Winterstein does it for himself

Former Aucor CEO Shannon Winterstein has teamed up with Mathew Henderson to create Winterstein & Henderson Auctions, which brought down the hammer for the first time last week.

You have just abandoned your family business. How do you feel?

Very excited at the prospect of starting something different. Over the past few years Aucor grew into a large company, but I really wanted to be involved in a smaller and more intimate business. I no longer want to be the biggest, but rather a company that enjoys itself.

What will you be auctioning?

We will be auctioning pretty much everything. I have a passion for exotic cars, so of course this will hit our line-up.

What inspired your decision?

It was really time to do something for myself.

Is speaking very quickly something that you had to learn, or is it a natural gift?

To be honest, I've always talked quickly - even as a kid - but everyone can learn to be an auctioneer. Just like most things- it's practice, practice, practice. It's not like being an opera singer or musician where you need a natural gift, which I don't have.

How prepared are you for your new venture?

All my years of experience have allowed me to hit the ground running. It's a tough business, and, to be honest, I wouldn't want to be trying to start a business in the current market without the experience and knowledge that I have.

Do you think your absence from Aucor will have any effect on the results and popularity of the company from now on?

My intention isn't to take away business from Aucor, but to carve a niche as a smaller auction house with personal service. Based on this, I see Aucor maintaining its position, so long as the new management maintains the company ethos that the Wintersteins built over 40 years.

What challenges did you encounter in setting up the new auction house?

Despite everyone complaining about the abundance of property, we struggled to find a place to call home. We scoured Johannesburg far and wide to find W&H House. Besides this, the real challenge was having to do everything yourself. I always considered myself a friendly boss who delegated to good people. All of a sudden I was a boss and the worker. I had to commit myself to new business, which meant I had to change my lifestyle significantly, but while it is a challenge to go from a corporate guy to seven-days-a-week new business owner, my family and friends' support have made the challenge a lot easier.

Who are your buyers/sellers?

We are looking to focus pretty strongly on corporate South Africa. We know that our buyers will come from far and wide, but we intend to try to capture a high- end market.