Winter was tough this year, even for residents of New York who are accustomed to heavy snows.

But one ServNet auction demonstrated its “snowhow” in overcoming the weather to record new sales records.

"We have been in the auction business since 1981, but 2014 will go down in history as perhaps the toughest winter we have ever had to contend with," said Jeff Barber, president of founding ServNet member State Line Auto Auction in Waverly, N.Y.

State Line utilized its snow removal equipment to keep business rolling, equipment which can push or lift close to 300 lineal feet —  basically, a football field — of snow at once.  

"But as important as that equipment is, it's our people that allow us not just to survive, but to thrive during a snowstorm,” Barber said.

Week after week this winter, State Line employees uncovered cars buried in snow up to their door handles, and pushed or pulled them to the clean-up shop or other destinations.

The extra work was with it, Barber noted.

"In spite of extreme weather challenges, we've been able to keep auction operations rolling smoothly all winter, and we've set new records of our own in the process," he said. "We broke an all-time February sales record on Feb. 14, and surpassed that mark two weeks later on Feb. 28 when we sold 905 vehicles! 

"We have the best people in the business here at State Line Auto Auction, and it's their hard work and dedication that keep us operating in such a tough environment," Barber said. "This year we proved our ‘snowhow,’ but we can't wait for spring!"