Auction draws bargain hunters; Sold!

By JACQUELINE PERRY, Journal Ishpeming Bureau

PHOTO: Pat Ward of Munising looks at teapots Saturday at the Arvo Heino estate auction in Chatham. Ward was waiting for bidding to begin on 70 face cords of cut and dried maple, which she ended up buying for $3,200. (Journal photo by Jacqueline Perry)

CHATHAM - Pat Ward of Munising drove to a Chatham estate auction Saturday with a specific item in mind: firewood.

"They have cut and dried maple here," said Ward, looking at other items as she waited for bidding on the hardwood to begin. "I need firewood to heat my home, so that's why I'm here."

Ward won't have to worry about heating her home for a while: her winning bid of $3,200 bought her about 70 face cords of maple.

The estate auction was held at the 120 acre former dairy farm owned by Arvo Heino and his late wife Laila, said Col. John Brown, owner of Munising Auction Service which ran the auction. Heino, who Brown guessed to be in his 80s, lives in an assisted living facility,. The farm is in the process of being sold.

People walked away from the auction with items such as a Ford-Ferguson gas tractor, a 1972 John Deere snowmobile, a 1993 Cadillac, a variety of tools, furniture, glassware, milk cans and more.

Attending auctions is a hobby for Jim and Ruthann Willis of Munising.

"This is what we do on the weekends," Ruthann said. "We travel to auctions and buy whatever grabs our attention. And we have the stuff to prove it!"

She named two items as being their most unusual auction acquisitions.

"My genuine Indian rugs and an alabaster statue," Ruthann said.

So what does Jim Willis look for?

"Tools, mostly," he said. "Men like to have lots of tools."

The Heino estate auction was the first bidding experience for Norma Kienitz of Chatham.

"I bought an old wooden box with handles, but I'm interested in (Laila's) dishes," Kienitz said. " She was from Finland and I believe her dishes came from there as well."

Randy Swarty of Sundell was hoping to stick around long enough to bid on some of the tools. However, the final decision would be made by his sons - Finn, 2, and Ry, 5, Swarty said.

"We'll see how long they want to stick around," Swarty said, as his sons played on the John Deere snowmobile. "It's been a long day for them already!"

TOPLINE TRAILER SALES Huge Trucking Industry Auction

Visited with the guys from Hodgins Auctioneers today at their Truck auction in Winnipeg Manitoba. It was very well attended on a nice sunny day with an extensive collection of trucks, trailers, and lots more stuff.





Choice of 4 2000 Sterling went for 10-12,000 Cdn$ . Very good deal if you needed one.






Large List of Shop Equipment and Industrial Equipment as well.








Nice Turnout for a busy day.

Let the bidding begin: Frequent auction visits lead men to start their own

By Chuck Thompson TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

BRADLEY - Curtis Barfield and Bobby Russell have seldom visited an auction they didn't like.

They've also seldom seen one they didn't think could be improved.

So it was only natural that the two Jones County men, who became friends after they kept bumping into each other at various auctions across Georgia, would decide to start their own when casting about for a new business venture.

Thus Bradley Wayside Auction Inc. was born.

Named for the two small communities on Ga. 11 a few miles north of Gray, the men rented the old Bradley Elementary School building from the county in early 2003 and converted part of it into a livestock auction house. They built sheds and holding pens where buses once picked up and dropped off children, and they converted the old auditorium/gym into an auction hall. A couple of classrooms were turned into offices, and they turned the cafeteria into a snack bar.

"We have good hamburgers. Some people come just to eat and for the entertainment in watching the auctions," said Barfield, 66. "They don't bid on anything. It's just something to do on a Saturday night."

But plenty of others arrive at the auction to sell and buy small farm animals.

Chickens, guineas, pheasants, turkeys, geese, rabbits, sheep and goats are regularly bought and sold at the weekly Saturday night auctions. Parakeets and other pet birds and animals also are sold on occasion.

"If somebody brings them, we'll auction them," Barfield said. "We've got a license to sell pigs, too, but we don't. They're too messy and smell too bad."

The men also don't handle cattle and horses.

"We don't have space for large animals like that," Barfield said.

Occasionally people who grew up on farms and now live in urban and suburban areas visit the auctions to remember the days when they worked with livestock. But the auctions aren't designed with nostalgia in mind.

"The regulars are mostly people who raise livestock as a business. It's a second business or hobby business for a lot of them, but they're bringing animals to sell and make a little money," said Russell, 63.

Some buyers are getting animals to raise as pets, but others are buying them to butcher and eat themselves or to resell to others for food.

"We have people coming from Atlanta and other cities every week to buy goats to take home to eat," Barfield said. "Most of them are from Mexico or India or somewhere where goats are a regular part of people's diets."

"We also have people who buy laying hens to raise their own eggs," Russell added. "They taste a lot better than the ones you buy in stores."

The weekly auctions begin at 6 p.m. with the sale of farm equipment and supplies. Then they begin selling animals, goats first, at 7 p.m.

"We go until we finish - usually between 10:30 to 12. It just depends on how many animals we have and how hot the bidding is," Barfield said.

Russell does most of the auctioneering, and Barfield keeps things organized, seeing that the animals are moved to the auction floor, then to the loading area behind the old school after they are sold, and that the buyers and sellers find their way to the pay windows in the office.

Russell has been an auctioneer since 1992. In addition to working at the Bradley Wayside Auction, he also works regularly doing charity and fund-raising auctions for various companies and groups.

"I do a lot of wildlife group auctions and things such as that," he said. "I just love auctions."

Russell also has sold real estate and continues to help his wife, Realtor Gloria Griffis, with her work.

Russell is a Jones County native and still lives in the house where he was born near Juliette.

Barfield grew up in Crisp County but moved to Jones County after four years in the Air Force.

"My parents moved up here while I was in service, so when I got out, I came this way, too. I live in Gray now," he said. "It's a good place to live."

Barfield has retired twice, first as a pipefitter commuting to jobs in the Atlanta area, and then from Jones County where he was the litter control officer.

"I was still working for the county when we decided to try getting this auction going," Barfield said. "Since we were renting the building from the county, I figured it would be best not to also be working for them, so I retired again."

He also is now a licensed auctioneer.

"I went to school so I could fill in for Bobby when he needs a break or has to be away to do another auction somewhere," Barfield said. "I do OK, but he's a lot better. He's an artist."

In addition to their weekly livestock auction, the men also have a general merchandise auction on the first and third Fridays of the month.

"We had someone bringing in used and returned appliances on third Fridays, but they're not doing that anymore, so its just whatever people bring to sell," Barfield said.

They also hold charity auctions when they're asked to take part in fund-raisers for local groups and individuals.

They charge 10 percent commission on goats and 16 percent on all other animals and merchandise sold.

"We make a little money, enough to keep it going, but I'm glad it isn't my only income," Russell said.

"We sure aren't getting rich, but we're having fun," Barfield added. "It keeps us young."

***

GET TO KNOW CURTIS BARFIELD

Job: Co-owner of Bradley Wayside Auction Inc.
Birthplace: Cordele
Education: Crisp County High School
Past jobs: Pipefitter and litter enforcement officer
Secret to success: 'Making sure we have a family atmosphere where people can come to relax and have a good time. We want people to enjoy themselves, whether they come just to watch or to buy and sell.'

GET TO KNOW BOBBY RUSSELL

Job: Co-owner of Bradley Wayside Auction Inc.
Birthplace: Jones County
Education: Jones County High School, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Past jobs: Land sales
Secret to success: 'Treat people fairly and be as organized as possible to keep the auctions moving along.'

State Personal Property Auctions

source www.luv2bid.com

Watches, rings, coins, these are the kinds of items that people find important enough to store in a safe deposit box. With the passage, sometimes these treasures may become lost to their owners or their heirs. At a recent Washington State Department of Revenue auction over 70 pocket watches, some 120 rings, jewelry, coins, gold pieces, and a tourmaline collection sold. It can become a very large problem for states to hold this merchandise. California currently holds 3.2 billion in unclaimed property.

All states at varying intervals have to sell the contents of their unclaimed safe deposit boxes and other unclaimed personal property, usually in three year intervals. Most state laws require the property to go unclaimed for three years before it can be sold. Some states have online auctions to sell unclaimed items. California's ongoing online safe deposit box auction started last December. Texas has held an unclaimed property auction by internet simulcast.

What the states do with the proceeds of the sale varies. Some place the money in a special fund for schools. Others hold the money until someone can claim it. Here is a sample of how various states handle unclaimed merchandise.

Proxy Bid / Absentee Bidding

source www.luv2bid.com

Proxy Bidding to those familiar to eBay is very simular to placing a bid on the popular online auction site's bidding form. At eBay you input "Your maximum bid". After reviewing your bid the maximum bid on the auction is increased until someone places a maximum bid that is larger than yours. The same sort of process happens at live auctions. Usually you provide to someone associated with the auction company your contact information, and your maximum bid for the item. This can happen with an online form, by phone or in person. The proxy may be the auctioneer himself or someone working for the auction company. They may start the bidding for the item at some percentage of your maximum bid. The proxy will stay in the bidding outbidding other bidders until he/she has reached your maximum bid or until you have won the auction. If you win you will then be contacted by the auction company.

Here are a couple of things to make sure of before you make a proxy bid. Make sure that your bid does remain a secret or you will be paying your maximum bid for your desired item. Make sure you know exactly what you are bidding on so that you do not pay too much for your item. Know the terms for paying for the item in question and what sort of information you need to give to the auctioneer before you make your bid.

Proxy bidding is a great way to make a bid for a particular item that you may want. It will allow you, the bidder, to make one bid and then essentially forget about the auction until it is over saving you some time and will also keep you from getting caught up in the action and then bidding over your budget. Of course you really want a particular item it may be best to stay at the auction and bid for your item in person. Loosing a cherished antique to another bidder is bad enough. Losing by a dollar or two is heartbreaking.

Auctioning History - Worldwide interest in Heidrick antique farm equipment

Auctioning History
Worldwide interest in Heidrick antique farm equipment
By SHAWBONG FOK/Democrat Staff Writer

Daily Democrat Woodland California

Hundreds of people from across the country and around the world vied to buy rusty antique tractors and crawlers Friday in an auction whose proceeds would support the Heidrick Ag Center.

"I expect to collect $1 million," said Fred Heidrick Jr, the president of the Woodland museum that houses 200 pieces of antique farm equipment.

He was speaking about the anticipated proceeds from the auction that would support the museum "for eternity," he said

"I'll be able to relax once I'm able to fund the museum," said 67-year-old Heidrick, while standing at the auction site at 18189 County Road 97.

The auction continues today starting at 9 a.m. and is expected to sell 500 items ranging from a Caterpillar 22 Orchard to a John Deere AW 444166.

"They're all extras," Heidrick said. "But the prime stuff is in the museum."

The museum, he said, is losing money - about $15,000 to $18,000 a year.

"Most museums lose money," he said.

To survive, Heidrick has held the auction, where "all the money goes for a good cause," said Chuck Covarrrubias, 68, of Oxnard, who works in the real estate industry.

Covarrrubias bought small parts and lights to add to his antique collection.

Like him, hundreds from far away places like Australia and Argentina stood in a dusty area of rusted tractors and crawlers Friday, some built as far back as 1915.

The collection initially started 50 years ago.

Back then, Heidrick's father started collecting antique farm equipment.

"I worked with him," Heidrick said. "He loved tractors. He restored them and built a museum."

Now Heidrick is attempting to raise money to ensure its survival.

"It will be an investment for the museum," he said.

One equipment now at the auction was a John Fowler-made, black steam engine. During operation, it would help plow dirt.

"It's very rare," said 69-year-old museum-docent Joe Garcia of Woodland. "It helped get air and water down into the soil by opening up the ground."

Farming equipment wasn't the only delight at the auction.

Barbecued meats cooked amid white smoke and orange flames were served. They were drizzled with red barbecue sauce.

Dozens lined up to grab a bit to eat as a speaker blared out price amounts.

Many came here to add to their collections.

"I have close to 40 tractors," said 76-year-old Al Hauschildt, of Sonora, who owns a museum.

Asked what made collecting old tractors interesting, he said: "You put it together and you make it new. You make it run. That is rewarding."

Rich Gerbo, a 68-year-old retired plumber from Verdi, Nev., bought an engine for $25. He called it a "hit-and-miss" engine.

"I'm going to get it running," he said.

Many found out about the auction using high technology.

"It was on the Internet," said Lauren Langdon, 57, of Buhl, Idaho.

Here are some tips on placing your Auction or Garage sale advertisement online.

source www.luv2bid.com

Advertising on the web has some obvious advantages over other forms of advertisement. The lure of reaching millions upon millions of potential clients is first among them. The ability to search for exactly what you want is another. But placing your ad online is not as easy as just throwing some information out and waiting to reap the profits. If you have surfed to Google.com's home page recently, you will see a message for over 3 billion documents. That's a lot. If you were to spend 30 seconds on each of these 3 billion documents on the web, it would take you some 1400 years to get to the end. Needless to say your advertisement, once put on the web, is under some stiff competition. Here are some tips for selling your stuff online.

- Start Early, Start Early Start Early - Most people find information they are interested in by using the major search engines and directories, Yahoo and MSN, . These search engines take about a month to navigate the web. At best it will take about a month for your web page to be seen by the viewer. Google is faster about transversing the web, but only for those web sites that have the proper or enough incoming links. People may not visit a site or even look up a particular word more than once a week at best. We recommend placing your advertisement one month before the expected sale. If you start early, this will ensure that a maximum amount of people can view your sale advertisement.

- Put your advertisement in as many places as possible. Although there are a lot of people on the web at any one time there are many web pages to search through. It helps to place your advertisement in as many places as possible.

- Check your local newspaper's web site - Some will allow you to place an advertisement for free. Make sure that any advertisement that you place in their classifieds comes with a free online advertisement.

- Use the proper terms to help searchers and search engines - "Huge 4 family garage sale" may sound like a perfectly good garage sale advertisement, and It is unless you are advertising on the web. People on the web are more likely to be searching for a particular item. It will pay bigger dividends if your headline and body spell out exactly what you have. A better headline for online would be "FloorLamps, Beanie Babies and Household items"

- Some things are just better sold individually online - There are some items that will probably bring you more money if you sell them on eBay or other online auctions. Some Collectibles, old computers and some nice clothing will sell better online or will do well with a well established auctioneer. If you have the time and are willing to do some extra work, price your article at an online auction to get an idea of what it is selling for. Some things will probably sell better at a garage sale or auction than online. Christmas ornaments, (there is too much competition online) that old shirt, and really heavy items that will not ship well, do better at a garage sale or auction than trying to sell them individually online.

Why are many auctioneers called Colonel?

At the end of the Civil War, auctions were used to dispose of surplus goods. Officers with the rank of Colonel were given the assignment of Auctioneers.

Auction Bidding Tips - Bidding on Collectibles

source www.luv2bid.com

Here are some ideas to help make your next traditional auction a money saving experience:

Look around before you go - A great thing about the internet is that no matter what topic you pick there will be reams of information on it on the web. Take advantage of this before you attend your next auction. Search Google, Msn and the other search engines for what you are interested in. Look for similar items at eBay, and Tias.com to find out what the object of your affections is going for at online auctions (eBay) and for fixed prices. Find discussion groups on your item and get involved. If your item is valued by others, learn what makes it valuable. If your item is heavy, learn what it will take to get the item home. Leave your home with a fixed budget. If you have to, tatoo that budget on the back of your hand.

Don't be late - You'll need a bidders number in order to bid on items, you might as well as get it as early as possible. While you are getting a number learn how the sale will be conducted. Learn if there will be a buyers premium on the items sold. Learn if there will be any sales tax. Try to figure these numbers into your budget. After you get your bidder's number, go and find what interests you, check the condition, see where your treasure is arranged in relation to other items. Don't assume that if everything seems to be well made and of quality, then everything at the auction is nice. Know what you are bidding on. Take a look around at other bidders, see what they are interested in, how they are dressed.

Watch your language - Body language is important in auctions. How you act, how you bid will be read by others. There are people who come to auctions just to bid up lots Should you have to go up against them, they will drive you nuts. They tend to be very good at reading body language and tone of voice of the people they are bidding against. Here are some ideas to help you avoid bidding too much when the bidding is down to you and one other person. Try not to act too interested in what you will be bidding on. Never stand over it like a vulture, get a good idea of how much you are willing to spend on the item and then go and look at something else. This will help to calm you down and if you happen to see something of value it won't draw attention to the item. When you are bidding on the item be aware of your tone of voice. Don't get too excited on what you are bidding on. Above all remember your budget. It is nice to get what you want when you are bidding, it feels even better when you don't have to pay too much for the item.

Ten tips to help your website rank better with search engines

Source www.luv2bid.com

By formatting your website correctly, you can save money on advertising by using the search engine to bring in good, quality, targeted viewers.

1. Links - Links are what make the web tick. All search engines consider a link a vote and this is one case where and it is ok to stuff the ballot box. Google, Yahoo and the others base their rankings to some extent on how many good quality incoming links you have. Many incoming links from various sources will make your website seem more important to search engines and will make your site rank higher.

Try to get your web site listed in the following sources.

DMOZ - The open source directory is a huge listing of websites about any conceivable topic. It is run by volunteer editors, the listing are free of charge, but it may take a long time to have your site listed. When trying to get into the DMOZ make sure you follow the rules listed on the site to the letter. Make sure your web site has a fair amount of quality content. Sometimes the editors can be picky, but the wait is worth it. DMOZ can be the most important incoming link that you receive.

Global Auction Guide- A huge listing of live auction related topics and calendar of events. Many buyers look here for auction information.

Your local state auctioneer association - Because of the way search engines are set up, and the way most people search for information on the web with longer and more specific search terms, it is far more important to get a link from a state auctioneer association than the national organization.

National organizations - The National Auctioneers Association. The way they have their web site set up a link from them to you will not count as a vote in the eyes of the search engines.

Other auctioneers - If you know another auctioneer, maybe one from out of town, that has a website ask that person to trade links. It will help both of you in the long run.

Other related sites - Collectors organizations, a realtor, others that you have a business relationship with are all good places to look when trying to exchange website links. Luv2bid.com will happily display a link to all auctioneering web sites.

How to make your links work for you - Create a separate web page to place links on. Create the links in such a way that the link text or the underlined portion of the link is as descriptive as possible. Link text like Kansas Auctioneer is much more effective than joeauctioneer.com

2. The right text is worth a thousand pictures - With each word in your site a potential match to someones search, it has been shown that the more text on your website, the greater chance that your website will bring in targeted traffic. Use plenty of descriptive text in your web pages. Try to describe what you have to offer in as many different ways as possible. Keep the paragraph structure short. People scan web pages, they seldom take time to actually read something on a site. Look at how CNN and Yahoo break up their pages for clues on how to structure a site succesfully.

3. Publish ASAP - If at all possible get information on upcoming sales on your site one month in advance. This will give search engines time to index your page, and allow targeted searches from collecters and buyers to find your content.

4. Don't worry about being #1 auctioneer, worry about being one of the #1 auctioneer for a town close to you. Being the #1 listed auctioneer for antiques or in the United States probably will not pay off for you in terms of time spent to get that ranking. Being the #1 listed auctioneer for your town, or the #1 auctioneer for selling antique radios is a much more achievable goal and will bring pay off better in the long run.

5. Nothing too fancy - Avoid using flash, javascript/css menus, large pictures, or anything else which detracts from your message. Search engines can't read pictures(yet). If you have pictures of items up for auction, place a preview on one page with the closeup larger picture on a second page. Make sure you use text to describe what is on that picture.

6. Separate the new from the old - It is a good idea to keep old auctions on your website. It isn't a good idea to place old auctions on the same page as new auctions.

7. Know the basics - You don't need to know a lot about building web pages, with today's web programs you really don't need to know much at all. One thing you do need to know is how to make a title of your web page. The title is what appears when someone looks at your page in a search engine. Learn how to create a title on your web page and make it as descriptive as possible. Antique, collectible auction in Kansas is a far better title than, Steve Smith's auction.

8. Learn about keywords - Keywords are the terms which web surfers type into Google or other engines. It is good to add important keywords in the title, links and written pages of your website. Too many repeated keywords will get you into trouble with the engines. Make it easy for others to get around on your site and you will be fine. Keep the keywords that you place in the page related to the page.

9. More is better - Written content is the easiest way to increase the visitors on your site. Don't just have an old auction page, use the page to describe how the auction went, (which was great of course). If you feel comfortable with the idea, put the prices realized on the old auction page. It is unique content which search engines love.

10. Share the wealth - Add your knowledge of collectibles and antiques to the web, either on your web site or other pages. Join forums and if possible put a link back to your site in the forum entries. Search engines have eyes everywhere and will reward you for your effort.

Old Road Maps

Source www.luv2bid.com

They used to be an almost universal item in any glove compartment box back before gps and the internet road maps have been around at least since the 1700's. They gained popularity in the 1920's as gas stations and state travel agencies used them as free give-aways. They have interest to several groups including people who collect petrolium related items, map collectors and those who are interested in the map's location. This allows for many different specialities for these collectors. Maps from service stations, locations from government agencies, from a time period like the 50's. The most in demand maps at least on eBay are those that are petrolium or government based and before 1940. Finding these in a garage sale or an auction lot could be a very good find.

For More Information:

A Website all About Roadmaps

Antique and Collectables Website

Looking for more information about happenings in the Internet auction industry? Check out News-Antiques.com

Auctioneers Association of Canada Convention

If You are interested in seeing some of the best auctioneers showing their talents, you will want to be in Edmonton Alberta Canada on October 29th 2005 for the All Round World Championship Auctioneering Competition taking place during the Auctioneers Association of Canada 2005 Convention and Competition.

Located just down the street from the world famous West Edmonton Mall, this is the annual convention of Canada's leading and most progressive auctioneers.

We are honored to be asked to present the our "Internet Marketing - More than Just a Website" seminar on Oct 28th. Goto www.auctioneerscanada.com for full details

2005 World's Longest Yardsale

This has just passed, but it is an interesting read and you may want to plan your summer holidays next year for a tour through Kentucky and Tennessee

Posted at News-Antiques.com

The 19th Annual "World's Longest Yardsale"

The US 127 Corridor Sale started in 1987. It begins at Covington, KY, and runs South to Chattanooga, TN, then switches to the Lookout Mountain Parkway, continuing to Gadsden, AL. The four day sale is now ruled by the first Thursday in August making dates for the 19th annual sale to be August 4-7, 2005. The sale is very popular, and visitors from several foreign countries have attended.

The original intent of the sale was to prove the back roads have something to offer, and that the interstate system was not the only mode for travel. County officials put together a list of attractions along the route in Kentucky and Tennessee. There are over three hundred attractions along the route to provide enjoyment for the family. Whether it be majestic hills, beautiful scenery, river boats, railroads, toe tapping music, arts, crafts, horses, fishing, hiking, bits of Civil War or Indian History, there are many opportunities to enjoy the beauty and culture of the land along the 127 Sale Route.

The Lookout Mountain Parkway Association asked to be included in the sale route a few years after the sale began. The Lookout Mountain Parkway leaves Chattanooga as Highway 58 and becomes several different highway numbers before reaching Gadsden. It is no longer US 127, but is the same great sale. This routing crosses the Northwest corner of Georgia, going into Cloudland. This added another 100 miles to the already existing 350 miles, thus making it 450 miles -- "The World's Longest Yard Sale".

The Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Jamestown, Tennessee has served as headquarters for the 127 Corridor Sale since 1995. We are centrally located along the route. Fentress County can also claim the origin of the sale. Mike Walker, the County Executive in 1987, came up with the idea of the sale, worked hard to make it happen, and planned for it to be an annual event.

Thousands of people participate in the sale each year as vendors. A front lawn may be turned into a showcase as items are displayed. Off road parking is essential, and many of the homes have this space. Visitors should honor requests of "No Parking" or "No Trespassing" posted by families not participating in the sale--cars can leave deep tire ruts on a soft lawn.

As the sale developed, a vacant field, at a good location has proven to be an excellent place to rent as vendor space. This yields a cluster of sellers at one spot and reduces the stop and park routine of the buyers. Such areas can be spotted from a distance because of the activity. Community parks, such at the South Fentress Park, are proving to be ideal for a grouping of vendors, as good parking and restrooms are available.

People come from near and far to view this spectacular event. Folks come from all across the country by car, truck, motor home or plane. Some fly in, rent a car, travel the route and ship the newfound treasures back home. Some pull a trailer behind a truck, park the trailer somewhere and run around in the truck seeking items. Pulling a trailer will often limit the places you can visit. A large vehicle may prove to be a problem on this two-lane highway. Traffic congestion is part of the annual phenomenon to be endured, but the chance of finding a treasure lures them on. Many visitors plan their vacations around the sale event, with some traveling the entire 450 miles. Others may opt to spend their time in a selected area, and venture off the beaten path to discover the history and charm of the land.

Whatever the mode of travel you may choose, please do expect plenty of traffic. The pace may slow to that of snarled rush hour traffic. It may be bumper to bumper with everyone stretching their neck to see what is on a seller's table or in the front lawn. Do expect sudden stops to occur without warning, and drive carefully and defensively. Enjoy the spot wherever you are, because down the road a few miles may be a space where no vendors are set up and the traffic will move along as usual. You are here to enjoy the sale and most of the other vehicles are too.

Some book motel rooms a year in advance. A few weeks prior to the sale date, most of the motel rooms are taken. Bed and Breakfast type lodgings do a brisk business during this sale, with most any type of overnight lodging being filled each night. Southern hospitality has lead to couples being taken into private homes because nothing else was available. Some visitors to the sale try to find lodging when and where needed. Some find cancellations, some go up to fifty miles, to the right or left of the sale route, to spend the night. Some even sleep in their car. However, these are considered small inconveniences in light of the excitement of finding the deal of the day & anticipation of a big shopping spree.

A few dislike the snarled traffic associated with the sale, but all must admit, the sale is good for the economy along the corridor route. Locals sell their crafts, accommodations are filled, restaurants are crowded, and those renting vendor spaces also add to the local economy. Those who want to break away from the sale may want to visit the local attractions.

For more information regarding the annual Hwy 127 Corridor Sale are encouraged to visit our website at www.127sale.com. Brochures can be obtained by calling 1-800-327-3945, however, there is more information on the website than we are able to put in the brochures.

We welcome our guests to the area, and invite them to come stay for awhile, and as always, look forward to seeing them again.


For More Information Contact:

Fentress County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1294, Jamestown, TN 38556

Tel: 800-327-3945
FAX: 931-879-6767