Prop Store
Prop Store is a founder-led, UK and US-based auction house that authenticates and sells original movie, TV, music, and animation props and costumes through biannual live auctions, studio-partnered online auctions, and a fixed-price Buy Now platform, serving collectors in 42+ countries and consigning from every major studio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersRickmansworth, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Prop Store does
Prop Store is a privately held, founder-led entertainment memorabilia auction house founded by Stephen Lane in 1998 and headquartered in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, with a second office in Valencia, Los Angeles. The company buys, authenticates, consigns, and sells original props, costumes, artwork, posters, production materials, and autographs from film, television, music, animation, and sports entertainment through three sales channels: biannual flagship live auctions (held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and BFI IMAX in London), timed online auctions typically built around a single title or studio partner, and a fixed-price Buy Now e-commerce platform. Every production-used item carries a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity backed by the firm's research and provenance capabilities, which functions as the central trust mechanism in a market where authentication is the primary buyer risk.
The firm's revenue model is transaction-based: it earns commission via a Buyer's Premium on auction hammer prices plus seller-side commissions on consignments, with Buy Now items sold at fixed prices without premium. Pricing is supported by interest-free payment plans (1-3 months, 20% non-refundable deposit) for purchases above £800/$800 (Buy Now) or £1,000/$1,000 (auctions), and the firm accepts credit cards, debit, cash, PayPal, wire transfer, and cryptocurrency on auction orders. Customers are primarily individual collectors across 42+ countries, supplemented by museums and cultural institutions on the buy side, and major studios (Marvel, Netflix, Sony, Paramount, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, DreamWorks, Legendary, Amblin, BBC Studios) on the consignor side. The platform is built on a proprietary auction system with integrated global online bidding, livestreaming, and inventory management across two international locations spanning more than 15,000 square feet.
Prop Store's go-to-market is event-driven and content-led: marquee live auctions drive brand visibility and price discovery, while a continuous cadence of studio-partnered online auctions (e.g., The Boys with Sony Pictures Television, Doctor Who with BBC Studios, Space Jam 30th anniversary with Warner Bros. Discovery) supplies lot flow year-round. The firm distributes via its own websites (propstore.com, propstoreauction.com), email newsletters, active social channels, livestreamed auction coverage, and printed catalogs. Operational scale signals include $9-10.5 million per major auction event, 1,500+ lots per flagship auction, 20-30% year-over-year growth in engagement and bidding, and overseas sales of £7.4 million that grew 109.5% over the three years ending 2019. The firm was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2020 for excellence in international trade.
Prop Store firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prop Store
- Legal name
- Prop Store Limited / The Propstore of London, Inc.
- Website
- https://propstore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Prop Store is a founder-led, UK and US-based auction house that authenticates and sells original movie, TV, music, and animation props and costumes through biannual live auctions, studio-partnered online auctions, and a fixed-price Buy Now platform, serving collectors in 42+ countries and consigning from every major studio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prop Store industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions
- NAICS
- Used Merchandise Retailers (4595), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Entertainment Memorabilia Retail (Film/TV/Music) (CRALAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prop Storage, Warehousing & Asset Management (MPADAIAM), Pop Culture Collectibles Retail (Figures, Statues, Funko, etc.) (CRALAGAK)
Keywords
Where Prop Store is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rickmansworth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Prop Store business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Live and Online Auctions: Prop Store operates live and timed online auctions where memorabilia is sold to the highest bidder. A Buyer's Premium is added to all winning bids. Revenue comes from auction commissions on both buyer and consignor sides.
- Buy Now / Fixed Price Sales: Fixed-price sales channel offering items for immediate purchase at set prices without auction competition. No Buyer's Premium is added to these sales.
- Consignment Services: Prop Store evaluates and accepts items for auction consignment, providing valuations and taking items on behalf of sellers for a commission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Auction purchases with Buyer's Premium |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Prop Store product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prop Store is the world's leading auction house for original entertainment memorabilia, selling authenticated movie props, costumes, and collectibles sourced from major film and television studios. The company operates three sales channels: biannual live auctions in Los Angeles and London, timed online auctions, and a Buy Now fixed-price e-commerce platform, complemented by consignment, appraisal, and authentication services.
Product overview
Prop Store operates as an entertainment memorabilia auction house with three core sales channels: Live Auctions (biannual in-person events in Los Angeles and London with real-time bidding via auctioneer, telephone, and online), Online Auctions (timed digital auctions typically focused on single titles), and a Buy Now fixed-price platform. The company also offers consignment services, appraisals, and a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity program. Its inventory spans original props, costumes, original artwork, posters & promotional items, toys & collectibles, production materials, and autographs from film, television, music, animation, and sports entertainment properties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Auctions Real-time in-person auction events with an auctioneer, live streaming, telephone bidding, and online bidding, featuring 1,500+ lots per major event from entertainment titles. Held at venues including the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and BFI IMAX in London.
- Online Auctions Timed online auction catalogs with bidding open for a set duration, typically focused on a single title or franchise in collaboration with studios, production companies, or Hollywood figures.
- Buy Now Platform Fixed-price sales channel offering authenticated memorabilia on a first-come, first-served basis without Buyer's Premium, with daily listings across categories including props, costumes, original artwork, posters, toys, production materials, and autographs.
- Consignment Services Seller services including free no-obligation valuations, consignment to auctions, item preparation, authentication, and access to Prop Store's global buyer pool covering props, costumes, scripts, artwork, posters, music memorabilia, and comic art.
- Appraisals & Valuations Expert evaluation services for collectibles to determine market value for insurance, estate planning, or sale purposes, available for items valued at $10,000 and above.
- Certificate of Authenticity Lifetime guarantee of attribution backing all production-used items sold, guaranteeing items are authentic originals from the stated production with research-backed authentication standards.
- Payment Plans Interest-free payment plan options for both auction and Buy Now purchases with a 20% non-refundable deposit and monthly installments over 2-3 months for qualifying orders.
- Gift Vouchers Prop Store gift vouchers allowing recipients to bid in auctions or purchase Buy Now items, available for purchase through the Prop Store website.
Quantifiable outcome
- Prop Store's overseas sales reached £7.4 million, growing 109.5% in three years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Prop Store
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Prop Store technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Prop Store partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Sony Pictures TelevisionflagshipCollaboration for exclusive online auction of over 450 props, costumes, and set decoration pieces from The Boys, streaming on Prime Video.
- Warner Bros. DiscoveryflagshipFeatured original Space Jam animation art in 30th anniversary celebration auction. Partnership includes exclusive pre-screening events at Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and year-long merchandise collaborations.
- Paramount Pictures/Paramount Television StudioscoreSale of Star Trek TV series props and costumes as Paramount shifted focus from TV to movies, with auctions running through May 12.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! World EntertainmentminorRipley's acquired the iconic mechanical rhino prop from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls at Prop Store auction for display at Ripley's attractions.
- The Petersen Automotive MuseumcoreVenue partner for Prop Store's major three-day Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auctions held in Los Angeles. The museum provides prestigious setting for these high-value events.
- The Maybourne Beverly Hills HotelminorPublic preview venue for high-value auction items before major sales, providing luxury setting for VIP previews.
- BBC StudiosflagshipExclusive Doctor Who online auction partnership featuring over 200 costumes and props from the series, with 20% of net hammer price donated to BBC Children in Need.
- Marvel EntertainmentflagshipStudio partner for auctions featuring Marvel props and costumes from various film and television productions.
- NetflixcoreStudio partner providing content for Prop Store auctions of props and costumes from Netflix original productions.
- Warner Bros.flagshipMajor studio partner providing props and costumes for auction sales from Warner Bros. film and television productions.
- LionsgatecoreStudio partner for Prop Store auctions featuring Lionsgate film properties.
- DreamWorks PicturescoreStudio partner for auctions featuring DreamWorks film properties.
- Legendary EntertainmentcoreStudio partner for Prop Store auctions featuring Legendary film productions.
- Amblin PartnerscoreStudio partner including Spielberg productions for memorabilia auctions.
- Grant McCune DesigncoreRestored the iconic Nostromo model miniature from Alien, demonstrating Prop Store's commitment to preservation and restoration of film artifacts.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Prop Store competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bonhams: Bonhams operates an Entertainment Memorabilia department offering film, TV, and music-related items through live and online auctions, competing head-to-head with Prop Store in the same UK/European collector market and against the same studio consignors.
- RR Auction: RR Auction is a New Hampshire-based auction house running regular online and live auctions of autographs, manuscripts, and entertainment memorabilia — competing with Prop Store for the same collector pool, particularly in autographs and production-used artifacts.
- SCP Auctions: SCP Auctions specializes in high-end sports memorabilia and limited entertainment consignments through premium live and online auctions, mirroring Prop Store's high-value consignment model and global bidder base, though concentrated in sports rather than film/TV.
- Heritage Auctions: Heritage Auctions is the world's largest collectibles auction house with a dedicated entertainment and music memorabilia division, running live and online auctions that directly overlap Prop Store's core offering to similar collector demographics.
- Goldin Auctions: Goldin is a leading collectibles auction house with a strong sports memorabilia focus and growing entertainment/Comic art categories — using a similar timed-online auction model with global bidding, overlapping with Prop Store's collector demographic and auction mechanics.
- Julien's Auctions: Julien's Auctions is a leading auction house specializing in entertainment memorabilia, celebrity-owned items, and film/TV/music artifacts — directly competing with Prop Store for both consignor studio relationships and collector buyers in the same auction format.
- Hake's Auctions: Hake's Auctions is a US-based auction house specializing in pop culture collectibles, vintage toys, comic art, and entertainment memorabilia — running live and timed online auctions with a similar buyer base to Prop Store's Buy Now and online channels.
Broad incumbents
- Christie's: Christie's is a global broad-line auction house that occasionally handles premium entertainment and pop culture memorabilia within its broader luxury portfolio — competing with Prop Store for very high-value consignments but without specializing in the entertainment memorabilia niche.
- Bonhams Skinner: Skinner (a Bonhams partner) is a US-based broad-line auction house handling antiques, fine art, and collectibles including entertainment memorabilia — overlapping with Prop Store at the margins but not as a specialist in screen-used props and costumes.
- Sotheby's: Sotheby's is a global broad-line auction house with occasional entertainment memorabilia offerings within its luxury and collectibles portfolio — adjacent competition for premium consignments though not a specialist in screen-used props and costumes like Prop Store.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prop Store social profiles
Digital presenceProp Store compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Prop Store financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prop Store leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Prop Store funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prop Store M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prop Store
What does Prop Store do?
Prop Store is the world's leading auction house for original entertainment memorabilia, selling authenticated movie props, costumes, and collectibles sourced from major film and television studios. The company operates three sales channels: biannual live auctions in Los Angeles and London, timed online auctions, and a Buy Now fixed-price e-commerce platform, complemented by consignment, appraisal, and authentication services.
Is Prop Store a public or private company?
Prop Store is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Prop Store founded?
Prop Store was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Prop Store based?
Prop Store is headquartered in Rickmansworth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Prop Store make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Live and Online Auctions are the primary driver. The others are buy Now / Fixed Price Sales and consignment Services.
Who are Prop Store's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bonhams, RR Auction, SCP Auctions, Heritage Auctions, Goldin Auctions, Julien's Auctions and Hake's Auctions. Broad incumbents are Christie's, Bonhams Skinner and Sotheby's.
Does Prop Store have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prop Store.
What industry is Prop Store in?
Prop Store's product category is Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAGAJ, Entertainment Memorabilia Retail (Film/TV/Music), with a secondary code of MPADAIAM, Prop Storage, Warehousing & Asset Management. Its NAICS code is 4595 and its SIC code is 5945.