Selling things is a talent, something which is vital for being a successful auctioneer. At Yorkton's recent Harvest Showdown event, auctioneers from far and wide came to put their skills to the test and see who would be judged the best of the bunch. This years' winner was Des Plewman from Regina.
Competitors were judged in five different categories. They were; Voice Clarity and Control - clearness of voice, breathing control, calmness of the auctioneer. Rhythm & Chant - smooth and fluid, easy to follow and understand, easy to listen to. Bid Spotting - focused on buyers and catching bids, move sale along at acceptable pace, reaching fair market value for the items being sold. Professionalism - mannerisms, appearance, conduct on the stand, confidence, and General Impression.
The competition was in two rounds, with the initial group of twelve selling three items each, narrowing it down to five auctioneers, who sold four. After the final round, Plewman came out on top.
Plewman, who has been in the business since 1987, says he hasn't competed in a while, but enjoys the chance to come out and test his skills.
"It's fun to come in and showcase our profession." The most important part of being an auctioneer, he adds, is the ability to get people into what you're selling.
"Salesmanship is the biggest part of it, being able to work a crowd. Put some enthusiasm out there, put some interest out there, and put some urgency out there so people will bid on stuff and move the sale along quickly and get the maximum dollar value out of it," Plewman says.
The competition was close with everyone having a different style and a different approach to the job. No matter how people do it though, Plewman says the goal is always the same, to sell things and get the best dollar value from it.
Being in the business for over 20 years, he admits that finding a job as an auctioneer can be difficult for a younger person, but he says there's always room for people to form their own companies and make a name for themselves that way.
