NEW MARKET, Tenn. – As a leading auctioneer of antiques and fine decorative collectibles, John Coker knows what he wants – the “ideal” auction house where buying, and selling, is easy for the customer. But, as a builder and developer, Coker is in a quandary. Coker has the land. He recently finalized the purchase of 10 wooded acres near Knoxville for the construction of his “ideal” 16,000-square-foot auction house. The location will be off I-40, with a second interestate nearby. There are numerous motels and restaurants in the area, further enhancing the location. Trouble is, he doesn’t know exactly where to go from here. “I don’t want to put up a box building,” Coker said. “I’m more interested in function rather than form. I’m trying to figure out the best floor plan, how we can make it collector friendly. We want to make it easy and pleasant for them to buy.” In his search for the “ultimate in auction sites,” Coker is considering: • A heated floor – to keep customers’ feet warm. • A lounge area with sofas and easy chairs – away from the auction action where bidders can “decompress.” • Large canopies outside major entrances – where customers can enter and leave the auction building without getting wet during rainy weather. • Large handicap accessible entrances and restrooms. • Dedicated truck drive-through areas, possibly behind the auction podium, where buyers can load larger purchases and easily be on their way. • An elevated stage and refreshment bar – where bidders can leisurely eat and drink without having to move outside the action of the auction. Other amenities for staff and service, Coker said, will be a dedicated photography area, clean up and preparatory stations, research library, packaging and shipping departments, and administrative offices. But, beyond that, Coker is still fishing for ideas. “I’m working with some architects,” he said. “They understand commercial buildings, but they don’t understand the antique business. I’ve looked at several different ideas, but I would like to talk with someone that has done one good floor plan and who has said ‘I wouldn’t change a thing.’ Or maybe someone who has been through this and says, ‘This is what I would change.’” Coker, who has been an antique dealer for 35 years and auctioneer for 20 years, is currently operating out of a site he built in 1978. He has outgrown that building, and believes now is the time to expand. “Several years ago I was reading a magazine that said the greatest transference of wealth will occur when the baby boomers hit their middle years,” said Coker, a baby boomer himself. “Now, I’m seeing that happen. The baby boomers are inheriting all these things from their parents, who are now 80 or 90 years old. “You know, we like to keep our parents’ memories around, but we don’t need all our parents’ stuff. At some point, something will have to be done with their collections. That’s what we’re seeing now, and we’ll see it for some time to come.” Contact: (865) 475-5163, john@antiquesonline.com Eric C. Rodenberg |