People love old stuff. It’s what keeps Wade Boyd busy. His auction business attracts not only regulars seeking antiques and collectibles for resale at their own shops, but also Portland hipsters looking for vintage clothing and housewares.
Boyd says his customers “are all different, all looking for something unique. It’s fun to talk with them because we’re all into the old junk. It’s a common ground we can all talk about.”
Name: Wade Boyd
Business name: Boyd’s Auctions & Estate Sales, 29414 N.E. 82nd Ave., Battle Ground. 360-521-6610, www.boydsauctions.com
Residence neighborhood: Vancouver Heights
Age: 29
How — and when — you got started in your business: My father and I started our auction company in 2007. Our first location was in the basement of an antique shop off Main Street in downtown Vancouver. Auctions and antiques have been an interest of mine ever since I can remember.
Growing up in Snohomish, I used to frequent antique shops with my parents and that’s when antiques piqued my interest.
I can remember going to St. Louis on a trip with my parents and I spent my whole savings on Coca-Cola serving trays and when we got back home I sold them and doubled my money. That’s when I knew I was hooked.
Educational/professional background: At age 15, I attended auctioneer school in Billings, Mont. When I graduated high school in 2005, I applied everywhere I could think of looking for an auctioneer job or even a chance to work for an auction company. I couldn’t find a job as an auctioneer, so I joined the carpenters union and have worked the last 11 years as a carpenter.
Most recently I was working for Howard S. Wright as a general foreman on the medical team remodeling hospitals.
For the last nine years, I’ve worked as both a carpenter and auctioneer. Now as a full-time auctioneer, I am doing everything from moving people to assisted living, cleaning out houses to get ready to go to market, liquidating businesses and estates, farm auctions and storage auctions.
We leave the homes we do sales from ready to hand the keys over — cleaning up, vacuuming, sweeping, de-nailing the walls. It helps our image and makes the neighborhood look better too. If there is anything regarding an estate, we are the people to call.
Personal/business philosophy: I was raised to treat others the way you would like to be treated, and that’s how we run our company. I feel myself and all my employees try to treat everyone like family and help others however we possibly can.
Most rewarding part of job: The most rewarding part of my job is being able to give back to others in our community. Throughout the year we do charity auctions for local organizations such as Veterans Affairs, Battle Ground Little League and various local school programs. During the premier auctions we have twice a year at our barn in Battle Ground, we find a local family or group that is in need of help and we raise funds to get them through their tough times.
Most challenging part of your job: Learning to keep my schedule organized between home life and work life.
Something surprising about your work: The treasure hunt is always a surprise. When we go into a home and start setting up for a sale, it is amazing what you will find. We have found money hidden in books, backs of pictures and even taped on the bottom of a drawer in a refrigerator. We’ve even found old cars buried under boxes of stuff.
Best feature of my Clark County community: I feel the best part of my Clark County community is the willingness of people to help others. It is incredible what people can do when they come together for a common cause.
What would make your community a better place: I think our community could grow exponentially in a great way if we had more local jobs and less people driving across the river for work.
Favorite travel destination and type: I love seeing new places and trying new things, so I don’t have just one favorite place. Road trips are fun if you have the right people by your side.
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Ben’s Bottle Shop off Mill Plain in The Mill is right around the corner from my house; the staff there is super awesome.
Hobbies: Some of my hobbies include hunting, fishing, hiking and snowmobiling.
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: “Hacksaw Ridge”
Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: This year I’m turning 30 and I would love to run a full marathon. In the next five years, I would like to expand my company to be able to help others farther away and in a broader range.
One word to describe yourself: Adventurous.
Person you’d most like to meet: George Strait.
