Proxibid was founded on the premise of connecting auction companies and buyers in disparate locations via the internet. In 2001 it sounded like a far-fetched and crazy idea, but some early adopters believed in our vision, and helped Proxibid become a critical piece of the auction business. Since then we have grown to work with more than 4,000 sellers and buyers in 190 countries across the globe. We are proud to be part of the greatest profession on earth, working with the greatest clients on earth. Cheers to you, as we celebrate National Auctioneers Week!
Initially, getting those auctions online was not easy. Proxibid’s team would broadcast audio from a phone onsite to a phone in the office, which was set in front of a microphone connected to a computer running Proxibid’s bidding application. If you followed that last sentence, you can imagine how the early days took creative problem-solving and a few Swiss Army Knives to make up for the lack of available resources. Early on, many auction venues were not wired properly for internet use, and Proxibid team members would run cables across buildings to achieve a stable connection. With just Windows 2000 as an operating system, the live bidding application required at least one backup computer on standby in the (inevitable) case the primary computer would crash.
Technology has changed rapidly since our inception, but one thing remains the same. Proxibid is deeply rooted in the auction industry. From our first client to the most recent, our team is dedicated to meeting the needs of the industry. We are proud of our live and timed auction solutions and believe in the value they bring to auction companies and bidders throughout the world.
Proxibid co-founder Joe Petsick put it best when asked by Silicon Prairie News about his thoughts on our place in the industry:
“Most disruptions usually occur with someone trying to replace the main players. We did it differently. Our disruption was to really help prop up the existing players but change the way the world interacted with those people.”
Proxibid is proud to work with everyone from small businesses to industry-leading auction companies to provide custom solutions that bring added value to every sale. We’re excited to celebrate National Auctioneers Week alongside our clients and friends in the industry. Thanks for your loyalty and partnership for all these years. Cheers!