PaddlUp

More and more people are willing to transact online even for very high value items such as supercars, however, there is always an unwelcome level of risk. PaddlUp was born from the ambition to blend the best of digital online car selling platforms with elements of a trusted physical environment. Founders Tim and Joe both noticed a gap in the market for a platform that offers premium customer service as well as absolute financial security. The requirement for all cars that pass through the platform is that they must have a minimum value of £100,000, so we’re only dealing with the best supercars and hypercars. The buyer’s fee sits at a very competitive 5%.

CEO and co-founder Tim brings a plethora of experience in the motor trade to the table having been involved since he was just 16 years of age. He has also had an eclectic car history of his own including a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo, a Morgan Aero 8 and multiple Porsche 911s. Whilst Joe’s background is in wealth management, he has a stunning collection of supercars himself, including two Lexus LFAs and of course the wrapped Ferrari F40. Joe had previously used a few of the competitors and was astonished at the holes in the proposition which gave him the drive to create something that goes above and beyond what already exists. PaddlUp is run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and it’s evident that both founders are petrolheads through and through.

PaddlUp’s initial launch was with the aforementioned wrapped F40, a fitting car for a premium supercar platform especially with the registration ‘50LD’. Joe admitted he was initially wary of wrapping the car but says it looks fantastic now it’s completed, as we’re sure many will agree. The choice of colour was to match the company’s branding, with the logo emblazoned on the front of the car, both sides and the rear spoiler. Some will also notice the similarity to one of the Sultan of Brunei’s matte grey painted, right-hand drive F40s.

The company’s aim is to make both buying and selling experiences completely stress and hassle free whilst adding a personable human element that you won’t find with other online auctions. We go the extra mile to ensure that the sale of your car is conducted with the utmost professionalism. When selling, a reserve price is agreed over the phone with our consignment team after a chat about the car’s details and then our logistics team will follow up to arrange collection of the car in one of our bespoke covered trailers. Sellers also have the option to bring the car to us at our state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Wiltshire. To save sellers the

hassle of photographing their own cars or sending a photographer to their home, all of the images are taken care of in house once the car has been tested, evaluated, and authenticated. Auctions will be live streamed on PaddlUp TV for the final 30 minutes, with a presenter answering any questions bidders may have.

Whilst all cars that go through auction will have thorough listing with over 150 images accompanied by a detailed description, buyers will also have the unique opportunity to come and view cars available for auction at our cutting edge premises on an appointment basis. This fusion of online auction platform and physical premises is individual to PaddlUp and offers buyers showroomlevel service in order to feel more comfortable when bidding on the car of their choice. We understand that being able to see and feel a car in the flesh is not only more confidence-inspiring when it comes to placing a bid, but also makes the experience more exciting.

Customer service is paramount to what we do, and the aim is to ensure a memorable and gratifying experience for both buyers and sellers. Due to the calibre of cars that will pass through our auctions, we know that providing a memorable experience is key. Whether it’s their first supercar or one hundredth, the feeling of buying a supercar should always be special. Cars can be delivered by our logistics team or they can be collected at our facility for the full showroom-level experience. So, if buyers want to take a trip to wonderful Wiltshire to collect their supercar, that’s exactly what they can do.

Another PaddlUp pillar of strength is our dedication to security and convenience. We know that selling and buying a high end car can be a stressful experience when handled poorly, and we understand that when you’re parting with a large sum of money for a car it’s important to feel a level of security. When creating a PaddlUp account all users will have a soft check performed to help filter out tyre kickers and time wasters. Rather than connect the buyer with the seller when an auction finishes, we handle payments through a secure Escrow account and then arrange collection or delivery with the new owner once payment has been confirmed. We recognise that finance is a hugely popular way of getting into a supercar, so PaddlUp is FCA accredited which means we will offer a number of funding options when bidding on cars that go through the platform. There will even be the option to transact using Cryptocurrencies.

Peace of mind is key when it comes to the security of the cars. PaddlUp is unique as an online auction platform in that all cars available to bid on are on site at our premises. As mentioned before, cars are collected and delivered in our own covered trailers by our expert logistics team, and once they arrive with us they are stored in our state-of-the-art facility with 24-hour security and each car is constantly monitored and tracked. All cars are checked over and detailed in house to ensure each and every vehicle that goes through our platform is as described so that the best price can be achieved.

The PaddlUp Rooms are based in a stunning part of Wiltshire, offering 360-degree views of the countryside whilst also only being a 10-minute drive from the M4 motorway. The location is a physical embodiment of what we represent as a premium supercar platform. The experience of buying and selling should be just as memorable as the stunning view. Alongside the supercars for auction there will also be a members lounge offering copious amounts of quality coffee as well as four high-end racing simulators. It will be a truly premium place to visit. The experience received in our premises is just as important as the one received when buying or selling a car.

With normal life starting to resume, PaddlUp has already been present at a number of automotive events. The F40 has been taken to events such as Supercarfest, Stonor Supercar Sunday, and the amazing Goodwood Festival of Speed. There has been an amazing reception at all of these events with the PaddlUp team more than happy to talk cars with fellow enthusiasts. A standout event was the SCC private meet sponsored by PaddlUp, where the F40, alongside a Chiron, LaFerrari, Huayra and others were seated underneath a Concorde. A striking sight that those who attended won’t forget. The plan is to be present at plenty more events to come.

Having bought and sold many high end cars over the years, we seized the opportunity to install the values of trust, reassurance, and transparency to the emerging online auction environment. We are currently gearing up for our full launch in late August, so our premises are being prepped and perfected ready for our guests to enjoy. A number of amazing consignments are in the pipeline and we can’t wait for the auctions to get started.