London, UK (29 April 2021) – 2020 saw a dramatic shift towards online art buying as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips online-only auction sales broke $1 billion in 2020, up 524% from 2019, while more than three quarters (82%) of new art collectors we surveyed bought works online last year vs. just 36% in 20191.
In Part Three, the final chapter of the Hiscox Online Art Trade Report 2020, we explore the issues experienced by online art buyers that must be overcome if the successes of 2020 are to become a more permanent fixture. We address the online customer journey in five key stages:
- Trust in the seller: how can a buyer determine whether a platform and its sellers are trust-worthy? Over a third (35%) of existing online art buyers regard customer reviews as an essential part of their decision-making process, but this has yet to become common practice amongst the platforms we analysed.
- The artwork: can a buyer confidently establish the quality, condition, authenticity or provenance history of a piece? Three-quarters (75%) of hesitant online art buyers told us that not being able to physically inspect the artwork was their biggest concern, and while dealers are working hard to address this, the in-person experience is for many, still superior.
- Valuation and pricing: the art market’s move to online has forced many sellers to display prices or price ranges for their artworks, which is clear progress. Nearly all (93%) of the platforms covered in our research provide clear pricing and half provide prices of similar artworks sold on the platform. Some 54% would also display prices by comparable artists.
- Transaction: a seller’s approach to payment and returns can have a big impact on the purchase decision. Over half (56%) of art buyers have been deterred from shopping online because of a seller’s returns policy, yet our research reveals a variety of practices.
- Fulfilment: shipping is likely to become a battleground between online art platforms. Of hesitant online art buyers, 41% said that concerns around the cost and length of delivery time were key reasons for abandoning an online art purchase or not buying online at all, while 70% say free delivery would encourage them to transact. Despite this, only one in 10 of the online art platforms we looked at currently offer free shipping.
You can read the Hiscox Online Art Trade Report: Part Three, including key insights and our detailed look at the online customer journey by visiting: https://www.hiscox.co.uk/online-art-trade-report
Commenting on the report, Robert Read, Head of Fine Art at Hiscox said: “The appetite for buying art online increased considerably in 2020, but it’s still unclear whether the balance of power will be restored as the physical art world begins to reopen. In just 12 months the online sphere transformed from a niche to the new normal, but that digital revolution was brought about by a global pandemic and issues around trust, authenticity, transparency and logistics now threaten more permanent success.
“The impact of a global lockdown isn’t the only turbulence affecting the art world, as the digital market’s affair with non-fungible tokens continues to attract new money. No one quite knows what the market will look like when the physical side is fully back up and running but it’s likely to be different to anything we’ve witnessed in previous years”.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Findings are based on the Hiscox Art Buying Survey, launched in October 2020.
For further information please contact:
Katie Bergin, Senior Communications Manager, Hiscox
T +44 (0)787 295 3065
About The Hiscox Group
Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). Our ambition is to be a respected specialist insurer with a diverse portfolio by product and geography. We believe that building balance between catastrophe-exposed business and less volatile local specialty business gives us opportunities for profitable growth throughout the insurance cycle.
The Hiscox Group employs over 3,000 people in 14 countries, and has customers worldwide. Through the retail businesses in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA, we offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers as well as homeowners. Internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance is underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re & ILS.
Our values define our business, with a focus on people, courage, ownership and integrity. We pride ourselves on being true to our word and our award-winning claims service is testament to that.
For more information, visit www.hiscoxgroup.com.
About ArtTactic
ArtTactic is a London-based art market research and analysis firm that offers dynamic and responsive research and commentary on the fast-paced and ever-changing art market. ArtTactic was founded in 2001 by Anders Petterson. ArtTactic has been a pioneer in developing industry research and analytical tools for the global art market. ArtTactic provides a new dimension to art market analysis by combining both qualitative and quantitative research tools with an in-depth knowledge of how the art market works. ArtTactic’s weekly art market research and analysis can be accessed via www.arttactic.com.
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