Nick Fowler CAI, President and Lead Auctioneer of Fowler Auctioneers, Inc. I grew up around the Cattle Auction business with my Dad David Fowler- long time owner of Sulphur Springs Livestock Auctions. Watching my Dad over the years taught me to give everything I do 100%, always be honest, treat everybody as you would want them to treat you, and provide the best service possible.
After high school, I went to Fort Smith Auction School. You read about young auctioneers coming right of auction school and getting those great jobs, that didn’t happen for me. I had my sites on estate sales and farm equipment but didn’t take me long to find out the seasoned auctioneers had most of those.
I never gave up; moving from Texas back to Arkansas in the early eighties, I hit the long narrow road beating the bushes for a sale of any kind. Small sales is all I could find and we were working 10 to 14 hours a day, mainly I got the ones the other auctioneers in the area turned down. Some days I would auctioneer and write tickets, we couldn’t afford a clerk. My Mom was my biggest supporter and still is today. She would write tickets for me most of the time always telling me what a great job I did which would inspire me want to try to go get another sale. Soon we had multiple auctions even at times conducting several a week.
It was a struggle getting a our business started and gaining the trust of the public as far as handling their prize possessions. By the mid 1990s, it seemed we were well on our way and would never to have to look back then in the 9-11 tragedy hit America.
One day a beautiful young lady came in my office selling radio ads, that which was a God sent, we were soon married and today 2016 she has been right by my side all the way. I have to say I have had some good friends help me, one of which was my auction school instructor in 1979 the late James E. Wilson. He mentioned to his Son Joe Wilson in 2002 that he should let me to help them some time. Joe knew I wanted to keep my auction business and didn’t let me help them for quite a while. One day I walked into an auction they were conducting in Hot Springs and Joe asked me if I wanted to ring a while and then he let me sell the the remainder of the auction, I was one happy camper.
Joe invited my wife Rachel and I to go with he and Susan along with his Mom and Dad James E. and Miss Betty (which we thought the world of) to our first NAA (National Auctioneers Convention) in San Antonio TX. While we were on that trip, Joe said “Nick! You need to get your real estate license!”
When we returned home, I went to real estate school and did just that. I then set my sites on the auction method of marketing real estate. The first year that NAA took over the Arkansas Auctioneers Association, I competed in a lineup of approximately 25 great auctioneers and was named “2004 Arkansas State Champion Auctioneer” I give most of that credit to God and my wife for her encouraging words.
I Competed in the IAC in San Diego California where I didn’t really do so hot but again wife was there for me and said “You did great”! One of the judges, which was a high profile auctioneer Mr. John Corey, also said I did a good job. My friend Spanky Assiter which at the time was “Barrett Jackson’s Lead Auctioneer” also had encouraging words, so, after that I wasn’t so down coming from that level of an auctioneer.
I enrolled in “CAI” classes at IU in Bloomington Indiana graduating with the Class of 2008.
Later that year I saw an ad in the NAA Magazine, it read “World Class Events” will be hosting a World Championship Auctioneers Contest in Branson MO. I said to my wife, “Honey, if they will let me enter, I believe I’ll get in that competition and if I have no luck there we will still have a great time while in Branson”. Low and behold and unexpectedly I was named “2007 Word Champion Auctioneer” along with a nice belt buckle and a $10,000 check. Now I needed to practice practice practice and try to always be a pro.
Today, I am blessed to have the opportunity to hold numerous awards from Auctioneering, Ringman, Marketing plus many Diamond Award of Excellence from the Arkansas Board of Realtors. I’m very proud to be able lead one of the leading real estate auction companies in state of Arkansas selling multi millions annually with my wife and our Auction Team.
This business didn’t come easy and I value it highly and I have never forgotten where I started. Even today, we will conduct a small auction for someone to help them out and we continue to donate many hours to charity. I understand that choosing the right auctioneer and the right auction company should mean everything to a potential client. I will personally discuss a auction plan and will personally will meet with you. I look forward to working with you all the way from start to finish.
Below are some of my achievements showing my level of enthusiasm for the auction business.
2004 Arkansas State Champion Auctioneer
2007 World All Around Champion Auctioneer
Served 2001-2003 Arkansas Auctioneers Association Board Of Directors
2016-2023 on the Arkansas Auctioneers License Board
2023-2024 Chairman of the Arkansas Auctioneers License Board
Awarded Diamond Award Of Excellence from the Arkansas Realtors Association 12 years in a row.
Thank you,
Nick D. Fowler, CAI
Auctioneer / Broker / Realtor
Fowler Auctioneers Inc. Real Estate Sales
