Fellows Auctioneers

Tell me about your business?

Fellows was established in 1876 by William Henry Fellows and started by auctioning off bicycles.

We are a family run business which is currently in its 6th generation and our auctions now feature fine jewellery, luxury watches, designer handbags and antiques, silver and collectables.

In 2018, we were named the leading UK regional auctioneer in 2018 and we also have a Georgian townhouse as our office in Mayfair, London.

How did you start your business?

The company’s origin can be traced back to the collapse of an order for bicycles. When William Henry Fellows was left with the unwanted order he decided to sell the bicycles by auction.

William Henry Fellows was followed by his son Francis Henry Fellows in 1920. It was during the 1920’s that the business grew, with Francis selling items belonging to refuges escaping the ravages of the Russian revolution.

How did you get into this industry?

I joined Fellows in 1987 and along with Jayne (my wife) we headed up the Fine Art department.

What do you enjoy most about being in your business?

Every day has a surprise….. Sometimes it’s an amazing price… sometimes it’s something we haven’t seen before.

What top 3 words/phrases describe you best?

• Decisive
• Still fascinated by our profession despite 35 years in it
• Happy to hear new ideas

What is the best USP about your current business?

We believe we are a trendsetter within the auction world. We offer in-depth descriptions, free honest condition reports and excellent photography. Our buyer’s premium is low compared to other auction houses and we also offer free worldwide shipping. We have also worked to introduce the latest technology including our own free bidding platform ‘Fellows Live’.

What is your favourite local restaurant and shop?

My favourite local restaurant is Lasan especially the lamb cutlets

What exciting things are happening in your business?

We’re really excited about our green initiatives. We have installed 3 electric car charging points, solar panels, energy efficient air con machines and LED lights throughout our buildings. We have also introduced new environmentally friendly packaging for when we post out items.

Other aspects of our business we’re excited about are the developments we’re making behind the scenes. We’re working really hard to improve our software systems to make processes more efficient leading to an improved customer journey.

What motivates you?

The hope that we will learn something new each day.

What demotivates you?

People who won’t accept that business is a constantly evolving environment.

What would you say would be your biggest achievement to date?

An immediate achievement would be our quick response to the challenges of COVID.

In regards to our auctions we have sold some magnificent items in recent years such as:

• A 43.59 carat Graff Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring sold for £1,307,600 including fees back in December 2017.
• A Vintage Rolex Milgauss dated 1958 sold for £139,400 including fees in November 2017
• A Rolex Military Submariner ‘Milsub’ sold for £174,800 including fees in August 2020
• We have sold two military Panerai watches one for £53,592 including fees (April 2019) and another for £52,316 including fees (January 2018)