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Back-to-school facility work often starts with a practical goal: updating a kitchen, reorganizing storage, cleaning out a maintenance area, or preparing a building for new use. Once that work begins, schools often find equipment that no longer fits the current layout, menu, staffing model, or maintenance plan. A cafeteria remodel may leave behind ovens, sinks, prep tables, carts, or refrigeration. A maintenance department cleanout may uncover shop tools, shelving, lawn equipment, lifts, pallet Read More

Warehouse operations are always evolving. As layouts change, product lines shift, and handling methods improve, equipment that once made sense may no longer be the best fit for how the business runs today. That’s where warehouse liquidations often begin — not with a full shutdown, but with a closer look at racking, forklifts, and material handling equipment that no longer supports daily workflows. For warehouse managers, the opportunity isn’t simply clearing space. It’s Read More

This July marks an important milestone for our family, our team, and the many sellers, buyers, lenders, attorneys, trustees, landlords, and community partners who have worked with us along the way: Backes Auctioneers is celebrating 50 years in business. We’re grateful for what that milestone represents. It reflects years of early mornings, site visits, equipment walkthroughs, auction setup, buyer questions, seller conversations, and the steady work that happens before and after auction day. Read More

By the time summer hits, most operations are moving fast. Production schedules are set, inventory levels have adjusted, and capital budgets are already spoken for. With all the hustle-and-bustle, excess machinery can sometimes be an afterthought. You’re likely sitting on machines that haven’t run in months, backup units that rarely leave the corner, or tools that no longer match how your business operates today. Left alone, those assets quietly tie up space, capital, and attention. A Read More

Farm equipment has a way of fading into the background as new technology and new models hit the market, making the old versions obsolete. A tractor that once ran hard through harvest now only sees occasional use. A combine with outdated technology still works, but it no longer fits the operation. A backup planter sits in a shed “just in case,” even though it hasn’t moved in two seasons. None of these machines feel urgent. They’re paid for. They still start. They still technically Read More

Seasonal food service is built around short sale windows and long lead times. For concession operators, fair vendors, and seasonal kitchens, equipment must be ready when the gates open. Then that same equipment sits idle or moves on once the season ends. Fryers, griddles, refrigeration, serving stations, and mobile setups all have a narrow window where they generate revenue. Outside of that window, they take up storage, require upkeep, and often quietly lose value. This stop‑start reality Read More

In many machine shops and commercial kitchens, unused equipment is easy to overlook. A CNC machine that hasn’t run in months. A mixer kept around out of habit. A prep table tied to a menu that’s long gone. Because it’s paid for and pushed out of the way, it rarely feels urgent. But over time, idle equipment doesn’t just sit around; instead, it depreciates. It quietly ties up capital while delivering nothing in return.  For machine shop and food service owners, unused Read More

When most people think of food service auctions, restaurants tend to come to mind first. While restaurants do make up a significant share of auction activity, they’re only part of a much larger picture. Across the food service industry, a wide range of operations rely on auctions as a practical way to manage equipment, unlock capital, and maintain healthy cash flow. For operators unfamiliar with auctions, their value is often misunderstood. At their core, auctions serve a simple purpose: Read More

In small manufacturing shops, unused equipment often goes unnoticed. It’s paid for, functional, and out of the daily production conversation — even when it no longer plays a meaningful role in the business. A machine that once ran full shifts now sees occasional use. Backup equipment purchased during a busy period was never fully integrated into the workflow. Specialized manufacturing equipment brought in for a single contract still takes up floor space long after the work is wrapped Read More

Automotive and fleet owners often underestimate how much value is sitting in their yard, shop, or storage building. Trucks that no longer fit your routes, service tools replaced by newer models, or surplus support equipment can still attract serious buyer interest — if the right pieces go to auction. Understanding what buyers look for, and why certain items consistently perform well, helps sellers make smarter decisions about timing, lot structure, and expectations. Below is a practical Read More