THE market has been on the same site for more than 70 years , just a few miles from the Yorkshire border and hence draws vendors and buyers from both the red and white rose counties as well as much further afield .

Growth over the years has been based on a primarily commercial trade and until last autumn , the firm of Richard Turner and Son had been the appointed auctioneers and secretaries since the early sixties . Now after a comparatively smooth transition , the directors have put the business ’ s day-to-day operations in the hands

of a full time employed manager cum secretary and auctioneer , with a focus on growing profitability , while retaining the mart ’ s traditional values as both a trading facility and importantly , a social hub on market days for its farmer clientele .

Comparatively recent and significant investment has seen new sheep penning and the development of the fifth sales ring with adjacent new pens to accommodate both cattle and sheep . While commercial stock trading , both prime and store , remains the core business , the weekly dairy cattle trade which utilises the main sales ring each Thursday , has expanded and incorporates a popular pedigree catalogued sale once a month .

The directors are keen to do whatever is necessary to maintain or improve customer service and interaction , while continually looking to develop on-site systems and facilities .

The whole team is now based on-site in the mart offices and regular sales days are Thursday and Saturday , the latter frequently now seeing the sheep yard seasonally , at near capacity . There has

also been an increase in Gisburn Auction Marts ’ presence on social media with the aim of both promoting sales and importantly , providing analysis of the day ’ s trading .

However , while the six , directors and market manager Tom Greenow are focussed on driving profitability at Gisburn , they have chosen to maintain sale commission rates at existing and attractive levels . The directors , mostly farmers in their own right , are well aware of customers ’ requirement for prompt payment but also the need , as is the case for most auction marts , to keep a firm handle on credit control .

Said Tom Greenow : “ Farmers know they will get their money into their bank within four days via BACS payments . Cheques are now being processed quickly and as almost all farmers have email , invoices and VAT statements are with them the next day and in some cases go directly to the their accountants . The positive knock-on effect on the market ’ s cashflow has been significant .”

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Paxtons are on-site at Gisburn Auction Mart on all auction days

Tel : 015242 61353 | Fax : 015242 62565 Email : info @ paxtons . co . uk Green Smithy , Bentham , Lancaster , LA2 7DH

www . paxtons . co . uk