Getting my first customers

I remember when I was a kid, many weekends we would go to local auctions. As a kid I was all excited. It was always so much fun and interesting. We would arrive at the auction. Dad would stop the truck and as most kids are, I was a bit tentative. Dad would go get his bidding number and make small talk with a of the regular auction goers. Dad would give me the look, which meant he would be there a while and I could go explore. Most auctions we would go to were farm auctions, I would race off to the barn where several kids would be playing, I immediately had a new group of friends for the day! We would build forts in the hay or explore the hidden nooks and crannies of an old barn; it was great!

In the summer of 2007 I was looking for a milk tank to make BioDiesel. I was telling a friend, who mentioned to a friend and well you get the picture, anyways I got the word there would be one for sale at an auction, A FARM AUCTION! I was so excited to hear of a farm auction. I asked my wife if she would like to join me but she declined, my eldest son (6) was all to excited (reminded me of a kid I once knew). I had a hard time finding the auction as I could not find any advertisements for it. I was in the town of Astoria, Oregon and asked at the local gas station, one of the locals said he knew where it was. He gave me rough directions until I found the signs directing me there. I could feel myself get excited as I found these signs and knew I was close. My son on the other hand was tired of the drive!

We arrived at the auction. My son’s eyes lit up at the masses of stuff for sale and the kids that were running through the pasture. I went and got my bidder card; it reminded me of my father, my son at my side. My son and I perused the items that were coming up soonest on the block then began to look around at other items. I gave my son the nod, “Go Ahead, Have Fun, Don’t Break Anything, Be Careful, Be Respectful” I told him and he was off in a flash. I watched him run off just as I am sure my Dad did with me many times.

I could smell the hotdogs cooking in the lunch truck, I wasn’t hungry but I sure wanted one. I got my hotdog and moved closer to the action. I started chatting with the locals and had a great time. I bought a few items, however I was waiting on the milk tank. I asked one of the auctioneers’ helper when it would sell, he asked the auctioneer during a brief break and he said it was “Out Of The Auction”. I looked at the auctioneer and simply asked “Why?” The auctioneer responded, “Look at this tiny crowd, it won’t bring enough to be worth selling”. I looked around, it was certainly not the crowd of people I remember when I was a kid. So that got me to thinking.

After the auction I spoke with the auctioneer about the crowd size. He said it is tough. Small crowds mean lower prices and lower commissions for him. He advertises in a few local papers but does not get the exposure he needs, “not as many people really read the paper anymore”, he tells me, “and they are expensive”. So that got me to thinking more.

I tell my son it is time to go. He says goodbye to all of his new friends and jumps in the truck. He looks at me, dirty from playing so hard and says, “when can we go to another auction Dad?” I told him that was a great question. All the way home he told me of all his adventures with the other kids, memories poured in to my head with every word he spoke.

I came home from the auction with all of my treasures. My wife laughed at me because I am a bit of a junk collector and asked if I had fun. I told her I had a great time and it reminded me of when I was a kid with my Dad. My son recounted his time again to his mother, brother and sister who were now regretting not joining us. And they asked, when can we go to an auction. And that really got me thinking!

I went down to my computer and purchased FindLocalAuctions.com at that moment. A year and a half later I am launching my own website. I hope everyone that uses it finds what the want, be that a special item, or perhaps a special memory! I hope this website helps auctioneers get a bit more business and keeps them going!
 

Advice for others

Find a need, something you are excited and passionate about, then do it the way you would wan t it done.  When you talk to people about your business be passionate!  The potential customers will feel that passion and will be fexcited to help you along your journey!