Always a store, with bonus auctions

Drop on by our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for photos of pretty things currently in the shop. We post often! Come by the store anytime, 11am–7pm.    xomrsh 

On the 3rd Thursday of every month, mrs. huizenga hosts an in-store live auction event, Hookerson-Blough. Preview starts at 6pm and bidding takes place from 7pm until around 9pm. Jonathan Hagey of Kingpin's Hideaway is our lovely auctioneer. It's a fun and lively family-friendly event! Our next #mrsHauction takes place Thursday, February 19th, at mrs. huizenga, 28 Ronvesvalles at Queen.

Here's some photos to gander from our January 2015 auction. All new items every month, you really never know what's in store! Insane bargains to be had.

The March 2015 auction takes place on Thursday, March 19. Same time, same place, all new finds.

xomrsh

Aside from our monthly auction events, mrs. h is always a store. Every day items come in, every day items go out, as stores do. That's why you need to wander in (the more frequently you can do so, the better.) Sometimes you'll never even see the funnest finds, as they're sold right off the back of the truck as it lurches around the city and outlying regions with all the things - hence the need to keep half an eye on the social media. Other items hide around the store, and hang around long enough to make friends, lingering a little in wonderful displays. They're waiting for someone to walk in and make them part of their own story.

There are many things of beauty, tucked in drawers and high on shelves and sitting in bowls or arranged in vases - sitting on other things of beauty. The aesthetic is whatever works; that style is a thing of substance. As proven by our friends at Covet Garden, and Worn, which we happily offer for sale. There are our kindred spirits, a source of justification and inspiration and some of our best customers, and there we see our friends and co-conspirators and occasional auction-goers.

Ah, the auctions. The Hookerson-Blough Auctions. There we move things along at a different pace. Sometimes they're store items that need to go out into the world in order to make room for the next nestful of fledglings. Sometimes they're things from friends, who have businesses in occasional need of another outlet. They're always interesting - that's the only criteria, and it's a good show, which is as fun for us as it is for you.

(art being in the eye of the beholder: Behold archictural salvage with vintage tin kitchenware and gorgeous hunks of bookends right there - and do we spy bark cloth in the background?)

...or the perfect tchotcke or trinket for a gift...



Or consider finding us at a flea, primarily the Junction Flea on Sterling Rd. where we bring the travelling show. That means what ever moves us, and captures the store in miniature in one bright and shining burst of energy.

And it all works, because of Mrs. H.



Cheers, and keep up with us however you will. It's appreciated, and what keeps us going. xomrsh

If you give a mrs. huizenga a store

If you give a mrs. Huizenga a doll head,
she’s probably going to want some teacups to go with it.

On her way to get the teacups, she might pass a rocking horse, and think,
“We have the perfect Valentine to put with that!”

On her way to get the Valentine, she might pass a Tiffinware vase, think of Valentine’s Day flowers and romance, and remember that there are candlesticks to match it.

On her way to get the candlesticks to match the vase, she might pass the rack of perfectly pressed shirts, and think how nice it would be to hug someone wearing one of those shirts.

And in thinking of hugging that person, Mrs. Huizenga might think that hugging often leads to snuggling, and remember that there are two lovely red plaid wool blankets coming up in next week’s auction.

In going over to fondle the blankets, she might remember that snuggling is nicer with a hot cup of something, so she goes over to choose a mug from the fantastic collection of brown glazed coffee cups on the teak shelves.

And then, thinking of a rockin’ Valentine’s day with flowers, candles, and romance spent snuggling someone in a great dress shirt under cozy wool blankets while sipping a hot cup of something made her remember she was on her way to get teacups for the doll head.

So she did.

The How-To Do Auctions More Betterer Guide

We've had such a great run of auctions, and made some changes recently. Because a change is as good as a rest. Changes such as having Sunday afternoon auctions as well as Thursdays. And having Jonathan Hagey of Kingpin's Hideaway as our auctioneer. And asking friends like the Seventh Sister Bakery to serve up some sweetness on Sundays. And enjoying a change of beers, looking for local breweries such as Mill Street Brewery to keep it bubbly. We have new consignors, and are working to clear out our own smalls from our sizeable back room, which means there are great deals to be had!

So, we have a great venue, we put on a show, and we bring you the goods and services. Great, right?

But it's not an auction without bidders. And it's not a great auction without our bidders having a good time, and getting what they want. As an auction house, the Hookerson-Blough Auctions at Mrs. Huizenga are there to help you get the goods at a rate competitive to dealers and stores. This isn't about retail - this is about rehoming and recovering value. If we've called ourselves "alternative retail" in the past, can we call this "alternative flea" now?

It's pretty simple, we've explained it before. You show up, look at the items, and follow the auctioneers lead and hopefully end up getting them for what you want to pay. But there are better ways to do that.

Sign up for our emails. We'll remind you. We'll tell you stories, and show pictures. We don't bug - we just let you know when an auction is scheduled or if there's another special event at the store.

Go to the store! Does it have a lot number? It's an auction item. Look at it. That's previewing it. Or, see the online pictures in an album on Facebook then stop in the store during the days before. Not every item is online. Just be sure to come in the hour before the bidding starts, to register to bid. Examine the items carefully, and don't be afraid to ask questions, take out your measuring tape, or plug things in. Everything is sold as-is, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them. It just means we didn't manufacture that thingy and can't verify it will work perfectly forever and ever.





DO talk to the staff! We've often taken a few minutes to learn about the items ourselves, or may have some experience we can lend. And we can at least tell you you'll look swell in that Mary Maxim sweater.

The auction items usually aren't that expensive, so taking a chance is fun. Our average lot price is $40, which means for every $300 Danish teak desk we offer, there are a lot of $10 retro breadboxes. A tray lot of glassware can be split between friends, or given as gifts, and it probably costs less than buying just the individual item once it hits another retail store. Often our bidders make deals between themselves on the sidewalk on the way home. We're okay with that.

Read the room, while you're at it. Some nights it's busy - full of dealers who need new stock; resellers who are looking for certain clients; collectors who've spotted their next conquest... other nights it's full of tumbleweeds, and you can call out your bid and we'll probably take it. The auctioneer leads the way - it's his show - but he's also looking to the audience to see what they're interested in and excited about. Let him know, and we'll build the auction around how we feel it's going. While auctioneering is a hard job and it's easy to get thrown off pace, we like a little witty repartee with our auctions. And it's also okay to indicate to a staff member that you'd like an item to come up sooner rather than later (we don't auction in order by lot number.)

So come, have fun and lighten up -it's only an auction. Though knowing your limits is a thing, too. It's very easy to get excited and come away with a $25 teak carving of a naked lady in teak with no idea where you'll put it (as even staff members have done...) If you have regrets, we're kind enough people to help you work it out, either with the underbidder or by figuring out your options or by helping you remember why you were excited in the first place. If you feel like you went over the top, well - remember that the auction value is often a third of retail value. People with stores buy from auctions and then mark them up! And that's okay - The value of an item is what it's worth to you, after all, and it all helps small businesses - Mrs. Huizenga, the consignors, and the auctioneer and food sponsors who support us.

Thanks for playing along.