Quicklinks: Summary, products and services, successful companies | Income and profitability | Expenses | History, strategy and challenges
Summary, products and services
Summary of the art dealer business: how do art dealers work? How do they make money?
Art dealers typically buy art from artists, galleries, or auction houses and then resell it to collectors, museums, or other art dealers. They may also rent out art to clients for a short-term period. In some cases, art dealers may also provide other services such as appraisals, framing, and installation.
Art dealers make a profit by marking up the price of the art they sell. They may also earn commission fees on sales made through galleries or auction houses. Some art dealers may also charge fees for appraisals, framing, and installation services.
There are a variety of different business models that art dealers can use. Some art dealers operate as sole proprietorships, while others may work for a larger gallery or auction house. Still others may work as independent contractors.
The products and services offered by art dealers can vary depending on their specialty and the type of art they deal in. For example, some art dealers may specialize in contemporary art, while others may deal in more traditional works. Some art dealers may also offer other services such as appraisals, framing, and installation.
List and description of the most successful companies in the art dealer business. How big are they and what is their market value?
- Sotheby’s is the world’s largest art business, operating in 50 countries with 90 locations. It is a publicly traded company with a market value of $3.8 billion.
- Christie’s is the world’s second largest art business, operating in 43 countries with 85 locations. It is a privately held company with a market value of $3.3 billion.
- Phillips is the world’s third largest art business, operating in 30 countries with 60 locations. It is a privately held company with a market value of $1.6 billion.
- Bonhams is the world’s fourth largest art business, operating in 25 countries with 55 locations. It is a privately held company with a market value of $1.2 billion.
Income and profitability
List of the top three sources of revenue for art dealers (AKA how do they make money?) –
- Sales of artworks: This is the most obvious source of revenue for art dealers. It can come from a variety of sources, including private sales, gallery exhibitions, art fairs, and online sales. Art dealers typically take a 50% commission on sales of artworks, so if an artwork sells for $100,000, the dealer would make $50,000.
- Sales of other merchandise: In addition to selling artworks, many art dealers also sell a variety of other merchandise. These include books, jewelry, and clothing and can be a significant source of revenue. It can often be more profitable than selling artworks, since the margins on other merchandise are typically higher.
- Fees for services: Art dealers often charge fees for a variety of services, such as appraisals, authentication, and shipping. These fees can add up, and they can be a significant source of revenue for dealers. For example, if an art dealer charges a 3% fee for shipping an artwork, and the artwork sells for $100,000, the dealer would make $3,000.
Pricing: What are average prices among art dealers
The average prices for art dealers can vary greatly depending on the product or service being offered. For high-end products or services, prices can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more. For mid-market products or services, prices can range from $1,000 to $5,000. And for low-end products or services, prices can be as low as $100 or less.
Here are a few examples of high-end, mid-market and low-end products or services offered by art dealers:
- High-end: -Original paintings by well-known artists: $5,000-$10,000 or more. -Limited edition prints by well-known artists: $1,000-$5,000 -Custom framing services: $500-$1,000 or more
- Mid-market: -Original paintings by lesser-known artists: $1,000-$5,000 -Limited edition prints by lesser-known artists: $100-$1,000 -Giclee prints: $50-$200
- Low-end: -Open edition prints: $20-$50 -Posters: $10-$20 -Art prints: $5-$10
What are the profit margins in the art dealer business? In a percentage range.
Profit margins in the art dealer business can vary greatly depending on the type of art being sold, the location of the business, and a number of other factors. Generally speaking, profit margins for art dealers tend to be in the range of 5-20%. However, it is not uncommon for margins to be much higher or lower than this, depending on the circumstances.
One important factor that can affect profit margins is the type of art being sold. For example, works by well-established artists tend to sell for higher prices. These thus generate higher margins than works by less well-known artists.
Another factor that can affect margins is the location of the business. Art dealers in major metropolitan areas tend to have higher overhead costs and thus lower margins than those in smaller towns or rural areas. There are a number of other factors that can affect profit margins in the art dealer business. These include the size and scope of the business, the type of clientele it caters to, and the overall economic climate. In general, however, margins tend to be in the 5-20% range.
Expenses
What is the cost to build an art dealer business? With an example.
The cost of starting an art dealer business can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of the operation. For example, a small art gallery that deals primarily in local artists may have start-up costs as low as a few thousand dollars, while a large international art dealership could have start-up costs in the millions.
Some of the major expenses that an art dealer business will incur include the cost of renting or purchasing gallery space, the cost of acquiring inventory, the cost of marketing and advertising, and the salary of any employees that are hired. In addition, there may be other miscellaneous costs associated with running the business, such as the cost of insurance, the cost of accounting and legal services, and the cost of office supplies and equipment.
One way to get an idea of the potential start-up costs for an art dealer business is to look at the websites of some existing businesses. For example, Gagosian Gallery (https://www.gagosian.com/) is a large international art dealership with locations in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Athens. According to their website, their start-up costs were $3 million.
Another example is David Zwirner Gallery (https://www.davidzwirner.com/), which is a smaller art gallery with locations in New York and London. Their website does not list their start-up costs, but they do mention that their first location in New York City was 3,000 square feet and cost $1 million to build out.
As these examples illustrate, the cost of starting an art dealer business can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of the operation. However, all businesses will need to incur some basic expenses in order to get up and running, such as the cost of gallery space, inventory, marketing and advertising, and employee salaries.
List and description of the top three ongoing expenses for art dealers. What percentage does each represent?
- Rent or mortgage payments – This is typically the largest ongoing expense for art dealers, representing anywhere from 20-50% of their total monthly expenses.
- Insurance – Art dealers typically carry liability insurance to protect themselves in case of damages to the artworks they sell. This expense can represent 10-20% of their total monthly expenses.
- Advertising and marketing – Art dealers need to constantly market their business to attract new customers and keep their existing ones. This expense can represent 5-10% of their total monthly expenses.
History, strategy and challenges
What is the history of the art dealer business? With examples for each continent of the world.
The art dealer business is one of the oldest businesses in the world. Art dealers have been around since the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans, when they would trade artworks between different cities. In the Middle Ages, art dealers were often monks or other religious figures who would trade works between different churches.
During the Renaissance, art dealers became more secular, and began to trade works between different nobles and aristocrats. In the modern era, art dealers have become more specialized, with some dealers focusing on specific genres or artists, and others dealing in more general works.
One of the biggest challenges facing the art dealer business in recent years has been the rise of online art sales. Many art dealers have been forced to adapt their business models to include an online presence, in order to compete with the likes of Amazon and other online retailers. Another challenge has been the increasing cost of artworks, as the prices of top-tier works have continued to rise at a faster rate than the inflation rate.
Some interesting facts about the art dealer business include:
- The world’s oldest art dealership is the London-based dealer, Colnaghi, which was founded in 1760.
- The world’s largest art dealership is the New York-based dealer, Sotheby’s, which had sales of $5.3 billion in 2017.
- The average commission charged by art dealers is 20%, although this can vary depending on the type of work being sold and the reputation of the dealer.