BREATHE......

So....I have to say. We worked our little tails off for our March 30th auction. Talk about feelin' spent!! I have just now been able to relax & feel a little rested. Now it's time to tie up a few loose ends & gear up for the next one.  I sure learned a lot. A WHOLE LOT.....

I'll be honest. It wasn't as big as I was hopin', but it was all right. I don't know why I think everything will be the way I picture it.

We got LOTS of compliments about our crew, the consignment items we had, the way we conducted the auction, the check-in/check-out process. REALLY....everything was good, BUT we could have used more bidders.

I mean if it would have been pourin' down rain it could have fixed that. If we'd had more than 5 weeks time to organize, advertise, & gather consignments it would have helped. If I had had the LLC set up earlier than what it was - it would have helped.

The fact of the matter is. We didn't. That is NO ONE's fault. We did everything we could as fast as we could - while we were still workin' our full time jobs & livin' our full time lives.

We oughta be pretty stinkin' PROUD of ourselves. I mean....we had people talkin', saw faces we had NEVER seen, got MORE COMPLIMENTS than complaints. We know what to FOCUS on next time. We KNOW what can help us IMPROVE.....and NOBODY DIED!

My CREW has not abandoned me. In fact...they're ready for the next one. My Nachadoches people from Liquidators Auction said they're comin' back!

Eventually I'll learn how to not be SO hard on myself!!

I have to thank ALL the LOCALS that came and helped out in whatever fashion they could. I have to thank my crew again, all they people supporting this little adventure of mine, THANKS to the folks at Liquidators Auction in Nachadoches & the folks at ELCO Auction over in Odem, Texas. I REALLY am VERY THANKFUL.

Stay tuned for the next one. I'm not positive on the date. We're gearin' up to have a POW WOW & figure it all out. I KNOW the next one will be in Rockport.

We have a new website.Check it out here: www.buckupauctionservices.com.  I'm still doin' some tweakin', but it's up for everyone to look at. If anybody is willin' to leave a testimonial let me know & I'll get it up ;). We will be posting new auction, amongst other things, so check it out.

Also...I started a new blog. It's called: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus. The first post is up, so check it out. Until next time.......

It´s All Better in Ledbetter :)

Hey there!! Just FYI - Be ready to read some blogs b/c I have had one jam-packed weekend this past weekend - that is just WAY too much for one blog. I mean....it started off with the infamous JUNK GYPSY JUNK-O-RAMA PROM (I´m only teasing you with a few pics in this blog), Friday was a day full of shopping and catching up with a couple old classmates (amongst other things), then Saturday was OPENING DAY OF BOW SEASON and the AUCTION for the Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department, Sunday was a baby shower (the baby is on the way already (5-weeks early) All seems fine, but say a prayer.) and a little chattin´ time with the bestie (but not long enough). I also got to stop by Giddings Livestock Commission to listen to Uncle Mele sell a few cows and catch up with some of those cattle buyers and sellers and auction barn workers that I used to see every week!


I TOLD YOU....VERY BUSY WEEKEND!

This is me and the pregnant lady :) Virginia! Pray for her and baby. Her hubby was on a business trip in New York and is on the way back!



My friend Lindsey and I roadtripped from Rockport in the pouring rain...just for JG Prom.

Little Miss Kylee all dudded up. She loved the car from the carnival ride!

Lindsey, Myself, and Christa @ Zapp Hall!

Me and Stacia in the Junk Gyspy Tent.

Man O Man... The more I auction things off, the more I like it. I tell you what! They had it together in Ledbetter...buyer numbers, 2 microphones, carbon tickets, list of names w/the buyer numbers, great spotters/models, and pretty close to 70 bidders, AND some DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN, AWESOME NOODLES, AND GREENBEANS! I couldn´t ask for more.



YUMMY!

Everyone was SO nice. I received lots of well wishes and advice and encouraging words to keep on going so...I´M GONNA KEEP ON KEEPIN´ ON!
One thing I really noticed (which I´ve known for awhile and even blogged about) is that my Uncle Mele just has that somethin´. I can´t tell you what it is and I HOPE I HAVE IT ONE DAY, but when he gets behind that mike...he just draws everyone´s attention. I mean he jokes with people, picks on´m a little bit, enjoys himself...I mean he´s just good. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR HIM! I really feel like I´m learnin´ from one of the best!

Uncle Mele spotting bidders.

I want to thank Larry and Lana Nickel and Mr. Rodney Read for contacting me early and making sure I was there! I WAS VERY HAPPY TO DO IT!!

I also want to give a shout out to some of the buyers that were there! You guys did a FANTASTIC job and I hear the auction was very successful!

DAN AND BALEN KEEN
HARLEY GOERLITZ
PACE FERTILIZER COMPANY
GIDDINGS LIVESTOCK
CARMINE FEED AND FERTILIZER
CARMINE STATE BANK
ROUND TOP STATE BANK
ULLRICH ELECTRIC MOTORS
LISA HIBBLER
MELISSA WICKEL
MAX BARNOWSKI BULLDOZING AND FENCE BUILDING
MR. AND MRS. MEINIKE
LUKE AND AUDREY STERNADEL
TOMMY RILEY
MR. BUSCHA :)
MR. ARNOLD PETERS
MR. MARTH
JAY ZAPALAC LEATHER SHOP
MR. LEHMANN
RANDY ZAPALAC
MR. AND MRS. BAMSCH
AND NUMEROUS OTHER BUYERS THAT I CAN´T RECALL (Please forgive me.)

Maybe I´ll get that buck deer :).

Another blog to come...pretty soon acutually! Thanks for reading and BUCK UP BABY!! We´ve only got one life to live, so we better GET WITH IT! Keep throwin´ those hands up and wavin´ at me :)!

I SPOT You!

Hey everyone!! Thanks for reading!

Well...this past Saturday I had the opportunity to help out at a new business in ARANSAS PASS called THE AUCTION HOUSE! Before Saturday...I had NEVER been at an auction like this. The Auction House takes CONSIGNMENT PIECES and auctions it off for people.

The back of our shirts :)

There were ALL KINDS of things there: Refrigerators, dishwashers, trailer hitches, saws, couches, dishes, art, home decor, cowboy hats, dressers, dining room sets, tools, boats, Wizard of OZ collectibles, children´s toys, coin collections, estate jewelry....I could go on for DAYS! They really had a little bit of everything. I´ll be honest...the buyers/bidders got some PRETTY SWEET DEALS! Anyone that is in the area...needs to check this place out!

Good shot of some of the items that were auctioned off.

Like you all know (at least my followers)....I DO NOT have my license yet.What that means is that I can´t help AUCTIONEER yet. I wanted to get some EXPERIENCE though in some different types of auctions. All I´ve really seen are CATTLE AUCTIONS, FUNDRAISING AUCTIONS, and very few CAR AUCTIONS. I really want to learn what works for consignment auctions and auction houses. So....I emailed the two contacts on their website a few weeks ago and I get a phone call and email back. They wanted to meet me!!

They asked me to show up to their next auction (which was this past Saturday). My main job was WORKING THE FLOOR - SPOTTING THE BIDDERS, TRYING TO LIVEN´ UP THE CROWD A LITTLE, MARK THE BOUGHT ITEMS WITH THE BIDDER NUMBER, SHOW THE NEXT ITEM UP FOR AUCTION, ETC. It was kind of a slow start, but then people started THROWIN´ THEIR HANDS UP :).

I got a chance to talk to some of the bidders after the auction and EVERYONE I talked to was really nice. Two ladies that were sitting outside (that bought A LOT of items) stopped me and told me I did an AWESOME job SPOTTING the bidders and asked if I´d be back for the next one - which I will :). They said everything ran smoothly and they´ll be back for the next one. I´m really not trying to TOOT MY OWN HORN (toot...toot :)). I just REALLY like it when I get positive feedback. Remember....this whole idea was A SHOT IN THE DARK...seriously. I LOVE IT!!

The auctioneer is in the big podium and there are all kinds of collectibles on those shelves (Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, etc).

The other cool thing about this entire JOURNEY I´m taking is that I am getting to meet A LOT OF REALLY COOL PEOPLE that I may not have, if it wasn´t for this. WHEW! I feel BLESSED!

So...what did I learn? Well...I´ll say that - IT´S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A FUNDRAISING AUCTION. Getting bids can be like PULLING TEETH on some items. You´ve really gotta do your ABSOLUTE BEST to sell that item. Talk it up! Get the audience engaged. Explain to them WHY they need it OR the SWEET DEAL they´re getting. At benefit auctions people plan on spending some $$. At The Auction House...they are trying to spend as little as possible. The Coca-Cola products and money and coins seemed to be pretty popular, BUT...it all depends on the crowd. Next time...there may be a couple of people looking for nice tools and they could be the most popular items.

There were copy machines, washing machines, dishwashers...all kinds of stuff back there.

It´s a whole ´nother realm of the AUCTION INDUSTRY and I LOVE it too!! (I realize that what I just typed is so grammatically incorrect - but I typed it anyway.)

Let´s just say that I really enjoyed myself and I´m INTRIGUED :). A BIG THANK YOU goes out to everyone over at The Auction House in Aransas Pass - John King (the auctioneer) and his wife Jeanne and their two girls, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Tim and Miranda Wooten, and all the other staff there. They have WELCOMED me with OPEN ARMS. I´ll do all I can to HELP them anyway I know how.

All you LOCALS reading this...go check them out in Aransas Pass and bring an item or two and see if they can make ya´ll a little money. WHO KNOWS? You might walk away with a SWEET DEAL too!

AUCTION SCHOOL is right around the corner and it´s fixin´ to be time for me to BUCK UP BABY!! I can´t wait!! The next auction I´m helping with is at THE AUCTION HOUSE - in Aransas Pass again, then the Ledbetter Fireman´s Feast, and then AUCTION SCHOOL and my licensing exam :/. Time is FLYING!