There are many reasons why Pickles continues to be a leading auction house, withstanding the many challenges that arise from time to time, including that of COVID.
In the dynamic landscape of Australia’s industrial market, businesses like Pickles are tasked daily with innovating and staying ahead of the curve when it comes to developing services that benefit both buyers and sellers.
Having taken large strides during the years of COVID-19, Pickles has carried this commitment to change and adaptability into the mid-2020s. This proved to be the fortunate and correct move for Australia’s oldest used marketplace, as tumultuous economic movements made a larger impact in the years post-Pandemic than what was anticipated.
During the years of lockdown, the auction specialist has quickly embraced the challenges of the period and adapted to the new normal by creating several digitally-led services and upgrades to keep businesses thriving and the marketplace alive.
From moving its business online to creating SFH (Sell From Home) tools to aid the everyday consumer, Pickles has managed to keep its title as the market leader, here’s why.
A digitally-led future
When the world went into hibernation, Pickles knew that it was a key cog in the machine of Australian industry. So instead of shutting down, Pickles met the shift to conducting business virtually by boosting its online presence.
Moving auctions online meant that businesses could continue to sell their gear and buyers could continue to access assets come rain, hail or pandemic.
Moving sales online ensured that customers in the most remote areas could remain operative and effective, with many businesses relying on Pickles’ auctions to access quality gear in a time when international orders were simply not an option. The ability to keep businesses moving created trust between the company and its partners, which has continued well after the lockdowns.
For busy businesses, like that of Specialised Civil, having a relationship built on trust and expertise with Pickles’ sales representatives makes for an easy first choice when considering where to acquire new equipment. Specialised Civil General Manager Charlie Simkin said this trust goes a long way.
“We’re proud to have had a long history of working with Pickles,” he said.
“We buy and sell gear, and they have always been a consistently reliable source for high-quality plant and equipment.
“A big advantage to using Pickles is gaining access to their resourceful reps, who always steer us in the right direction with their information and insights. We’re always assured of an efficient and easy process with Pickles, and this is a massive benefit when you’re a business that is always on the move.”
While businesses and buyers continued to find what they needed at Pickles, there was also a gap in the market that needed filling.
During COVID-19, everyday life as we knew it was turned on its head, which Pickles found to be largely impacting its sales customers. To help the everyday client looking for a one-off way to sell their vehicle without the imposition of postcode restrictions and face-to-face interactions, DIYinspect was born.
DIYinspect is an app that buys cars fast. All customers have to do is download the app, upload details, complete the in-app inspections and then wait 24 hours to receive a purchase offer for the vehicle.
During COVID, where typical sales methods were unavailable and viewers weren’t able to travel for inspections, DIYinspect was embraced rapidly.
The app became the easiest, safest and most lockdown friendly way to privately sell a vehicle throughout the last few years. While Australia has opened back up since DIYinspect was introduced, it’s maintained a huge growth trajectory and remained a top resource for individual car sellers.
When Pickles, alongside most of the remarketing industry, moved online, there was general industry chatter about the efficacy of buying assets sight unseen.
This very valid concern prompted Pickles to innovate and initiate digitally-led listing, making it viable for buyers to make informed decisions about the assets that they were interested in.
Detailed condition reports for every single asset uploaded made it seamless for busy businesses in particular, who often lack the time to inspect equipment in-person regardless of lockdowns.
For some businesses like Borg, being able to secure assets quickly, efficiently and online has become an important factor in their operations.
For tireless Fleet Manager Justin Blundell, being able to rely on Pickles’ online listings and their sales representatives has become essential.
“Pickles is my go-to place to find good quality gear throughout the year because buying with them gives me peace of mind. As a busy man, I don’t have time for inspections and I know I can trust them to provide trustworthy condition reports,” he said.
“Pickles have captured the marketplace and so for me, it’s an easy first stop.
“Working with them always makes my life easier. I work closely with my sales executive so she knows to keep an eye out for gear and upcoming sales that suit my needs. It’s a huge load off my mind.”
The reason that Pickles has been able to uphold this standard of service is through consistent improvement and investment.
Over the last few years, the Pickles family has grown and adapted. This has meant the expansion of a UX (customer-focused) development team and hiring over 30 customer service specialists to work exclusively on assisting Pickles customers.
And after adapting to and overcoming the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, Pickles is gearing up for a bright future.
Find what you need today at pickles.com.au