Due to the bankruptcy of McThree Carpets in Waregem (Belgium), the entire inventory of the carpet company was auctioned via Troostwijk Auctions this past April. The nearly 1,500 lots attracted significant interest from both domestic and international buyers. More than 35,000 bids were placed by over 5,000 bidders from the Netherlands, Great Britain, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Moldova, as well as Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, India, Canada, and Egypt. Here’s a closer look at the buyers and why they chose a Belgian auction to purchase their machines.
“You need to have a maximum bid in mind and stick to it.”
One of the buyers at the McThree Carpets auction was Hossein Aliahmadi. With his company, Omid Enterprises, he deals in textile machines from Canada.
“I got information about this auction at Troostwijk Auctions via a website about textile machines,” says Aliahmadi. “The auction was in Belgium, which is certainly not around the corner from Canada. But this type of machinery rarely becomes available for sale in this way. So I wanted to seize the opportunity. I even flew to Belgium for two days to inspect the machines. Of course, there was also a virtual online tour, but I prefer to see things with my own eyes. And luckily, that’s possible with Troostwijk.”
“I got a bit carried away.”
Aliahmadi adds: “The McThree Carpets auction at Troostwijk was well-organized—both the viewing day and all the information a buyer might need.” Because he had carefully examined the lots he was interested in beforehand, Aliahmadi thought he was well-prepared for the bidding process. “I had a price range in mind for everything. But when the auction was about to close, it became a real frenzy,” he says. “There was a lot of competition, and I got a bit carried away. My advice to other buyers is to determine the maximum amount you’re willing to bid and stick to it.”
Interesting Auctions
Despite this, Aliahmadi managed to strike a good deal at the McThree Carpets auction. “I bought almost 40 lots, and I’m very happy with them. Everything will be shipped to my customers in India, Oman, and other countries in the Middle East.”
The trader has already made several purchases through online auctions in Canada and the US. But this was his first purchase in an online auction with Troostwijk Auctions. “I had done business with Troostwijk 10 years ago, but that was at a ‘regular’ auction and not online. So, I already knew the Troostwijk name. I expect that I’ll definitely make more purchases through Troostwijk Auctions. They often have interesting auctions, so I’ll keep an eye on them.”