Marking a first for the company and a chance for bargain hunters to snag a good deal, C-Mart, the Joppatowne-based discount retailer, will hold a live auction at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 9.
The auction will feature more than 200 complete lots of assorted merchandise, including new and antique furniture, clothing, fixtures, shoes, protective gear, home décor, lighting, contractor?s materials and appliances.
“We?re always looking for different, fun ways to drive people to the store, said Keith Silberg, C-Mart?s vice president. “I go to auctions throughout the year and there is always an excitement in the air. We wanted to create that for our customers.”
Silberg added that each lot will be auctioned off individually and that there will be no minimum bid for the lots. Proceeds from at least 10 designated lots will be donated to the Harford County Public School Office of Special Education. The store will also hold a promotion to auction dates with the company?s factory workers. That money generated would also go to the Harford County Public School Office of Special Education.
“We?re going to have pieces of furniture out there that are on the floor now,” Silberg said. “It?s going to offer to customers the ability, if they get lucky enough, to buy something for basically nothing.”
Silberg acknowledges that the company will take a loss as a result of the auction, but said that having this type of event also was necessary to make room for two large buys that will come to the store in the next few weeks. The most expensive item to be auctioned is a desk that would normally sell for more than $10,000.
Meanwhile, Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, said that it is unusual for a store such as C-Mart to host a live auction.
“It?s not very common,” said Saquella. “Normally auctions are more for jewelry stores. I think if the consumer understands the value of what they?re bidding on, people can get some good deals.”
