Saturday 24 November 2012

I am a bit scared...




I am a bit scared. I am a bit scared because I now own a shop. Well, a kind of shop. An office, a showroom and I guess...a shop. An antique shop. And that can only mean one thing: I have to grow up. Growing up has never really been on my agenda.
The trouble began when I heard through the grapevine that the florist next door was moving out. For years I have managed Barnes Auctioneers from the second floor of our home. In theory that works well - the only delays facing my morning commute being the time it takes to make coffee, the only dress code being casual to naked, and zero office costs. But when the florist moved out I had to move in. I had to move in because it made sense. It makes sense, current tense. And sensible is, of course, very grown up indeed.
There will be many advantages in having our new premises (71 Yarmouth Road in Norwich, pictured) including a 'high street' presence and the opportunity to retail (£295 for the oak Wainscott revival chair with Wymondham Market Cross carved to back panel, pictured). It marks a significant step-forward in our ability to service clients who can conduct business with us throughout the week without appointment: 71 Yarmouth Road will be open 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday-Saturday. We'll also open 10am to 4pm on Sundays but only as a shop.
I made my first sale from the shop the other day despite the fact that we are not really open yet. A very good customer of ours visited to settle his account and noticed some coins in a cabinet "How much are those?" he asked. The deal was done at £55 and the shop, I guess, christened in the process.
We officially open for business this Sunday, 25th November at 4pm to coincide with the Thorpe St Andrew Christmas lights switch-on (which takes place right outside our shop). We're not ready at all but then not being ready has never stopped me before.
The Sunday Auction last weekend was a great success. We had a good turnout of buyers and some wonderful lots for them to bid on. And bid on them they certainly did with excellent prices being achieved for most things. We make it look easy but managing an auction is more difficult than it looks. It's only possible because we have a team of people that just make it happen. At our traditional post-sale shandy I was emphatic and right in saying "We are better than we have ever been".
At this juncture I must make comment on Thorpe St Andrew Council. They supported our move into Roxley Hall from the beginning and have been supportive ever since. Their policy and practice is to support local people and local business and that shines through. I consider their support to be a major ingredient in our success of late.
In the old days we were swashbuckling. We had to be swashbuckling to take on the auction elite. Today we are the auction elite. We are established. We even have a proper office. How grown up. How scary. How wonderful.
 


Wednesday 14 November 2012

Blaze of Glory


Barnes Auctioneers has a bit of pedigree when it comes to selling pop memorabilia.  Over the years we have sold everything from an autograph book signed by all four members of The Beatles to Bob Dylan's harmonica.  This Sunday we will be offering a Squier Fender guitar (pictured) signed by Jon Bon Jovi.  It's extremely rare and highly desirable.  We expect it to do well.  We expect it to do very well. 

Entries for Sunday's auction have been steadily coming through the door of our new office at 71 Yarmouth Road, despite the fact that we are still painting and decorating (the carpet goes down tomorrow)!  We will be hosting a valuation day and taking entries for the auction in between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Saturday so our hope is to be operational by then. 

In fact the catalogue for Sunday is looking quite good.  We will be posting the completed list at 6pm on Saturday and selected highlights throughout the week - simply visit www.barnescatalogue.blogspot.com

It's probably worth mentioning that the problems with our card machine have been resolved and so we'll be back to normal this weekend.  We accept payment by cash (gratefully), debit card (practically). and credit card (but will have to charge you an additional 2%).  We do not accept payment by cheque, instalments, or in Euros.  Definitely not in Euros.

It's been a year of change for Barnes Auctioneers - changes to our team, a change of saleroom, and a change of office (even if we have just moved next door).  All for the better.  It looks like we'll leave 2012 in a Blaze of Glory.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

The Little Things


It's the little things that I like - take this Victorian turned-wood treen nutmeg grater in the form of an acorn (pictured).  It unscrews to reveal a storage compartment and an ivory grater.  It still contains an old nutmeg and the aroma is wonderful.  It makes me think of autumn suppers.  It is nostalgia, yes, but just as useful today as it ever was.  If you like it then it could be yours, as it will be offered for sale at our Sunday Auction this weekend.  It's LOT 113 with an estimate of £60-80.  I would suggest, however, that you replace the nutmeg...

By the way - you can monitor the progress of Sunday's auction by visiting www.barnescatalogue.blogspot.com Selected highlights will be posted throughout the week with the full catalogue appearing online at 6pm on Saturday.

I suppose the biggest news to report is that we have a new shop, office, and showroom.  Most people know we traded out of St Andrew's Hall for many years but that this summer made the switch to Roxley Hall on the Yarmouth Road.  That has proven to be most successful.  Now, as part of our expansion, we have taken on nearby premises, 71 Yarmouth Road.  Until recently a florists, the building is perfect for us and we intend to host an official opening on 25th November so do come along and support us.  We are 'open' now - but mostly you will find us decorating and re-carpeting!  The idea is is to have an office base near to the saleroom.  We will be open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-5.30pm) to accept entries and conduct other related auction business with our customers.  The office will double as an antiques shop and showroom.

This Sunday we intend to host an additional sale in the morning, of motor-vehicles including cars and vans.  Public viewing begins at 9am with the sale starting at 11am.  If you would like to place a vehicle into the sale please contact us on 01603 304337 or email barnesauctioneers@btinternet.com Entries need to be confirmed by 5.30pm on Saturday