Auction Facility Tour, Education & Fun Events 2024

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Epic Auctions started in 1977 and over its 47 year history has transitioned from primarily live jewelry, antique, and personal property auctions to primarily virtual simulcast and online only specialty collection auctions including jewelry, firearms, toys, and premium antiques. Epic Auctions currently exists in 2 locations in Leslie, Michigan. The Leslie Event Center features just over 4,800 sq. ft. of space that is used for cataloging, shipping, storage, and local auction pickups. Epic also leases a second location in Leslie that is 4,800 sq. ft. that is also used for cataloging, storage, and local auction pickups. The 2nd location is a little more flexible in that we have been able to paint a large section of the floor and one long wall of the building a middle gray color that allows for the photography of larger items such as furniture, large pieces of sculpture, and artwork. Both buildings have been updated with custom energy efficient LED lighting that is color matched to our professional photography lighting. This ensures that the photos we take are color balanced and do not have a yellow or blue tint.

“Firearms Update” and “Photo Staging/Lighting: Hands on setup”

Brad Stoecker, along with his wife Rachel, has owned Epic Auctions and Estate Sales since July 2018. He has assisted auctioneers with simulcast auctions all over the country and has been invited to present classes at auctioneer conferences in multiple states. He is currently the Class 3 Advisor for the NAA CAI designation program. Epic focuses primarily on specialty collections, jewelry, firearms, and high-end antique and art auctions.

“Firearms Update”

John Peck has 25 years of experience as an auctioneer. He was raised in the industry by father John Peck Sr. John is an 8 year Navy veteran, a Federal Firearm License holder, a formerly educated gunsmith, and a previous retail gun store owner in Michigan and Virginia.

“Firearms Update”  

Kelly L. O’Connor is the co-owner of Two Alpha Auctions, LLC, a firearm and sportsman auction company located in Marshall, Michigan. She is also the founding partner of O’Connor & Bennett Law Firm, PLC. Kelly’s practice focuses on real property law and all things probate including estate planning, compliance with federal and state firearm laws, probate and trust administration, and litigation. Kelly is a licensed Michigan Real Estate Broker and has held a Michigan Real Estate Salesperson license since 1996.

“Masterpiece or Mass Produced?” Identification of Art, Prints, Lithography and more.

Paul is the Lead Curator and Consultant at Epic Auctions and Estate Sales. He earned his BFA at the University of Michigan with a focus on fine arts and design. He has worked in the art and antiques world since 1986 with his own shop in Ann Arbor and at shows in Michigan and New York City. He creates the catalogs for the Premier Art and Antiques auctions at Epic where he has worked since 2016.

“Jewelry at Auction” 

Gold, Silver, Diamonds and Precious Gems come in very small packages that can make you big commissions. This will be a primer in what to look for, how to sell it, the tools you might need, how to market and when to get help. 

Bob Howe has been an auctioneer since 1977 and though he sold his auction business continues to sell live and simulcast auction across the State. He was trained at the Missouri Auction School and has served on the Board of Directors of both CAI and MAA. He specialized in the sale of estates and jewelry and received advanced training in diamond grading and gem identification from the Gemological Institute of America (GAI). 

“Michigan’s Mason Decoy Factory, A Detroit Dynasty”

Grant and his wife Megan have two children, daughter Harper age 12 and son Wyatt age 10. Grant and Megan conduct typically 4-6 auctions per year specializing in antique duck decoys and sporting collectibles. They have specialized in this field since 2016 and transitioned the family auction company into a nationally recognized decoy auction firm with over 100,000 decoys sold and generating over 7 million in sales to date. Grant and Megan are very active in the decoy world and attend 10-12 decoy shows throughout North America. Grant also serves as a board member for the Great Lakes Decoy Association.