Western Daily Press (Saturday)
How Bella the macaw gives business a boost
THE three biggest loves of Nicholas Grainger’s life are his family, antique jewellery – and a 22-year-old named Bella.
The Gloucestershire auctioneer and valuer is accompanied by Bella almost everywhere he goes – and she’s “quite the talker”, he says.
Bella is, in fact, a large blue and gold macaw – and she has become an integral part of the Winchcombebased auction house.
“We have secured business because of Bella,” said the 59-year old. “People have seen her and sent items in as a result. She sits by me when we are running an auction and has become a mascot for the company; people love her.”
Mr Grainger is the founder of British Bespoke Auctions, one of Gloucestershire’s largest auction houses.
It was one of only four operating in the UK during 2020 after making a swift decision to start running auctions online during the pandemic.
The change in approach means the company is now able to connect with millions of people globally, and over the last year has attracted buyers from China, Russia and the US.
For its last auction, the business broadcast to two million people on five different auction platforms. Among the items sold was a Rolex watch bought for £18,000 by a man playing golf who was watching online.
“We are blazing a trail in the industry and we probably won’t go back to the old way of doing things, no,” said Mr Gainger. “The world is changing and we are securing record prices for our antiques.”
British Bespoke Auctions specialises in silver, jewellery and collectables, with notable sales including a Tibetan Buddha that sold for £90,000 and a group of Chinese stamps which made £66,000.
Every five weeks the company has a live auction with rarer items and jewellery, while the more general items go into a time sale every two months.
“You’re only as good as your last auction – and getting the stock in is the biggest challenge. There is a lot of competition in the UK.”
His love of jewellery, Mr Grainger says, has led to some fascinating discoveries too.
“I went to a client’s house and saw she had some costume jewellery. She told me not to bother looking at it but I had a rummage and I was drawn to a satinwood box.
“Inside were some white enamel dress studs. They were Fabergé and we sold them for £10,000.”
Mr Grainger, a former tailor who left school at 16 and went straight into the family business of Norton & Sons on Savile Row, is not afraid to admit he likes “nice things”.
He has designed clothes for influential figures including George Bush Sr and Juan Carlos, King of Spain.
But he says it is “important to do his bit” too, which is why the business runs auctions for charity. He does not charge for his time and has raised significant amounts for good causes.
“I like to treat everyone in the same way and I try to be empathetic,” he said.
He says the biggest lesson he has learnt in business is to be rational about every decision.
“Don’t think about something too long, but also don’t be too impulsive.
“You learn through mistakes and are a better person because of your mistakes; if you are strong enough to get back up again then you should not be ashamed.
“The most important thing is that you learn. It’s good to fall on your knees and start from scratch.”
She sits by me when we are running an auction and has become a mascot for the company NICHOLAS GRAINGER