Each year, Barry Plant runs its Auction School, giving sales agents from across the network the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and sharpen their auctioneering skills.
Many directors within the network have taken part in the program over the years, having their abilities tested and refined.
Despite the impressive calibre of past participants, it came as a surprise to this year’s group when Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell was in class for the very first session.
It was an even greater surprise when she returned every week thereafter.
“I’m the CEO of a real estate franchise, and while I have deep experience in real estate franchising, I’ve never called an auction, let alone sold a property,” explained Lisa.
“Melbourne auctions are unlike any other in the country; they’re pure street theatre. So I was fascinated to learn in the same environment where many of our best people have honed their skills. Most importantly, stepping out of my comfort zone and levelling the playing field was a huge amount of fun!” she laughed.
Run by industry veteran and Barry Plant Head of Growth Mark Lynch, and supported by Franchise Development Manager Ben Burling, the 10-week Barry Plant Auction School program stands out in a crowded field of auctioneer training options.
The program focuses on building a strong understanding of theory and fundamentals before transitioning into practical application in a public, high-pressure setting at Ruffey Park in Doncaster.
A recent session at Ruffey Park offered a clear look at how this method works in practice.
On a crisp morning, the group of 12 participants was divided into two teams, each led by Mark Lynch and Ben Burling.
Mark invited Lisa to take her turn running a simulated auction.
She stepped up to the challenge and quickly found her rhythm.
As she began explaining the contract of sale, a park employee rolled a wheelie bin past the group, the terms of sale competing with the thunderous rumble of plastic wheels on concrete.
It was a testing environment, but Lisa embraced the moment, adapting as the sound of a chainsaw began to growl across the park, where arborists were cutting down a pine tree.
She creatively included the disruption in her call, in true Melbourne style.
The bidding kicked off at $850,000 as a golden retriever bounded through the mock auction scene, chased by its owner.
As Lisa appealed for bids, Mark, playing the role of the lone bidder, remained silent.
The pause stretched out, pushing Lisa to become comfortable in the silence and confident in commanding the space.
“I’m confused. Is this an auction or a library? At least the kids are having fun,” she quipped, nodding towards the children running wild on the nearby playground.
Mark stayed quiet, refusing to buy even a fictional property.
With no bids on offer, Lisa brought the auction to a close.
A kookaburra laughed from a nearby tree as the property was passed in, seemingly approving of Mark’s tough-love training approach.
“While it may seem harsh to give participants so few bids to work with in these simulated auctions, especially in public, it’s the fastest way for novice auctioneers to sharpen their skills in maintaining momentum and energy during a stalling auction,” explained Lynch.
Originally founded by Barry Plant himself in the 1990s, the Auction School has welcomed hundreds of participants over the years, many of whom have gone on to become highly successful auctioneers.
Among them are several prominent Barry Plant directors, including Doncaster Director Spiro Drossos, Ringwood-Heathmont Director Louise Carrigg, and South Barwon Director Chari Emirzade.
The program has been continually refined to offer some of the most comprehensive real-world preparation available, and its track record speaks for itself.
“I’ve been running the Auction School since 2007, and our program is incredibly effective at preparing participants for real-world scenarios. Lisa and the rest of the group have gone from never having called an auction to confidently handling the pressure of a bidless auction in a remarkably short time,” said Mark Lynch.
The 10-week program is limited to around a dozen participants to maximise personalised training and feedback.
It is structured to take participants from theory to practice, beginning with classroom-based learning, followed by public practice sessions in the park, and culminating in simulated auctions at real properties.
At the end of the program, participants will compete in a series of heats to determine the top six finalists.
These finalists will then go head-to-head in the Barry Plant Auction School Finals, where they will be assessed by two experienced auctioneers from within the Barry Plant network.
Judging is based on a clearly defined set of criteria that reflect real-world performance, with the winner to be announced at the Barry Plant Awards for Excellence in September.
“The program really does take you from a complete novice to confidently calling auctions in the blink of an eye. It’s incredible to see the effort our Head Office team puts into running it for the network, and even more inspiring to watch the hard work and dedication of every participant. Who knows, maybe I’ll even call a real auction one of these days,” Lisa laughed.
