Thank you Skylarc, very quick and superior service. Highly recommended.
The Challenge
The liquidation of Wimpex involved the complete disposal of two separate facilities, each presenting very different logistical challenges and operating under tight time constraints.
The first warehouse consisted of more than 250 bays of pallet racking that needed to be dismantled and removed within a very short timeframe. With ongoing lease costs accruing, vacating the building as quickly as possible was a key priority. Coordinating the sale, dismantling and collection of such a large volume of racking required careful scheduling to ensure buyers could remove their purchases safely while allowing the warehouse to be progressively cleared.
The second site was a fully operational food manufacturing facility comprising a complex network of production rooms, packaging areas, warehouses and processing spaces. It contained an extensive range of specialised food processing and packaging machinery, conveyors, stainless steel equipment, laboratory assets, forklifts, trucks, pallet racking and remaining food-grade inventory. Many of the larger production lines were permanently installed and required specialist decommissioning before they could be removed safely.
The project demanded meticulous planning from start to finish. Tight deadlines, specialist decommissioning contractors, heavy lifting requirements and hundreds of buyer collections all had to be coordinated while maintaining safe access to both sites. Managing these competing priorities efficiently was critical to keeping the liquidation on schedule and ensuring every asset could be successfully realised.
The Proccess
Preparation for the auction began with a comprehensive assessment of both sites and the development of a detailed project plan to ensure every asset could be marketed, sold and removed within the required timeframes.
Skylarc coordinated specialist contractors to decommission the food manufacturing plant, safely disconnecting and preparing large production lines and permanently installed equipment for sale. For several highly specialised assets, industry experts were also engaged to demonstrate machinery, including robotic systems, allowing prospective buyers to inspect equipment in operation and bid with confidence.
The company's fleet of trucks and commercial vehicles was professionally serviced and presented for sale, with all applicable vehicles undergoing Certificate of Fitness (CoF) inspections prior to auction. Presenting roadworthy vehicles significantly increased buyer confidence and helped maximise sale values.
Over 1,000 individual lots were identified, catalogued, photographed and professionally described by the Skylarc team. Every asset, from laboratory equipment and small tools through to complete processing lines and heavy machinery, received the same attention to detail. High-quality photography and comprehensive descriptions ensured buyers had the information they needed to make informed purchasing decisions.
Throughout the project, Skylarc managed every stage of the asset realisation process, coordinating decommissioning contractors, machinery demonstrations, buyer inspections and the staged collection of sold assets. This careful planning ensured the auction ran smoothly while allowing both sites to be progressively cleared safely and efficiently within the required timeframe.
Marketing
To maximise exposure, Skylarc implemented a targeted multi-channel marketing campaign designed to reach both general buyers and businesses within the food manufacturing and engineering sectors.
The campaign was promoted extensively through Facebook advertising, directing prospective buyers to a dedicated Skylarc auction landing page where they could browse the catalogue before being directed to the live Trade Me auction listings.
Industry-specific marketing played a key role in reaching the right audience. Email campaigns were distributed through the Food Technology and Engineering News industry publications, ensuring the sale was promoted directly to businesses and professionals actively involved in food manufacturing, processing and industrial engineering.
In addition, the auction was promoted to Skylarc's extensive database of previous buyers through targeted industry email campaigns. These mailouts reached thousands of businesses and individuals with a proven interest in industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment and liquidation sales, helping to generate strong competition across the full range of assets.
By combining targeted industry marketing with broad consumer exposure through Facebook and Trade Me, Skylarc ensured the auction reached the largest possible audience, resulting in strong nationwide participation and highly competitive bidding across more than 1,000 lots.
Results
The Wimpex auction delivered an exceptional outcome, with total realisations exceeding expectations by more than 100%. The online auction ultimately returned more than had been anticipated from attempts to sell the company as a going concern, demonstrating the value of exposing individual assets to a competitive national marketplace.
The auction generated outstanding buyer engagement, with more than 4,500 New Zealanders adding one or more items to their Trade Me watchlists and over 1,100 individual bidders competing across more than 1,000 auction lots. Buyers participated from throughout New Zealand, with specialised food processing machinery, production equipment, trucks, forklifts and industrial assets finding new homes across both the North and South Islands.
The breadth of participation created strong competition across the entire catalogue, from laboratory equipment and hand tools through to complete production lines and heavy industrial machinery. By connecting specialised equipment with businesses that could continue to use it productively, the auction achieved excellent market-driven prices across every asset category.
The project was completed within the agreed timeframes, with both facilities successfully cleared and handed back in a clean and tidy condition. Careful coordination of decommissioning contractors, buyer collections and site logistics ensured the liquidation remained on schedule while providing a safe and efficient collection process for purchasers.
The success of the Wimpex auction demonstrates how detailed asset preparation, targeted marketing and a transparent online auction process can maximise returns for complex industrial liquidations. By exposing every asset to a nationwide audience and professionally managing every stage of the project, Skylarc delivered an outstanding financial result while meeting every operational objective.
What Our Clients Say
Here's what some of the people who have worked with us have had to say about their experience.
Sam and the team at Skylarc made an extremely complex process seem easy! The professionalism and integrity they displayed was second to none and we were absolutely astounded by the results they delivered. An absolute breeze to deal with and exceeded all expectations – I would strongly recommend their services.
Thanks Sam, a quick and easy way to exit business, with surprising results.
Ready To Maximise Your Asset Sale?
Talk to our experienced team about your assets and get a clear, no-obligation proposal.
