Nottingham auction house reveals US expansion plans

Nottingham auction house John Pye Auctions is setting its sights on expansion into the US.

The firm has revealed that it has “a real possibility” of opening Stateside over the next few years, and that it intends to double in size over the next 5-10 years.

John Pye Auctions, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, now employs 375 people. Founded in 1968 by husband and wife John and Ann Pye, the business – which originally operated as a sole trader based out of Nottingham’s Old Cattle Market – has grown from a single site operation in the city to a network of sites across England, Scotland and Wales.

Adam Pye, managing director at John Pye Auctions, said: “Fifty years in any industry is a remarkable achievement for any organisation, but to be able to say we are a 50-year-old family owner operated firm in this modern era is a rare and beautiful thing.

“All of John Pye Auctions’ development and growth has been organic with no mergers or acquisitions made to date, the growth has all been made based on our own achievements. It’s a privilege I share with my family, friends and colleagues here at John Pye Auctions, who have worked together on building a diverse business which spans many markets, and we are grateful to have so many fantastic clients and customers. Every day is a fresh new challenge, and we are always learning and evolving, which is what we embrace.”

He added: “With more opportunities presenting themselves domestically, engagements in Europe and UAE, and the real possibility of opening facilities in the next few years in America, the short, medium and long-term future is looking very bright.

“The additional investment into technology, in our bidding systems and making the customer journey a lot simpler for buyers to find and buy what they want quickly is a big focus in this 50th year. The goal is for our registered buyer database to surpass 400,000 individuals within the next five years.

“I want to give a big thank you to our clients, customers and ever-extending family of staff for their support over the last 50 years. We sincerely appreciate it and value each and every one of you. Here’s to the next 50 years ahead.”