Vincent Page, a Bournemouth-based furniture dealer and investor, took over Antiques on High in Oxford High Street, on August 1 last year.
“Turning a message on Twitter from ATG into the purchase of a well-established antiques centre last year would seem like a high-risk strategy to many, but a year on and the centre is thriving,” said Page.
“Adding some 21st century technology is very much a standard feature of today’s business so we now have a Google virtual tour of the centre and an all-new website with integrated social media feeds.”
There is also a Facebook shop which has already led to some items being shipped abroad, and this has “proved to be a productive add-on to the business”, with dealer numbers increasing from 26 to 40.
Page added: “It’s been a challenge and at times demanding. We have completely redecorated the centre, fitted a new lighting system, re-carpeted, introduced a special offers cabinet as well as creating a new layout to make it a more inviting place to be.” While the work was being done, the centre still stayed open seven days a week.
As proof of the centre’s turnaround a new 10-year lease was signed last September. Antiques on High will be celebrating its 25th birthday in four years’ time – for which preparations are already under way.
* We would love to hear news from all antique centres. If you have a story to tell about what’s happening at the centre you own, manage or have a unit in, do get in touch via editorial@antiquestradegazette.com.
