Biggest auction house in Bay to open

A new auction house is opening in Tauranga this week.

The business is called Auction Kings and is owned and operated by Tauranga man Frank Way.

Mr Way said the 590sq m building he has in Maleme St, Greerton will make it the biggest auction house in the Bay.

He had never run an auction house before, but had been working on the plans for about six months.

"I've always been a wheeler dealer, in the past I've travelled a lot overseas buying at closeouts and buying products around the world for various companies, including Torpedo7 and One Day, so we've got a lot of surplus and closeout stock coming in, we've got a container arriving [from the United States] Wednesday this week."

The container would have clothing, baseball bats, hunting gear, Kwila trellis and decking, chicken wire netting, wheelbarrow wheels, stationary and socks.

Mr Way said his business would combine the tactile benefits of traditional auction houses with the variety of products often seen on online auctions.

"We plan to be the one-stop shop for even retailers looking to buy stock or people who want to sell stuff on Trade Me.

"We've also got a lot of antiques, collectables and household stuff but we're trying to stay away from the bottom end stuff."

Auction Kings will hold fortnightly auctions and the first auction will take place this Saturday afternoon.

Bay Auctions owner Ellen Orr said auctions were still popular, especially with people looking to furnish a house.

Bay Auctions has been running since 1997 and holds auctions every Wednesday night.