8th June 2018
“Selling through Catawiki has become our main source of income. We always feel supported and Catawiki allows us to share our passion with design lovers around the world,” says one of our sellers, GrooveyDesign. Every week, Gary Hartmann and his partner Marcel surprise bidders with a fresh selection of items for our Design auctions and this is their success story.
Reliable online partner
“Catawiki has been a reliable partner for almost 3 years now,” Gary says. “It was there when we started GrooveyDesign, which was born from our shared passion for vintage objects. With my past in marketing communications, I know how to present our wares and generate some buzz. We just needed a reliable platform to sell it. Of the established online platforms, Catawiki was hands down the best option. It allowed us to concentrate on getting our hands on the grooviest items we could find!”
- Gary Hartmann, the man behind GrooveyDesign
- Image source: Jamel Armand & Chantel Koo
Finding special items
GrooveyDesign lists 10 to 15 lots a week, with a total of 1,250 lots over the past years. No small feat! Part of this success comes from Gary’s structured schedule: “It’s all about expectations. Bidders expect quality lots every week. We accomplish this with a healthy work ethic and good planning. Every Tuesday we hit the road to find new items. We travel all across the Netherlands, visiting antique shops, vintage markets and auctions. Some items immediately jump out at you. It’s the result of years of experience and research. You learn to recognise an item’s unique appeal and know it will perform well in auction.”
Gerrit Rietveld HOPMI chair (Limited Edition 62/250) sold by GrooveyDesign on Catawiki
Perfecting your lots
“After Tuesday’s run through the country, I set up an impromptu studio every Friday to photograph that week’s findings for the lots in the next auction,” Gary continues. “They have to be eye-catchers, immediately grabbing attention of potential bidders. Every Sunday, I submit our lots to Catawiki’s experts. Mostly design experts Christian Plat or John Bolt. When they recognise a particularly special lot, they call in Catawiki’s marketing team who then proceed to set up some marketing on Catawiki’s website and social media.”
Catawiki offers a great way to reach international audiences. About 80% of our buyers come from abroad.
Teamwork makes the best lots
Gary is a bit of a perfectionist. So he makes sure his lots reach our experts in the best possible way. Gary: “I make sure descriptions are correct and are supported by clear pictures from many angles. I detail every item’s unique properties and, incidentally, their shortcomings. Of course, the experts appreciate these efforts. That way we help each other make the best possible auction. Recently a number of our items have been featured in the Hollywood Regency design furniture auction, curated by Klaas Schaafsma, who is always a pleasure to work with.”
Jean Prouvé by G-Star RAW for Vitra lamp sold by GrooveyDesign on Catawiki
Finding your audience on Catawiki
“Catawiki offers a great way to reach international audiences. About 80% of our buyers come from abroad”, Gary explains. “Normally I wouldn’t be able to reach buyers from Spain, Italy, France and the rest of Europe. Or even the world. Last year we sold a Vivienne Westwood men’s shoulderbag to an inmate in Hong Kong. It felt weird writing that address, including cell block and number. But I can’t blame him for wanting to walk around fashionably. Even in prison!”
Vivienne Westwood men’s shoulder bag sold by GrooveyDesign on Catawiki
Living responsibly
Gary believes it’s important to take your responsibilities in life. That’s why, besides his work at GrooveyDesign, he does his share of volunteer work: “Once a week I support a single mom with a family of four. The kids love having a father figure in their life and getting out of the house.” Gary shows the same commitment for his work, treating every item with respect: “It doesn’t matter if it sold for €1 or €500, every item is treated equally. We put a lot of effort in sturdy, environmentally friendly packaging with biodegradable materials and boxes which would otherwise be thrown out. Just like some of the items we pick up from second-hand shops, we like to think we give these materials a second life." On the other hand, they also invest in very good packaging materials such as styrofoam, bubble plastic, and large thick corrugated packing boxes which is an annual investment for GrooveyDesign as these materials cost more than the standard €1.50 packaging fee, but it's important to them that objects reach their buyers in perfect condition.
Find your own audience through Catawiki
“Selling through Catawiki has become our main source of income. We always feel supported and Catawiki allows us to share our passion with design lovers around the world. At the same time providing more security than any other online platform. For us ánd for the buyers, who can find some real bargains for exclusive items.”
With well over 500 reviews and a feedback score of 100%, GrooveyDesign found its audience on Catawiki. Do you also want to find your audience? Why not try out Catawiki as a seller? Let our experts help you out and learn from successful sellers such as GrooveyDesign. Before you know it, you’ll be a successful seller as well.
Discover more lots offered up by GrooveyDesign