The Slawinski Auction Co. settled into its new home on Scotts Valley Drive to a crowded public sale, complete with refreshments, balloons and sunshine this week.
The business made the move to from the Sports Center on King’s Village Road to Scotts Valley Drive on Dec. 15. The site’s previous tenant, All RV Service, moved across the way to El Pubelo Road.
“The new location has more visibility, which is a perk,” owner Bob Slawinski said. “We’re very pleased with the response.”
The move to Scotts Valley Drive comes after the city bought the Sports Center from the Slawinski family to renovate it into the new library.
The Slawinskis — father Bob and son Rob — are known for the family atmosphere and environment they brought to the Sports Center, which was home to many hockey teams, indoor soccer tournaments and roller-skating parties. The family also had its auctions at the Sports Center before moving to the new location.
“We hold the auctions every other month so we have time to get all the items together. We get stuff from all over,” Slawinski said.
The Slawinskis auctions feature goods including antique furniture, pool tables, artwork, home furnishings and jewelry, which come from all over the country through private owners and businesses.
A veteran in the auction business, Slawinski said he’s build tight relationships with estate attorney’s which is how the company gets many of its selling items.
“A lot of times when people pass on, the families need to see the items in the house,” he explained. “Also we get things when people are downsizing.”
Slawinski said that art and furniture dealers make up the bulk of purchasers at his auctions.
Items are either shown in the flesh or displayed on a large flat-screen television, which is available for viewing in the warehouse. Slawinski’s son, Rob, is a pro at the fast-pitching auctioneers are known for.
Slawinski said the business is doing well, even in the tough economy.
“Even though the economy is the way it is, there is a lot of money around. Business is actually doing just fine. People always need to buy and sell. There is never a shortage of things to auction off,” he said. “It’s definitely a buyer’s market.”
And Slawinski said people are always willing to pay good prices for good pieces.
“Auction items can really be an investment,” Slawinski said. “For example, my daughter once had a painting consigned at $5,000. Turned out, the painting was a Peck, and it ended up selling for $210,000.”
Sheldon Peck was an American 19th century painter known for his portrait artwork, according to the Lombard Historical Society.
“Someone recognized his style, even though it was unsigned,” Slawinski said.
Slawinski said his auction items are marketed to experts from around the globe to find out an item’s true value.
Slawinski, who advertises his auction items all the way to Europe, said that more than anything the key to auction selling is visibility and marketing.
“It doesn’t make a difference what you’re selling, whether it’s jewelry, art or antiques or your homes,” Slawinski said. “It’s more about how many people you can expose to whatever you’re selling.”
The next auction will take place March 28.
For information: www.slawinski.com.
