A Minnesota-based company that markets collectibles wanted a unique way to recognize both its sales force and its sales support team. Each year, the company holds a picnic to honor employee performance.

In recent years, the vice president of marketing and sales wanted something different to create more excitement with his sales force—especially during the slower summer months. He decided on a live auction and hired Lawrence Auctioneering.

During the weeks leading up to the picnic, each sales rep receives points based on individual sales performance. The points translate into dollars they can use at the live auction. Sales support personnel receive the same points as their designated sales person.

Auction items include everything from all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and jet skies to plasma TVs, laptop computers and diamond jewelry to exotic vacations, cleaning
service and gas gift cards.

On the Friday before the employee picnic, each employee receives his or her final
auction dollars and bidder numbers. Some employees come to the picnic with several hundred thousand auction dollars to spend on 70+ items. Each employee can buy one large and one small item.

Lawrence Auctioneering conducts the event like a regular sale, providing an auctioneer and spotters to keep the event moving.

According to Brent Lawrence, president of Lawrence Auctioneering, everyone leaves a winner. “The employees and their families have good-spirited fun competing with each other for items. And my client, the collectible company, wins with increased employee loyalty and improved sales performance.”