Heritage announces NYC and Beverly Hills expansions; experts sought

June 2, 2009
Posted by Noah

These are some pretty exciting days around Heritage. Get this: while numerous other major players on the auction scene are laying people off and contracting, Heritage is actually expanding. Immediate plans include the opening of offices in New York City and Beverly Hills, where space has been reserved, but that’s about all I can say right now. This puts us square in the action of two of the best markets in the world. The company is also actively recruiting to fill important positions and sent out an e-mail letter to our non-numismatic client base. I figured I’d let the letter itself do the talking and the explaining. It’s not standard blog fare, but it’s also not standard news. This is big stuff for this company, and lays out a clear path for the future.

Ahem:

“While other auction firms have reported shrinking sales and significant lay-offs, Heritage is adding multiple world-class experts to its current staff in more than 25 different categories. These experts will, in some cases, head new departments and in others will enhance existing department expertise. We have positions open at our headquarters in Dallas as well as at our new state-of-the-art galleries in prime locations in both Midtown Manhattan and Beverly Hills, scheduled to open in late 2009, or in early 2010.

“We believe Heritage's business model of transparency and respect for our bidders' time is the wave of the future, as clients are discovering us in record numbers (read our Mission and Values statement here). In fact, we recently enjoyed our most profitable quarter ever (Jan-Mar 2009), as well as the best April in our 33-year history as an auction house. Our 2009 sales volume will likely match or exceed our record 2008 numbers even as the other major auction houses report 60% sales decreases.

“Heritage is now ready to hire the world's best experts to support existing departments and launch new ones, especially in the following categories, though we will consider many other areas as well, including sub-categories:

“American Art, Ancient Coinage, Antiquities, Asian Art, Books, Maps, and Prints, Decorative Arts, European Art, Jewelry and Timepieces, Latin American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Photography
Vintage Automobiles, Wine.

“These are top, high profile positions; we are seeking ambitious candidates who will bring their excellent reputation, strong business and work ethics, organizational skills and knowledge to represent Heritage in the best light. Preferred candidates will have more than 5 years in a major auction house environment, or experience as a commercial dealer (a combination of both would be ideal). Writing and public speaking talents and skills are a plus. Job duties will include obtaining consignments; supervising the vetting of condition; authentication of properties consigned; reviewing inquiries; proofing of cataloging, essays, and advertising copy; marketing specific objects to important clients, and supervising two or more auctions per year with full bottom-line responsibility in the case of department heads.

“Interested parties, with proper qualifications, are encouraged to email their resume and salary history to Experts@HA.com.”

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-Noah Fleisher