An email notification came through my email a while ago that was to be an auction of a very large company in receivership. The company is in the same industry as our business. I looked at it and there was a lot of good stuff to be had, BUT it was an onsite auction 3 hours away from home . I had pretty much decided to let it pass. Hubby was chatting to an industry colleague and Owen said he was going to the auction on Wednesday. Hubby mentioned that I was interested, so we arranged that Owen and I would head to Toowoomba on Wednesday morning. Inspections began at 8:00 with bidding starting at 10:00am. The alarm was set for 3:45 and I met Owen at 4.30 and we headed off. We made good time and were at the factory just before 8:00am. We registered, got our bidding numbers and we were free to have a look around. The wonder of modern technology meant that, thanks to Facetime I was able to show Hubby everything we were interested in. I had my phone and turned the camera around so it was showing what I was looking at rather than the usual face to face use of FaceTime. I set it up so I was "face timing" Hubby's iPad so he could see a larger view. This is the busy time for our industry and I was correct in my guess that a lot of business people would just simply not have the time to take out to attend this auction. There were not a lot of people there. This proved that the bidding was not terribly fierce and there were some very low prices. (Sad for the receivers, but good for us) A couple of hours later and we were done. I had spent just under $5000 but was confident that I had secured a LOT of stock and tools. Owen had also done well. We were allowed to start packing after we had paid for our purchases. Owen and I loaded as much small items as we could get on to his ute before they kicked us out at 5:00pm. I got home at around 9:00pm, Hubby had a light dinner ready for me and then I fell into bed Ready for another big day on Thursday. Up again at 3:30am. Hubby and our factory manager hade borrowed a friends truck and I took one of our factory boys in the ute. We met up with Owen in his ute and also one of their factory guys with their big truck. We travelled up to Toowoomba again and got to the factory at 9:00 after we stopped off for breakfast at Esk. Owen and I had decided to do a walk through the factory to show everyone what we had bought and where everything was. Then we set about the big packing job. We were allowed to stay until 8:00pm but we all worked like Trojans and managed to be "wheels up" just after 5:00pm Back to the Sunny coast knowing that we had to unload the big trucks when we got back, because they were both need for the next day's work. After a loooooooong haaaaard day hubby and I made it home about 10:30pm. After a shower to scrub off the dirt we fell into bed, again knowing we had a huge day Friday. Friday was still a standard work day and work was starting to pile up in our factory with us being away yesterday. We had just thrown everything into the factory last night, so a 5:00am start was need to at least get some work benches clear so the boys could start work at 7:00. We have got most of stuff unpacked but it will take a while to sort out exactly what we have. Hubby is VERY VERY VERY happy with me. He and our factory manager have estimated we have paid $5000 for approximately $60 THOUSAND of stuff. . I am in the good books We are very tired and sore though
Wow well done! Sometimes you just have to be there! Must be great having your own factory. What do you do? A vague-ish answer will suffice if you like.
Lol thanks Pinkboy. Yes we make security screens. Don't do much retail anymore. We diversified into wholesale a few years ago. We now supply builders, window companies, glass companies, smaller security guys and handymen. Www.abacusscreens.com.au
It will most certainly give us a good boost. This is the third auction I have done in the past 5 years or so, but this one was by far the most stuff I have bought. No chance for any ME time for at least the next week or so :-(. We still have a lot of sorting to do.
50% of the stock will last maybe 3 months. Some of the more obscure stuff we use within 12 months. Hubby must be feeling less sore, because he is already asking when the next auction is
Great work ! Did you have to subscribe to that email alert to notify you? What was the site? My wife does a bit of auction buying and reselling - normally small stuff.
This one was http://www.laudiston.com.au To find auctions, just get the courier Mail on Saturday and have a look in the classifieds Subscribe to ALL the auction houses. You never know what pops up.
.... and that, folks, is why some people are successful in business whilst others sit on the dilapidated front veranda, drinking beer and lamenting about the rich sods. Well done Mojos! It's not all about opportunity - but seizing opportunity ... treat yourself to a massage when you're done
