Case Study: Saatchi Art achieves sub‑30% cost‑revenue ratio and up to 81% higher basket values with Facebook

Saatchi Art - Customer Case Study

Saatchi Art, an online marketplace that connects contemporary artists directly with collectors (removing traditional gallery intermediaries), wanted to improve the efficiency of its Facebook advertising and drive sales of original art (average basket ~$1,000). Although it had seen strong engagement on Facebook, the team needed to systematically test creative, targeting and bidding to ensure campaigns delivered cost‑effectively across a wide purchase value range.

Over a one‑month direct‑response test Saatchi Art ran link ads in News Feed and right column while varying creatives, target groups (existing clients, Lookalike Audiences, interest groups, partner categories) and bidding strategies (oCPM, CPC, CPM). The optimal mix—News Feed placements, Lookalike targeting based on existing clients and creative aimed at art investors—cut the cost‑revenue ratio from about 70% to under 30% (best 28%) and produced 50% higher average basket values than other social platforms and 81% higher than other digital display networks.

Saatchi Art

Sean Moriarty

CEO, Saatchi Art