LAPADA, the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, held its annual conference at the House of Lords on February 26th, with Brexit featuring heavily on the agenda.
Over 100 delegates attended the conference to see LAPADA Chairman, Lord de Mauley, and LAPADA CEO, Freya Simms co-hosting a packed programme exploring a range of topical issues, from the growing possibilities offered by digital marketing, to succession planning, and the requirements of the new anti-money laundering regulations. But Brexit was very much the background to the discussions.
Presentations included social media expert Victor Benady demonstrating the cost-effective possibilities for dealers offered by the Instagram platform, and Hunters Solicitors discussing the legal complexities of succession.
Afternoon sessions included discussion of the Fifth Directive anti-money laundering regulations, including technological solutions to the challenges of selling to unidentified individuals through companies or remote transactions; and a lively interactive discussion around Brexit concerns, with Gander & White and Rawlinson & Hunter providing invaluable guidance on how to prepare for the worse case ‘No Deal’ scenario.
Uncharted
Some light relief came from Country & Town House editor Lucy Cleland speaking on heritage brands, and how dealers can learn from them.
Freya Simms, LAPADA’s CEO, commented, “This year’s conference saw us tackle some big issues that affect not just our members, but our trade as a whole. We find ourselves in uncharted waters and, in common with industries up and down the country, we are trying to make sense of what lies ahead. The conference was an opportunity to get our members together to share their challenges and concerns, but also to inspire and uplift them. We were delighted to welcome such an esteemed group of speakers whose insights and expertise will enable our members to both trade and thrive over the months and years ahead.”
LAPADA, the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, is the largest society of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK. Established in 1974, it has close to 500 members worldwide, and offers clients reassurance when purchasing from a LAPADA member. Its website lapada.org is one of the leading online marketplaces for authenticated art and antiques.
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