new phenomenon and that the global economy was an important feature of 17th and 18th century trade as it is today.”

Many Dealers Have Great Expertise...But Have Not Kept Up with Retailing Trends

Backman commented on the online art marketplace, saying, “Many dealers have great expertise when it comes to their stock but have not kept up with retailing trends. And the most significant development in retailing this century has been the Internet. Just because one deals in antiques does not mean one should behave like one. The Internet has revolutionised retailing and art and antiques are not exempt. Dealers must learn to engage with the Internet and to use the Internet to reach a global customer base.”

The Curator’s Eye Provides “A Sophisticated Entry Point for Dealers to Compete More Effectively with the Big Auction Houses”

He went on, “Many dealers see auction houses as their main competitor and they feel that clients seem to prefer auctions nowadays. But one of the great attractions of the auction houses is not the auction process necessarily but the fact that they have excellent websites and web-enabled ways of buying. High-end websites like Curator’s Eye provide a sophisticated entry point for dealers to compete more effectively with the big auction houses.”

The Curator’s Eye is the distinctive online platform for the finest art and antiques from distinguished dealers around the world. To view more exceptional items for the distinguished private collector available from the top dealers across the globe, visit www.CuratorsEye.com.

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Media Contact: Leah Tharpe, 205-515-3166, Leah.Tharpe@CuratorsEye.com