19 Years…And Counting!

Another anniversary auction approaches…this makes number 19! It’s cliche to say it, but the years are going by too quickly…slow down a little! I think back to the first auction in Bond Head. It was mostly my stuff and mom’s stuff…I wasn’t confident enough to take in any consignments. The week of the auction I was hoping to break a leg or something so I wouldn’t have to go through with it. I didn’t break a leg…the auction went on…and it has been a pretty good run ever since! I consider myself to have been very fortunate in this business. I’ve always had lots of good consignments coming in, and the crowds have been good for every auction. I’ve never had an auction where I didn’t think we had enough stuff, and even in the worst weather, the buyers still showed up. I can’t ask for any more than that. I’ve had a wonderful staff over the years. Maybe staff is not the right word, because I consider them friends, more than staff. We work hard, but we have fun. They have always been there when I need them, and I have never been let down. Mom has been clerking and setting up with me since day one. The same with David and Carol Beasley. Kris and Gerry have been doing the food booth since our first auction. Donnie has been with me for over ten years, and Charlie almost ten years. Lisa has come on board the last couple of years, as well as Brandan when we need him. David & Sue Niven always willing to lend a hand if some staff members need a break. We’ve had many interesting auctions, and of course two of them I will never forget. About 5 years ago in Cookstown at the curling club. The grounds were under construction for the new library, and we had a week of heavy rain. The mud was so bad we could barely get vehicles in and out for the setup. I had over 200 pieces of furniture in that auction, and I was worried sick people would not be able to get in and out of the auction hall! With the help of some of the construction crew, we laid down planks, and built a little bridge, and everything worked out fine. In fact, it turned out to be my best auction ever! Then of course, my first auction in Pottageville. We had a huge auction all set up, and at the end of the setup day, I was informed that the hall was not available for us the next day. There was confusion with the booking contract, and the hall was rented out Saturday. We technically only had the hall until midnight Friday. In a panic, I called back the staff and several consignors, and we emptied the entire hall out! It took until 4:00 am, but what seemed like an impossible task, actually got done. Never do I want to go through that again! So, I will wrap up by saying thank you to all my 100’s of consignors, and 1000’s of people who have supported our auctions over the years. There are have been many changes over the years and the auction business is going to change a lot more over the next few years. However, the one constant and unchanging factor is…I still find this business exciting and interesting and I love doing it. And unless that changes, I hope I am in it for many more years to come!