Skinner attracts top consignments and commands record-breaking prices in the international auction marketplace. With renowned expertise and extraordinary service, Skinner is the place for people looking to buy and sell fine objects of value.
Elevating the Art of Bidding: Inside Skinner’s Digital Transformation Journey
About the Client
Skinner has been a trusted auction house, showcasing art from all eras and mediums. As one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, it has built a strong reputation for excellence. With in-house auctions across the U.S. and an online bidding platform, Skinner connects collectors, art lovers, and private buyers worldwide. Specializing in fine and decorative arts, jewelry, modern design, musical instruments, and more, it offers an exciting and seamless auction experience. In 2022, Skinner was acquired by Bonhams and now operates as Bonhams Skinner, continuing its legacy under the esteemed Bonhams brand.
Our Role & Company Services
Web Development, Mobile App Development, UI/UX design, graphics design, SEO, Paid Ads, Social Media Management, and more
Our Involvement
The Challenge
Skinner faced challenges with infrastructure reliability, sync delays, real-time updates, and system coordination—especially during high-traffic live auctions. To solve these issues, Skinner partnered with JBK Technologies to upgrade its digital platform. The new solution improved performance, ensured accurate and timely auction data, supported high user volumes, and delivered a smooth, unified experience for all bidders.
Specific challenges we faced:
The Solution
To overcome these challenges, Skinner partnered with JBK Technologies to upgrade its digital platform. The goal was to create a seamless and engaging user experience by improving speed, reliability, and system coordination during live auctions.
Specific Solution We Provided:
Implementation & Process
The Skinner website is designed to handle high traffic smoothly, especially during busy times like live auctions. It uses a multiserver setup along with a strong caching system, which helps the site load quickly and stay reliable for users.
The main purpose of the application is to provide easy access to all auction-related events. Whether it’s a live auction happening now, an upcoming event, or details from a past auction, users can find everything in one place.
All the auction items and events are managed through a WordPress-based CMS.This makes it easy for the Skinner team to update content. On top of that, there’s a synchronization process between the CMS and the bidding platform, so any updates made in WordPress automatically reflect on the auction side. This helps keep everything accurate and up to date for bidders.
Key Improvements
- Competitor Analysis: Learned from top auction sites to improve user experience.
- User-Friendly Design: Simplified layout for easy browsing.
- Faster Performance: Built a lightweight site to keep users engaged.
- Effective Marketing: Used content and influencers to draw more buyers.
- Expanded Reach: Opened auctions to a wider, global audience.
The Results
Conclusion
- Seamless Digital Transformation – Skinner partnered with JBK Technologies to enhance its online auction experience.
- Optimized Website Design – Designed a seamless, high-speed, and user-friendly platform.
- Enhanced User Engagement – Improved navigation and bidding experience to retain visitors.
- Strategic Marketing – Leveraged targeted campaigns and influencer content to attract buyers.
- Higher Conversions – Increased bidder participation and improved conversion rates.