It’s common for young children to one day follow the career path of their family members. Those who were raised in a restaurant may become a future chef or business owner. Others who are around medicine or the law may end up with a career as a doctor or lawyer.
For Heather Bradford, she grew up in the auction industry. Little did she know those early memories would help launch a 20-year career in the same family business that has developed one of Oklahoma’s largest auction services.
“I love it. There’s nothing better than working for your family. I know some people may not think that, but it’s great,” said Heather, who has served as Dakil’s office manager since 2000. “Pretty much anyone who works here is family. Truthfully, we are a family. We would do anything for one another.”
If you’ve ever encountered a Dakil employee at an auction over the years, chances are they were either family or had a close connection to the family.
Heather, who is the niece of Dakil Auctioneers, Inc. founders Louis and Susan Dakil, remembers her upbringing in the 1980s. On the weekends, Heather would watch her aunt and uncle run auctions with help from her mother, father, and grandmother. Her mom was the auction cashier, her grandmother was the clerk, and her father was the ringman. Heather’s job was to run tickets from the clerk to the cashier to be added up and filed away.
“The family atmosphere has helped grow the business,” Susan said. “Everybody pitches in and does what they can. They go above and beyond to make it a success.”
Even Heather’s father has lent a helping hand over the years, and her 17-year-old daughter is old enough to work auctions from time to time. Up until the COVID-19 outbreak, her father filled in as a part-time auction clerk. Before that, his background in information technology (IT) and data processing came in handy to set up online bidding, the website, and support networks.
“He’s always been involved here and there. It was strange at first when you have to be your dad’s boss. It was fun to have, though,” Heather said.
Heather’s permanent role in the company sprouted from, you guessed it, a conversation at a family gathering. In this case, it was a little more than a family meetup — it was her own bridal shower.
In 2000, Heather’s personal life was exciting, as she prepared for her wedding. But, her work life left her wanting a new challenge. It just so happened that at her bridal shower, Susan told Heather she wished she would come work for the company.
“I said, ‘Make me an offer,’” Heather said laughing. “I started two weeks later. I’ve been here 20 years in November.”
Nowadays, Heather is an integral part of our business. She can do everything in the company except auction — you need a license for that. That means everything from sales to marketing and advertising.
Working for a small, family-run organization was the biggest draw. The flexibility and understanding from Louis and Susan proved to be paramount, too.
“As it evolved, it was great. My daughter came to work with me until she was 6 months old. I could have the flexibility to be there for my child,” Heather said.
The offices turned into a de facto nursery, as Susan helped set up an area so Heather could feed and take care of her daughter during the workday.
“Being a grandmother, that was my favorite moment,” Susan said. “If she was busy, aunt Susan got to take care of the baby. That was a fun time.”
In business — and with anything in life for that matter — you’re only as good as the people around you. To create a lasting and memorable impression, you first need a strong foundation.
“People are like an elevator. You want people to take you up,” Louis said. “The people are what makes you. We treat everyone equally. Our employees are part of what we do.”
Ultimately, the end goal is to create an environment that ensures a quality product. In turn, clients reap the rewards of a well-run auction. One auction leads to another, and the cycle continues.
But, we couldn’t do it without our core values. So the next time you stop by one of our auctions or visit our website, think of all the parts that make the operation run smoothly behind the scenes.
“It’s family,” Susan said. “You try to be good to everybody and be honest. Do the very best you can, treat everybody with respect, and live by the golden rule.”
Are you interested in the auction business or want to learn more about what Dakil has to offer? Contact us today, or call directly at (405) 751-6179. To see when our next auction takes place, view our upcoming auctions schedule page.
