According to the ‘statement of proposal’ issued by the London-based administrator ReSolve Partners, a deal was reached to sell the assets of the UK company for £120,000.
Van der Vorst confirmed to ATG that he was now “the 100% shareholder” and said the assets he acquired from German-based Auctionata represented the trademark, software, database and intellectual property. He added that the website will remain functioning and that six staff will be retained who previously worked with him before he sold Value My Stuff to Auctionata in 2015.
Dragons’ Den
Van der Vorst launched Value My Stuff in 2009, having previously worked at Sotheby’s for 12 years, becoming as head of continental furniture in 2002. The brand received significant exposure in 2010 when van der Vorst appeared on the BBC TV show Dragons’ Den, receiving a £100,000 investment from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis.
He remained chief executive of Value My Stuff after selling the business to Auctionata. When asked by ATG, van der Vorst refused to reveal the price-tag of the firm in 2015 but it would appear that the buy-back sum is considerably less.
He said he will now redevelop the website and new plans will be announced in due course.
