‘I can see project bikes remaining in demand’
Despite the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a good year for us. We held three sales (March, July and November) and maintained a sell-through rate of over 80%. To do that, we’ve had to become more resourceful and adaptable. Things can change so fast and we had to switch venues for our November sale at four days’ notice.
Now, though, it’s time to look forward to 2021. We all hope to get back to something like normality and, to help us move on as a business, we’re on the move. We’ve outgrown the sale room at Driffield and, though conducting sales at Sledmere House has been a pleasure, we really need to go to the next level. And, to help us do that, we’ve bought the former Yorkshire Waterways Museum at Old Goole.
It’s a superb building for an auction house. The eco-friendly, 6400sq ft building sits between a canal and the Dutch River, a few minutes from junction 36 on the M62, so it’s much easier to get to. We’re hoping to be in by the time you read this and we’ve got big plans for our new home.
Eventually, we’ll be open seven days a week and we’ll be able to store bikes prior to sales and be much more flexible with viewing times, too. We have an on-site cafe and we’ve already started working on plans for classic bike, car and boat events. We want Spicers to become part of the local classic vehicle scene and we’ll be attending more classic shows and events to help get the Spicers name out there. We’ll be taking stands at the big Stafford shows, the Banbury Run and at some of the Newark autojumbles. Hopefully, we’ll be able to meet some of you there.
To help the expansion of the motorcycle department, we’ve taken on a new member of staff. John Dawson lives and breathes bikes; his uncle, Wally Dawson was the first rider from Hull to lap the TT course at over 100mph. We look forward to having him onboard.
As for the way the auction scene will develop this year, we’re hoping for more of the same. I can see project bikes remaining in demand as they were in 2020. Prices have gone up and I think that will continue as people continue to appreciate time in the shed bringing an old bike back to life. We’ll be settling into our new HQ and getting ready for our first bike sale there on March 13. It’s going to be a busy year.