When Sworders Delivery Service launched in February of this year, we were blown away with the uptake, but as with most service launches, it did not come without its challenges.
The development of a Sworders Delivery Service had been at the forefront of Sworders Chairman Guy Schooling’s aspirations for quite some time, so we were absolutely delighted when the service finally launched in February of this year. It has been used by over 900 customers in its first four months, with international deliveries making up 20% of this total. We have been thrilled with uptake and would like to thank all who have used it.
As with most service launches, it did not come without its challenges, and we quickly identified areas that required improvement. The sheer scale of demand immediately after launch meant that both we and our shipping partner Bradleys had to recruit additional resources to support administration, driving, and packing. Additionally, demand for pre-sale bespoke shipping quotes rocketed, particularly around our March Fine Interiors sale. After analysis showed that just 2% of these requests were taken up, we made the difficult decision to withdraw this feature, to prevent further strain on our resourcing.
We have had to adapt our export of ivory, with most of the larger international carriers no longer wishing to accept the shipment. Whilst we tried to secure alternative carriers, we continued to face obstacles, and have consequently had to end international shipments of ivory via our Delivery Service. For clients wishing to arrange such shipping, we recommend contacting the Romford branch of Mail Boxes Etc.
It has certainly been an exciting few months. We are always striving to improve our customer service, and we hope this insight gives assurance as to how we are reacting to both customer feedback and demand. Again, our thanks to all of you who continue to support this new venture of ours and we look forward to delivering many more items to your doorsteps in the future.
The term ‘Company School’ refers to a genre of painting that emerged in India in the late 18th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the patronage of British East India Company officials, their families, and other European residents in India. Sworders Asian & Islamic Art department is pleased to present a curated selection of these wonderfully insightful works in their next auction on Friday 15 May.
20 April 2026
A fascinating group of 42 lots from the Sir Thomas Longmore library feature in our Books, Manuscripts and Maps auction, offering a rare insight into Victorian military medicine and reform. Highlights include two letters by Florence Nightingale, alongside annotated books and personal volumes from Longmore’s own collection.
16 April 2026
A remarkable group of books from the library of Professor C.J.F. Dowsett will feature in our April Books, Manuscripts and Maps sale. The collection reflects a lifetime of scholarship in Armenian, Iranian and Near Eastern studies.
16 April 2026