Dealers’ Need a Real Lobbyist Organization
February 14th, 2009 by admin
Doctors have the American Medical Association; lawyers are represented by the American Bar Association, car dealers, teachers, religions, and even countries have organized representation to promote their best interests to the public and government. Art and antiques dealers, one can categorically say, do not have any form of an umbrella organization that can advocate for its interests.
The many organizations that do attempt to be representatives of the industry are narrow in focus and small in membership. Whether it is the Art and Antiques Dealer’s League of America (AADLA), Antiques Dealers’ Association of American (ADA), National Antiques & Art Dealers Association of American (NAADAA), or the various state and local associations, they all have limited membership, finances, and interests. Individually they are just groups that attempt to create their own exclusivity of membership and can’t look at industry issues, be it a simple standard form of invoice or other business documents that have dealer and customer interests in mind; how about the larger purpose of the public’s image of dealers?
It is clear to me how dealers in general have gone in decline at the expense of the auctioneers’ success, with their strong public representation. The Sotheby’s/Christie’s duopoly is no match for any of these dealer organizations. Their achievements to further their goals and agenda can be attributed to the skillful use of public relations, legal, and political connections. Clearly, the watershed incident of dealer submission to these auctioneers happened in the late 1970s, when they imposed the buyer’s premium and dealers (both English and American) blinked in their fight to prohibit it. The dealer “organizations” back then had no bite or bark. Peter Spira, Sotheby’s chief financial officer at that time gives a good account of that period in his book “Ladders and Snakes”
My industry does have thousands, dare I say potentially millions of potential members if you were to also include collectors, who also have an interest in what we do. But it is the dealers who if united under one inclusive organization, could create a financially strong and robust force to fashion standards for industry conduct and an agenda for public awareness. Today, the scope of being a “dealer” is wide and varied; the dealer in multi-million dollar art, the eBay power dealer, the small antiques shop owner, or the dealer who only exhibits at shows wants nothing more than to increase his sales and burnish his image as a businessman. We are all united in this industry by being resellers of items that have added value from our knowledge and experience. It’s no different for the individual lawyer who hangs out his shingle or the several hundred plus member law firm; the American Bar Association has their back.
The concept of a united and focused antiques and art dealer organization can and will produce results; doing nothing will continue this uninterrupted trend of more difficulty and undue stress to survive in an already challenging economic environment. Dealers must first understand that they do have the power to protect and expand their interests, but only as a united force, and with professional advocates. Individual dealers and small volunteer organizations can’t raise public and political awareness. There is strength in numbers and the time is now.
Tim Lovrinic wrote on 02/19/09 at 3:11 am :
I agree with you. But how do such organizations come into existence? The times are ripe to redefine our industries interests; and to promote an exceptional industry built by entrepreneurs, hard work and passion. But there must be a starting point.
I do not know where that is, do you?
Timothy J Lovrinic
admin wrote on 02/19/09 at 7:58 am :
Thank you for your comments. Your thoughts are critical as to how dealers should take the first steps to be unified in a manner that will yield results for the best interests of the trade.
A starting point should be for dealers to talk to dealers and broach the idea of such an organization. All dealers need to understanding that a large all inclusive organization, as opposed to individual dealers or small selective member associations can set goals, and accomplish much more.
It would seem that dealers who are members of these selective organizations should contact their volunteer leaders (and vice-versa) to promote unifying under one umbrella organization.
This excercise shouldn’t be a power grab, but promote a new leadership organization with fresh ideas and an open agenda. A groundswell of dealer support can only happen by the interaction of dealers with conversation about these possibilities when together (at an auction for example).
Hopefully, we shall start this process.
Marianne Dow wrote on 03/20/09 at 3:58 am :
I am a charter member of a recently formed group — AVCOSA - which stands for Antiques, Vintage & Collectibles Online Sellers Association.
Our goals are in line with what you are talking about. I would love it if you’d look at our site, and give us your feedback/comments. And we’d love for you to join, too, of course. We could use your insights and efforts.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Marianne Dow msdowantiques.com / msdowantiques@gmail.com
admin wrote on 03/20/09 at 9:06 am :
Marianne,
Thank you for your comments and I have visited the AVCOSA site. Any organization that can unite itself with a solid membership should strive for raising awareness and standards of its business practices. Your group seems focused more on the online venue, which is one segment of a very diverse and fragmented art and antiques industry.
I would like to see organizations like AVCOSA be a part of one over-arching organization. Dealers of all stripes need to unite and fund an association that promotes our industry through government influence and public awareness, the issues that can benefit us. It is how other major industries and professional groups work and successfully enhance their welfare.
Maurice Moulton wrote on 04/24/09 at 1:20 am :
I agree with you, as well. I am a Lobbyist and would love to represent your cause in any way I can. I would even consider representing you at no charge for you to get your governmental causes heard. Let me know if you would like to get in contact. Thanks.
Maurice