ESTEVAN - The Million Dollar Auction lived up to its billing Thursday night, with plenty of happy bidders who left the event with items supplied by local businesses.
The auction took place at the Estevan Market Mall, with bidders and interested onlookers in attendance. People who had collected play money during the promotion showed up with their cash to try to secure items.
The auction was a partnership between the Estevan Mercury, CJ 1150, Sun 102.3 FM, Rock 106 and Discover Estevan.
Norm Mack and the Mack Auction Company served as the auctioneers.
Thirty-one items supplied by local businesses were sold off during the event. There was a variety of merchandise available, from electronics to gift certificates, tools to beauty products, sporting goods to home supplies, and bedding to vehicle needs.
With all of the items available, it ensured there would be something available for people of all ages, and it showcased the diversity of businesses that could be found in Estevan’s business community.
The top selling item was an Ashley queen-sized bed in a box, courtesy of Room by Room Furniture, which sold for $100,000 in play money. Gift certificates for pizza for a year from The Tower Cafe generated $75,000, while two items fetched $70,000: a collection of gift certificates supplied by Winmar Property Restorations, and a six-piece Milwaukee tool package from Cervus Equipment Peterbilt.
More than $1.036 million in play money was spent on the 31 items. In some cases, people pooled their money together, and then split the prizes.
In the weeks leading up to the auction, people earned play money by spinning the auction wheel during live on location spots hosted by the radio stations at each of the participating businesses. They could also enter through promotions offered by the businesses, or through the popular Win Wednesday Facebook initiative on the Mercury’s Facebook page.
Deanna Tarnes, the sales manager and publisher for the Estevan Mercury, called the auction and the promotion as a whole a success, and a lot of fun. Lots of happy people walked out with items.
“We had a nice variety of prizes,” said Tarnes. “We had a lot of local businesses participate.”
Tarnes said she had a lot of happy clients in the local business community. They liked the collaboration between the local media outlets, and how the businesses were marketed.
Nick Yakimchuk marvelled that items valued at $400 or $500 went for $40,000 in promotional money.
“It was a great collaboration overall. I love the fact that the businesses love the idea of bringing the two medias together to do a promotion that would really drive traffic to the businesses,” said Yakimchuk.
The businesses saw customers they might not have had otherwise because of the auction.
Next week’s Mercury will have more on this story.
