Milestone for auctioneer
CENTENARY: HACK’S 100TH BIRTHDAY COINCIDES WITH 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF INSTITUTE
his year the South African auction industry commemorates two milestones: the 30th anniversary of the registration of the SA Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) as a professional body and the centennial of a founding member, Stanley Hack, who celebrated his birthday this month.
Hack, who celebrated his birthday on April 10, is the longest serving ambassador of the South African auction profession. He entered the industry as a raw teenager in 1936, joining the auction house of Richard Currie in downtown Johannesburg.
The auction bug bit quickly, and it bit hard. It’s therefore no surprise that a passionate Hack trail-blazed up the corporate ladder.
In 1965, he joined JC Burchmore Ltd and it was here that he experienced many of his career highlights.
“In 1979, we secured an auction for which the record still stands – running over 11 days, the biggest car auction in Africa with the sale of 3 627 hail-damaged vehicles on behalf of an insurance institution. The auction was held at the Milner Park showgrounds and was attended by bidders from around the country,” said Hack.
Although he retired in 1998, Hack is still actively interested in the auction world and observes that while much has changed, at its core the profession is still the same.
“While auctions remain auctions, the industry has evolved with new entrants and innovative operation strategies bolstered by the advent of technology,” he said.
“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen in my career is that the days of jack-of-all-trades auctioneers are all but gone. Nowadays auctioneers specialise in the asset class in which they have expertise, experience and in-depth industry knowledge, and this has certainly benefitted consumers.”
Two years ago, Hack received a SAIA award of recognition for his decades of service to the profession.
As Hack turns 100, SAIA celebrates the 30th anniversary of its registration as a professional body, established to provide a clear set of industry standards that promote the ethical practice of the auctioneering profession.
SAIA is the only national association for auctioneers that is recognised by government and state-owned enterprises in that only SAIA member companies are permitted to compete for state tenders.
Joff van Reenen, SAIA’s public relations director, says the institute exists to serve its members as well as stakeholders and clients of the auctioneering industry in SA.
“We’re immensely proud of what SAIA has accomplished over the past three decades. SAIA was built by auctioneers, for auctioneers and represents corporates, small business and individual auctioneers across a range of disciplines,” said Van Reenen.
“At its core, SAIA has always worked to create a professional, ethical auction industry through transformation, education and support to its members.
“SAIA also has the public’s interests at heart, acting to protect consumer rights through rigorous grievance investigations if complaints are levelled against members. We also play a central role in educating the public about the industry as a whole, and through the education process promoting greater understanding of the advantages of this method of asset disposal and acquisition.”
Van Reenen says Hack and his counterparts bequeathed a thriving profession to today’s auctioneers.
“The auction industry is in a very healthy state; competitive and growing,” he said.
“In South Africa, transformation is proceeding apace. More than 50% of SAIA’s membership now comprises people of colour and the board is happy that the programmes we have in place to encourage diverse growth are working.”
Van Reenen agrees with Hack’s view that there will always be a need for auctioneers.
“The profession has been around for thousands of years and while technology may be changing the face of the business, the transparency of this method of sale is always going to find public favour,” said Van Reenen.
“Prices at auction are determined by the market on the day, rather than by any one business or institution deciding the value of an asset. This alone makes it an invaluable sales platform for both buyers and sellers and SAIA is firm in its belief that the industry will grow in years to come.
“Auction technology may have changed since Stanley Hack first stepped up to a podium, but the value consumers found in the sales model then, is the same as they find in modern auctions.”