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La Petite Auction House makes the switch to retail consignment store

Pricing items becomes the norm over taking in-person bids
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La Petite Auction House is staying operational during COVID-19 by becoming a consignment store. (Photo by Don Bodger)

It’s still called La Petite Auction House, but the operation of the business has changed.

The switch was made to a retail consignment store June 4 while COVID-19 regulations remain in effect and auctions could not be held.

A lot of options were looked at, including an outdoor auction, said co-owner Dawn Geddie, before it was decided to make the conversion to a consignment store and keep the business going until auctions are feasible again. There’s still a chance an outdoor auction will happen at some point with the proper social distancing.

“I’d love to go back to the auction as soon as we can,” added Geddie.

The auction house on Chemainus Road on the entrance way to town that’s currently undergoing construction drew jam-packed crowds twice a month, which included numerous regulars from around the South Island.

Related: Action at La Petite Auction House runs at a feverish pitch

For now, the consignment alternative has been drawing customers who frequented the auctions and others looking for bargains on unique items.

“I’m really thankful it’s working as well as it is,” Geddie noted. “People have been really accepting. They just want to support the local economy is what it shakes down to.”

“I think it’s good,” added Bristol of the auction’s reemergence as a store. “I think it’s really important to keep the distancing and for everybody to be aware of the virus. On that note, I think we can all work around it. It’s been a really great response.

“It wasn’t a hard switch-up. I’ve been in retail since I was 15. It was a pretty important thing for us to switch over to a retail consignment store.”

The items just have to be priced individually rather than waiting for bids at auction to determine the selling price.

“We still put a lot number on it because we still have to pay out the consignee,” Bristol indicated.

The consignees receive 65 per cent and 35 per cent goes to the house.

Hours of operation are Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

“We’d have been open another day of the week before, but this works,” said Bristol.

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Dawn Geddie outside La Petite Auction House on Chemainus Road. (Photo by Don Bodger)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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