Drew Pritchard has claimed ‘dreadful’ daytime antiques shows are ruining the business – after comparing the industry to ‘like the mafia.’
The Salvage Hunters star, 52, from North Wales, hosts the popular Discovery Channel show which has 22 million viewers in around 52 countries.
However he is critical of other antiques programmes, which he claimed have ‘watered down’ the business.
Drew, whose book How Not to Be an Antiques Dealer: Everything I’ve Learnt, That Nobody Told Me’ is out on May 25, told The Telegraph: ‘I’ve got great friends who are on them, but they’re auctioneers, not dealers.
‘It’s like saying a painter and decorator is a builder. They both work on houses, but they do different things.’
Drew Pritchard, 52, has claimed ‘dreadful’ daytime antiques shows are ruining the business – after comparing the industry to ‘like the mafia’
He got his eye for art from his father, a painter who taught him about perspective, scale and form.
Drew became interested in becoming an antiques dealer at a young age – when he was just eight, he had the idea of opening a shop.
At 15 he set out on a lifelong treasure hunt, learning how to find buyers and turn a profit.
After leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, he sought out a premise on Conwy High Street, close to where he had grown up.
He restored the building, from the panelling to the lights, and opened a shop.
He compared the business at the time to ‘like The Mafia’ due to how difficult it was to get started in the industry.
However he has now built a respected business as an international dealer in fine antiques, art and furniture.
Drew would later sell the shop, calling it ‘a very expensive gilded anchor, weighing you down’.
He now also has his own collection of personal antiques – including from a neon ‘curry’ sign (his favourite food) and carved pilasters from the Argentinian Embassy in Rio de Janeiro.
His dining table used to take pride of place at an all girl’s school in Colwyn Bay while Drew’s wine cooler dates back to Roman times and is made out of marble.
One of his favourite pieces is an original art deco dodgem’s sign which was used in a fairground.
Despite being a presenter of Salvage Hunters, Drew is critical of other antiques programmes, which he claimed have ‘watered down’ the business
He describes himself as a ‘decorative salvage dealer’, scouring collections and hoards everywhere from country houses to bric-a-brac shops, in search of things to renovate.
He has an eye for the pieces other dealers miss, and his discerning clients – who include fashion designer Ralph Lauren, chef Marco Pierre White and Hollywood star Jim Carrey – trust his taste in the unusual.
Meanwhile he also said the industry is now easier to get into, and shared a number of tips on how to become a dealer.
He advised putting as much money into your business to start with as possible, saying: ‘It’s simple economics: the more you start with, the more you’re able to make.’
Meanwhile he also suggested avoiding haggling people to the lowest price – and instead said there is value in building a longer-term relationship with people.
Drew added: ‘Dealer to dealer is the best business you’ll ever do. There’s no messing about.
‘They give you a price, you either accept it or you don’t, and that’s it – done and dusted.’
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