DALLAS -

ServNet Auctions not only enjoyed more robust first-quarter sales, but they also saw stronger operational and technology capabilities, according the auction group’s chief executive officer Pierre Pons.

The group’s members gathered for their Spring Owners Meeting and Meet the Owners client luncheon in Dallas, where the Dallas-area national account remarketing managers also attended. The auctions shared best practices, reviewed best practices and heard from baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.

Sharing his thoughts on the meetings and offering his insight Pons noted: “Our twice-yearly Owners Meetings provide a tremendous opportunity for the auctions to study the market and to exchange best-practices. As we review performance and outline strategies for the future, one of the key elements is learning how processes are tactically implemented around the country.”

Talking some about last year, ServNet president Jeff Brasher, who owns Brasher’s Reno Auto Auction, said he was pleased to hear that several auctions enjoyed all-time best years in 2010.

“It was especially positive to hear the auction-by-auction review of 2010, and to find that some of our auction members, who have been in business over 20 years, had their best year ever in 2010. It shows that ServNet auctions are successfully facing the challenges of a difficult economic climate and are continuing to provide superior service to their Dealer and Institutional customers,” he noted.

“As we surveyed ServNet’s position in the auction industry, we focused much of our discussion on the technology, particularly AuctionPipeline, which allows us to build an even stronger presence in the marketplace,” continued Brasher.

He added: “We have talked a great deal over the years about who we are, but we must also emphasize what we as auctions can do to deliver the best in auction services to its customers. AuctionPipeline is an important tool in our collective tool chest, one that helps us to bring buyers and sellers together.”

Pons added that members showed “an equally strong start” to 2011 with strong first-quarter performances.

“The auctions continued to build on the momentum of strong dealer sales. While fleet/lease volumes are down slightly, half of the ServNet Auctions either had already sold for General Motors and Ally Financial or added these accounts as new business in 2010 and reported stronger volumes,” Pons stated.

“We have always maintained — and proven — that ServNet auctions do everything a chain auction can do, and then some. This seems to be confirmed by the number of awards garnered by ServNet auctions throughout the 1st quarter,” said Pons. “In today’s business climate, AuctionPipeline allows ServNet auctions to offer cutting edge technological solutions to its customers that are as effective, if not superior to, anything a chain auction has to offer. “