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Find A Surprising Range Of Business Related Items In Our Commercial Auction Sales

Debbie Porter

We’ve been seeing an increasing amount of commercial sales at Potteries since lockdown began due to liquidating businesses.

At Potteries Auctions we are increasingly finding ourselves holding a series of commercial sales as businesses fold during Covid19, as well as handle the sales of lost courier parcels, meaning the sales are very varied indeed.  We don’t know whether or not Covid19 is to blame for these businesses closing down but we do know that the variety of items and volume of items we are being asked to handle as part of the winding up activities for these businesses is on the increase.

This range of items for auction, although a sad situation for the businesses that are closing, provides a great opportunity for other established businesses looking to make capital investments in specialist machinery and other business assets without breaking the bank for their own businesses.

Spotlight on the June 2020 Commercial Auction Sale

The sale over the weekend was a commercial sale where we were tasked with the disposal of the contents of a sewing business that had closed down and so we had a great number of items to sell including a transit van (pictured below), sewing machines and cleaning equipment.

The commercial goods sold well – the sewing machines/tools/apparatus, the van and the lost courier goods had lots of interest and all flew out. The Nivarna t-shirts proved to be popular and the boxes sold for a good price. In the pottery department, some Wade pieces had a good sale and prices were good for that section. It’s always a bit of an eclectic mix at Cobridge, but we think that’s part of its charm!

A Vauxhall Movana transit van fitted with jet washing equipment in the back featured in the 28 June 2020 commercial sale.

A Vauxhall Movana transit van fitted with jet washing equipment in the back featured in the 28 June 2020 commercial sale.

This Seiko STW-8b industrial sewing machine in a mounted table was one of a number of sewing machines that went up for auction in our June Commercial Sale.

This Seiko STW-8b industrial sewing machine in a mounted table was one of a number of sewing machines that went up for auction in our June Commercial Sale.

Foam and C02 fire extinguishers also featured in our June 2020 Commercial Sale, as did this Numatic Henry style Vacuum

Foam and C02 fire extinguishers also featured in our June 2020 Commercial Sale, as did this Numatic Henry style Vacuum

One trend that increased hugely as a result of the Covid19 lockdown – and the consequent closure of shops across the UK’s High Streets – was online ordering of goods to be delivered via mail order. This sharp change in customer beahviours meant that courier companies and the other delivery companies like the Royal Mail dealt with huge increases in volumes of parcels being handled, way in excess of the volumes being dealt with even at Christmas time.

Inevitably, many items ‘go missing’ in transit where they are unable to be united with their intended recipient.  In these cases, once a courier company has established they are unable to figure out who a parcel belongs to, they then have ‘stock’ to dispose of.  This usually is sent to auction houses like ourselves.

Potteries handle a contract for FedEx dealing with their lost courier items which always makes for interesting lots such as these examples pictured below.

A quantity of HP Desktop computers were offered as lots in the June 2020 lost courier items section of our June Commercial Sale

A quantity of HP Desktop computers were offered as lots in the June 2020 lost courier items section of our June Commercial Sale

A few different lots were similar to this offered lot of a quantity of cleaning products including toilet rolls, kitchen cleaner and other sundry items.

A few different lots were similar to this offered lot of a quantity of cleaning products including toilet rolls, kitchen cleaner and other sundry items.

A large number of Nirvana t-shirts over multiple lots also came up at auction.

A large number of Nirvana t-shirts over multiple lots also came up at auction.

 Proving that we never know what will feature in a lost parcels sale, a quantity of Duckbutter beard oil gift packs were also on offer!

Proving that we never know what will feature in a lost parcels sale, a quantity of Duckbutter beard oil gift packs were also on offer!

Other items featured in the sale included this mixed assortment, where a wide range of items useful for someone else somewhere saves these items from landfill and raises cash for the sellers too.

A vintage Brooks B73 leather saddle would be an attractive buy for a vintage cycling enthusiast

A vintage Brooks B73 leather saddle would be an attractive buy for a vintage cycling enthusiast

A Toro TX-159 48cm Petrol Mower had a guide price of £30-60 in the sale making this a bargain for a keen gardener

A Toro TX-159 48cm Petrol Mower had a guide price of £30-60 in the sale making this a bargain for a keen gardener

Silverdale Saleroom Opening Hours

We have made an adjustment to our opening hours, and are now open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.  Please contact us in advance to visit by appointment rather than turning up unannounced, to avoid disappointment.  In meantime, if you are thinking of taking part in a sale, take a look at our reopening guide published 15 June 2020 upon our post-lockdown opening.

Selling your items at a Commercial Auction Sale

If you are winding up a business, either your own or on behalf of a business and are looking to realise cash from the assets you hold within the business then please get in touch with our experienced team who will help guide you through the process of offering items for auction in one of our up-coming commercial sales.

Questions & Other Queries

We are happy to answer any questions you might have if you are thinking of visiting us or would like to talk to us about a valuation or a disposal of assets from a business.  You can talk to one of our team if you have any questions, or to make an appointment by email on enquiries@potteriesauctions.com  or call us on +44 (0)1782 638100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.