Licensee Information
Auction House is the fastest growing auctioneering network in the UK and an increasingly attractive alternative to the major London players and corporate firms. Now operating from 17 Regional auction rooms with a others set to open shortly, Auction House is the most effective independent option available to local sellers, and operates from auction rooms easily accessible to local buyers.
Auction House was the brainchild of leading Norfolk estate agents who have been successful Norwich based auctioneers since 2000. Now trading locally under the name Auction House Norfolk & North Suffolk they have sold over 250 auction properties in the last year and are market-leading in their territory.
Using their proven business model the team set up Auction House UK and began franchising their concept late in 2006 with Lincolnshire estate agents Drewery & Wheeldon becoming their pilot first licensee in Spring 2007.
Since then Drewery & Wheeldon's auction business has nearly doubled and their success has influenced many others to join the network. Auction House now boasts coverage of around one third of England & Wales, and expects to hold in excess of 70 auctions in 2009.
Several other multi-branch estate agents and a number of specialist auctioneers have subsequently joined the network. These include Arun Estates, Blundells, Dee Atkinson Harrison, Frank B Mason, Goodfellows, Griffin, Hamilton Smith, Humphreys, Manning Stainton, Newmans, Newton Fallowell, Nigel Briggs, Sarah Mains, Smith & Sons, Thomas Morris and Tiffen & Co.
Auction House has strong branding, employs powerful marketing, members use a high quality catalogue, operate auction web-casts and have now developed a specialist HIP solution. Many new concepts and ideas are being added into their customer and licensee propositions including a sub-network of Introducers, national referrals and a new interactive website.
Auction House was created to help independent estate agents and local auctioneers capture a worthwhile share of increasing lot numbers in a growing auctions market. In addition it set out to gather local properties into larger scale auctions within their region, and by doing so to sell more of them to local buyers, usually at a higher price than could be achieved in London. The ultimate goal of Auction House is to have a fully national network of over 40 licensee operated auction rooms, all selling under a common brand identity, with cross-referrals, national introductions and the opportunity to sell repossession and distressed properties closer to home.
Licensee Opportunities
There are still a large number of territories available for Licence, and Auction House would like to move towards comprehensive coverage of England, Wales and Scotland as quickly as they are able. The profile attributes for success that will be used when considering Licence Applications include:
- Existing auctions experience and activity - some of our most successful members already have a solid and thriving auctions business.
- An estate agents multi-branch area coverage and local market share - most of our new start ups have been by prominent regional estate agents.
- Effective coverage of a definable territory with a population exceeding quarter of a million.
- The availability of a centrally located, suitable auction room capable of holding around 300 attendees.
Auction House provides start up advice, induction training courses linked to its Licence Manual, we use coaching and shadowing techniques as well as providing locum auctioneers. Our support provision is extensive and highly regarded by network members. If you might be interested in joining our Network please call us on 01603 508500 to arrange a meeting.
Established auctioneers are also suitable to become an Auction House Licensee.