Gear Auction

[MK]

I'm throwing a dagger in the calendar and will be running another chance for us to shuffle, low ball, explain, excite, wheel-n-deal, tell new stories and old ones. I've coordinated most of the details, people and supporting structure to give it a go. I hope we embrace this opportunity and attempt at making the most out of getting together with our gear. Here's the details:

This will be new for us to put together. If it's anything like learning kiting or windsurfing we'll do a lot wrong right away. Your suggestions and patience are welcomed. Should be a great way to free up some storage space and fill it up again. Skip the consignment, ebay, craigslist and Lakawa Classifieds. Be considerate of our business and help to make this possible. Come out and socialize with the rest of us. Discover some vintage gear, get the steel-of-a-deal, hear some stories, learn about these sports, meet the pioneers, sell your gear, buy some gear and get ready for the open water season.

Take a look at what you have in the garage, in the rafters, at the cabin, in storage, in the closet, trunk, basement, parents house(s), girl/boy friends place, whatever your spouse doesn't know about. Check your stash and sell if for cash. It's not being used and somebody wants it, upgrade! Sunday the 19th is the day to sell it. Submit any and all items by Saturday May 11th to info@lakawa.com.

Air pumps available but may be in high-demand.

Highlights
1. Auction of items May 19th 1pm setup 1:30pm they begin selling
2. Submit items by May 11th to info@lakawa.com
3. Items for view: If you're motivated see them online by 5pm Wednesday May 15th for $1
4. Grilling hot dogs
5. Anyone want to display their musical ability and serenade us?
6. At the shop: 1890 Whitaker St, White Bear Lake UPDATE - Moved to grassy knoll at White Bear Lake Boat Works 4120 Hoffman Rd St Paul, MN 55110

Schedule format:
1. Auction style -
a. 10% organization fee, 15% if you don't attend
b. $1.00 hot dogs
c. Submit any and all items by Saturday May 11th to info@lakawa.com - include windsurf, kitesurf, sails, boards, dingy's, paddleboards, etc. in format listed below.
d. View by 5pm Wednesday May 15th - Online viewing link for $1.
e. Free to submit auction item
f. 1pm setup time, 1:30pm auction begins
g. Cash only - Think of the show Storage Wars:)
h. Last minute additions incurr extra 1% Auctioin fee.
i. Set up your gear at 1pm on Sunday the 19th
j. All sales are final - take it home
k. Set up with walkway in the middle for auction runway

2. Submit items with as much detail as possible (buyers need details) to info@lakawa.com:
a. Repairs
b. year
c. complete or missing parts
d. fixer up or ready to use
e. Contact name, #, email
f. Minimum offer - needed to sell it, otherwise it will go at no reserve
g. Picture - One of each item only
h. Size/dimensions
i. Brand and Model

3. If you operate a competing business with Lakawa please be respectful of our operations.

Bring your surf-mobile and prepare to haul some great deals away. In the event of rain we have one of the oversized garages to operate out of. Plenty of parking and warmer days are in the forecast. Eager to see you all and the opportunity to spend some off-the-shore time together.

I've soft sold this a bit already and have a remarkable list already started. Some is new gear from businesses who've discontinued their gear sales, others who have uncovered memories and gear sitting around now getting ready to be turned into cash. Please don't post your items in here. Show up at the event, help support the community that supports you. Thanks ahead of time to those that encouraged this as a good idea, should be fun.

[MK]

A few more gear lists have come in! I think this takes a little effort for you to put together but those who have submitted already to info@lakawa.com will stand to be in best position to cash out!

Nice to see the buzz around this. Not really sure how many to expect but it is definetly on:)

[MK]

Facebook page created for it: https://www.facebook.com/events/170202896475270/

[MK]

Interest is looking good! Not sure who all will show but it could be anywhere between 20 and 100. Some good items to sell.

Amassing the list of auction items is proving to more time consuming and difficult with getting details. Maybe this will eveolve into that idea.

New format:) - Bring you stuff and we'll get it all in public view. Sunday 1pm at 4120 Hoffman Road, White Bear Lake.

[JRN]

WILL WE BE ABLE TO SET A MINIMUM PRICE? Are you sticking with the "Auction Format?" Unlike "Storage Wars," I don't want my $200 kite
going for cents on the dollar, for example. Looks like your neighbor's indoor space may come in handy if we can't ride anyway. Won't an auction with thousands of items go on forever? What is your mark on the items sold going to be on the new plan? Just some of the questions I've heard @ la playa. D'peeps wanna kno, Bro!

[MK]

If we have thousands of items to sell I'll be surprised. I'm expecting to run about 2 hrs. Definetly keep your minimum. Just had some new 2010 kites come in yesterday and they will have a minimum. A few are going to run-away though with some great deals.

Auction format still. Start at 1:30. Runway style with auction moving to "lots." The current lot selling will have a runner moved to upcoming auction lot getting details to help keep a pace. If they don't sell there's no costs other than your time:)

Keep the questions coming. Jim, I expect to see everything you mentioned in an email to me about a year ago! It's not going sell sitting in your garage..

[MK]

Setup at 1pm, be ready to throw "Yeeeeep" and cash at 1:30pm. Humongous oversized garage too if weather commands it:)

[JRN]

Thanks for the clarification. Hope to make it! Just my luck, I'm on call this w.e, but hope to bring along some freebees, including some rare mistral thruster, I say, THRUSTER FINS, my boy. As Foghorn put it, reserved for the Mistral purist. I plan to pack my warped old cat gut guitar, for unlimited rounds of Koom Bye Yah Sure U Betcha. I hope you are having metal detectors. I think most of the Old Guard Windsurfers are packing heat.

[MK]

Meow. Thanks for putting that song in my head. I think I'll listen to some Bares inspired JJ Cale to improve the sounds in my head. Now back to coffee and thunder:)

[MK]

Off to fleet farm to get pancake-pump hose ending for easier inflating, maybe a mega-phone... See ya in a bit:)

[JRN]

U did a great job for a 1st timer & even worked in some punch lines. Having grown up with 5 females in my household, I can sympathise, I meant envy your situation. Nice to meet them & put a face to many names, including your family. I ended up with alot of gear that belonged to friends I admire, namely Coach's sweet Naish Mutant, and a couple of Dorian's Peter Lynns. They now have been placed in a special place of honor, the rafters of my garage. Well, in reality I had to stash them before Pammy gave me "the look!" Hope we can all get out to try our bargains soon!

[MK]

Good turnout. I had zero expectations so it truly was wonderful to see all of you. Let me know if you need more hugs Jim.

Thanks for ad-libbing the aid and helping out tighe. A couple of really simple adjustments to make for the next one. Maybe hire out the talent?? A few of you came back to the store and slimmed my already slim inventory there too (always welcome!). The store is small but I've worked to outfit it with some of the common neccessities. Decent amount of gear sold, some great deals made. Glad to meet all the new faces. Water is warming up and now I wonder what to do with the left over gear...