2024-09-05

The experts at Troostwijk Auctions travel daily across the Netherlands and Belgium to compile the most attractive auction offerings. With their knowledge of the industry, their involvement with both sellers and buyers, and a big smile on their faces, they ensure that everything surplus for one company becomes a new beginning for another.

 

We would like to introduce you to Floris Bakels, account manager at Troostwijk Auctions. It is no coincidence that his expertise lies in the wood and construction industry: Floris has had a passion for DIY and craftsmanship all his life. He even built his own house. “Thanks to my knowledge of technology and construction, I can recognize opportunities and assess what will and won’t work for an auction in this sector. What makes me happy? A successful auction result where both buyer and seller are satisfied.”

 

Floris (32) has been working for almost three years as an account manager for Wood and Construction at Troostwijk Auctions. “Before this, I also worked in account management. Ideally, I like to combine my work with my hobby of working with my hands. So when I saw the vacancy at Troostwijk Auctions for an account manager in Wood and Construction, I immediately applied. This job suits me perfectly.”

 

Attractive Auction Offering

“As an account manager, I — together with the other account managers — have to ensure an attractive auction offering on our website. I do this by contacting construction companies and wholesalers. These companies often have surplus materials or machines they no longer use. I tell them they can auction these surplus materials and machines through Troostwijk. The result is that the items get a second life, and the seller earns something from them.”

 

According to Bakels, sellers also take the initiative themselves. “Troostwijk has over 90 years of experience in auctions. We are a big name with a wide reach — we get about four million visitors a month on our platform. This large number of followers, viewers, and bidders makes us an attractive choice for auctions.”

 

Many Construction Companies Closing Their Doors

Floris explains that the number of auctions in the Dutch construction sector has increased over the past year. “According to figures from Troostwijk Auctions (see our latest report on construction), more and more construction companies are selling their machines and goods because they are closing their businesses. Especially for SMEs, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay afloat due to competition from larger companies in the sector. This is partly due to the decrease in building permits as a result of the nitrogen issue,” says Floris.

 

“In construction nowadays, you have to choose: expand to handle large projects or focus on smaller assignments. Medium-sized construction companies are being squeezed out. As a result, the number of construction companies closing down is increasing.”

 

Straightforward Approach

Because Floris is highly educated and does a lot of manual work himself, he has a lot of knowledge about the wood and construction industry. “I can recognize opportunities and often immediately see whether a machine is suitable for auction. Thanks to my knowledge of technology and construction, I can also inspect the mechanical parts of machines and check whether there has been any tampering with the machine hours.”

 

He explains that he is always clear and straightforward with his clients. “I am always honest so that clients know what to expect from me. Of course, the contacts are businesslike, but to work successfully together, I find it important to have a good relationship with clients. Relationship management is therefore a big part of my job, and I really enjoy it.”

 

Creating Sustainable Value

One auction Floris remembers well was for a door factory. They were relocating because the old factory building was being demolished. All the machines in this old building were auctioned. Among them was a roller weighing 20,000 kg. “We had to rent a crane and even break open the roof to get the roller out. That was a unique experience. But it would have been a shame to throw it away, right?” he laughs.

 

This is also one of the reasons why Floris is so proud of his work at Troostwijk Auctions. “We live in a time where it’s important to be sustainable. I think it’s important not to throw away things that someone no longer uses but that still have value. Someone else can reuse them. We promote that at Troostwijk. I enjoy creating value in this way. Sometimes I visit an industrial site where others might wonder if there’s anything worth auctioning. But I know better — we can auction almost anything!”