I have been discovering some unique finds at auctions in and around Winnipeg. I don’t buy larger items at auction such as automobiles, farm equipment, and land, so those will not be listed here. There are a few auction companies I have used, or those that I follow, that I will mention here (in no particular order). Please let me know if you know of any more in or around the Winnipeg area! Happy bidding!
Neighbourhood Auctions Ltd.
Estates, high-end collectibles, and liquidation goods (Consignment)
36 Mandalay Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Maples area). (204) 306-0024
Consignment fees are 10 – 100% depending on how much the item or lot was sold for.
https://www.neighbourhoodauctions.com
Centre Flavie – Boutique Unique (Donation-based)
Centre Flavie is a donation and volunteer-based Non-Profit Charitable Organization that serves vulnerable and impoverished members of the community. Centre Flavie provides clothing, furniture, beds, appliances, etc. free of charge to people in need. A division of Centre Flavie, Boutique Unique has a secondhand and vintage shop (free for those in need, see next paragraph below) and an auction entity created to help raise long-term sustainable funding for Centre Flavie. Their online auction site through Boutique Unique has lots of amazing items. I have successfully bid and won auction items (ex. Sherman jewelry, Lalique glass statue) and I highly recommend!
FYI – For those in need, folks can go to Centre Flavie (301 Archibald Street) to find the items they require at Boutique Unique. Help is available Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. All who are present at the Centre at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday will be entered in a random draw held each morning to decide the order of entry. There is no need or purpose in coming any earlier to wait in line. Anyone arriving after the draw will go to the end of the line.
CTV report: https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/a-peek-inside-winnipegs-boutique-unique/
301 Archibald Street (St. Boniface area). (204) 231-9513
Kaye’s Auctions
Winnipeg Family Owned and Operated business since late 1980s. Bringing unique and tucked-away treasures to the surface. They do larger scale sales like estates and cannot accommodate smaller individual consignment lots now or in the near future (as they are backed up!).
263 Stanley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Downtown area). (204) 668-0183
Tailored Auctions LTD.
Updating new items weekly! Unique finds and collectibles. Contact them for consignment opportunities. I have successfully bid on some smaller lots of jewelry and it was fun. Reasonable prices (depending on who is bidding and what people are going for!).
666 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (West End area). (204) 330-8008
https://tailoredauctions.hibid.com
Dominion Auctions
The offer consignment. They have a strong market for a variety of goods including sterling silver, gold jewelry, fine Canadian and International art, Chinese antiques, Fine furniture from the middle ages or mid-century, carpets, hand-knotted wood and silk, collectibles, and more. Many of their items are in the thousand-dollar and up price range.
424 Graham Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Downtown, inside Bison Books). (204) 477-5353
Canadian Goodwill – Sharing Secondhand Stories
Goodwill has thrift store auctions called “Auction Windows” where collectible, vintage, or otherwise highly desired items are displayed for a number of weeks with a “Last Chance to Bid” date posted. The bidding is done by a “Silent Auction” process. The bidder does not get to closely inspect the items; they only get to see the item from the window. A starting price is suggested. Then the person goes into the store and writes their bid on a piece of paper and inserts it into a box which has a slot on the top. Other people’s bids are not visible or revealed. On the day after final bidding, the person with the highest bid will be called. They can choose to accept and go into the store to give the item a closer look and inspection. If the item is suitable and desired for the bidded amount, the buyer can pay for the item. If not, the item will then be offered to the next highest bidder.
Auction Windows in Winnipeg can be found at the following four Goodwill locations:
3431 Portage Avenue, (204) 431-0988 (Crestview area)
1540 Pembina Hwy, (204) 475-4593 (Fort Garry area)
17-2136 McPhillips St., (204) 475-6438 (Garden City area)
317 St. Anne’s Road, (204) 257-3644 (Southdale area)
Photos of the items as seen through the window are also posted at https://canadiangoodwill.ca/auction-items. If you follow on Facebook or Instagram, you may get to see the items up for auction sooner.
Winnipeg Police Unclaimed Goods Auction (City of Winnipeg)
Usually held in March. No upcoming dates available.
Willy’s Auctions (Oakbank)
Family-owned and operated. They truly LOVE all collectibles. No upfront fees for listing your items. They encourage consignment. Competitive commission rates on sold items. I have won a few auction lots and I combined picking up my goods with a trip to Pine Ridge Hollow for a lunch and visit to the shops!
27070 Hillside Road, Oakbank, Manitoba. (431) 388-8371
https://www.willysauctions.com
Bidding Wars for St. Amant (a Facebook Community, Located in Winnipeg Beach)
A fundraiser to raise money to help with any training or upkeep to the service of St. Amant. Money raised is 100% for all autistic and special needs children and adults that benefit from services through St. Amant. Many of the items are in the $5-20 price range. Donations accepted.
Box 585, Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. Contact: leopardlady@mymts.net
https://facebook.com/biddingwarsforstamant
Craig Street Cats Auction (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16EhmNxaKm/
eBay
Look for local auctions on the eBay website. Use the Advanced search feature and enter Keywords (Whatever you want), Buying Format: Auction, Shipping Options: Local Pickup, Item Location: Items within…of your postal code. If there is anything in your area or in Winnipeg that matches your search it will pop up.
Happy bidding!
Angela G. Gentile
Angela G. Gentile, BSW, MSW 