About Soulis Auctions

Who

Dirk Soulis is owner and principal auctioneer. He attended the University of Central Missouri from 1984 to 1990 and beginning in 2002 the University of Missouri Kansas City completing Personal Property Valuation courses 101, 102, 103 and 104 along with courses in Appraisal Report Writing and the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice. Dirk has been involved in the auction business since 1985. He's supported by a twelve-member team of full time professionals composed of Auctioneers, Appraisers, Researchers, professional Photographers, Graphics Artists, IT Specialists, Fine Arts Shipping Experts, and courteous Support Staff. Working as a team they apply their various skills to each client's unique situation for a high level of service and maximum results.

Soulis Auctions List of Clients as Buyers and Sellers Includes:

  • The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
  • BYU Museum of Art
  • Delaware Art Museum
  • Greenville County Museum of Arts, Greenville South Carolina
  • Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
  • Historic Arkansas Museum
  • Independence Historical Museum and Art Center, Independence KS
  • Iowa State University Museum
  • Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
  • Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art Denver, Colorado
  • Missouri Historical Society
  • Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri
  • Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Massachusetts
  • Native Lands & Resources Department, Cultural Resources Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
  • Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Smithsonian's National Postal Museum
  • Stinson Leonard Street LLP
  • The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
  • Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site
  • University of Missouri Kansas City
  • Wichita Art Museum
What

Their scope of seller services includes catalogued Gallery Auctions, Timed Internet Auctions, Tagged Estate Sales, and documented Appraisals for estate tax, insurance and other purposes. They also provide sellers with documented insurance coverage on consigned property, pre-sale estimates, pre-sale inventory, pre-sale consignment confirmation, cash advances, insured storage, family distribution services, curb-to-curb delivery and fine arts shipping. Buyers appreciate that Soulis Auctions will stand behind their catalog descriptions with a clearly defined return policy that goes beyond the contradictory disclaimers of "as-is, where-is". For a sample of the types of items they handle, visit the Auction Archives page here.

When

Dirk Soulis began his career in 1985 when, as a college student, he began working the ring at a Saturday night Antique Auction. Around this same time he took a course in jewelry repair and developed an interest in Antique Jewelry. It was then that his Antiques business was launched and over the next thirteen years he exhibited at Antiques Shows in Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Brimfield, Massachusetts buying , selling, auctioning and learning.

In 2005 they purchased one of the region's top Tagged Estate Sale firms, Estate Sales by Ouida, based in Overland Park, Kansas. Ouida (pronounced "we" da) and her family had for 35 years conducted tag sales in Kansas City's finest homes. The Soulis team carries on this tradition today. Being the region's premiere auction firm and estate sale company provides clients with the best of both marketing options. Often a combination of both the Auction marketing approach and the Tagged Estate Sale approach are necessary to ensure maximum return.

Where

In 1998 Soulis Auctions moved in to its present location just east of Kansas City at 529 West Lone Jack - Lee's Summit Road in Lone Jack Missouri. In the recent past they've worked for clients in San Antonio, Wichita, Omaha, Denver, San Francisco, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. They regularly conduct sales around the entire metropolitan Kansas City area.

Why

To provide great service and earn a good living as a team and as individuals while serving consignors and buyers alike. To generate the best possible outcome for each item being offered. To meet and serve new people while handling treasured heirlooms with care and conscientiousness. To expand and share their knowledge and expertise. To create, innovate, accomplish and enjoy. To attract the best possible consignments from around the mid-west. And for the preservation of Antiques and Fine Art for future generations.

How

The consignment process can begin one of several ways:

  1. An initial discussion by phone to determine whether or not the goals of each party are in sync, followed by an assessment of the items under consideration.
  2. By submitting basic information and uploading images through our Sellers page at SoulisAuctions.com.
  3. By emailing images and information to Dirk@SoulisAuctions.com.
  4. Through a visit by Dirk Soulis or a staff member at the seller's location of choice for entire estates, large collections, fragile items or just plain convenience.
  5. By an appointment that can be made to bring items to DSA Gallery in Lone Jack, MO. An appointment is always necessary to be sure the proper staff member is available and on the premises.
  6. Information and photographs can be mailed to us at Soulis Auctions 529 West Lone Jack - Lee's Summit Road, Lone Jack, MO 64070.
  7. Assessment can be made during one of our occasional appraisal days.

Once the decision is made to consign, a written agreement is presented to the client and an inventory is completed for the client's records. An inventory is essential for proper insurance coverage as well.

Soulis Auctions staff members can provide wrapping, packing and transport assistance as needed.

Next comes professional photography, research and placement into the proper auction venue. The DSA team conducts their research by drawing on their own experience, education and expertise, through their extensive library and through subscription to online sources that archive hundreds of thousands of entries relating to Fine Art and Antiques. At any time they feel it is necessary, they will and often do engage the services of experts and scholars in various disciplines from around the country to provide an added layer of expertise that enhances their catalog descriptions and gives bidders the confidence to bid without hesitation.

Once the cataloging process is completed, the seller receives a report that lists each catalog entry.

Next comes the marketing campaign. Each situation being potentially unique, this campaign will include but may not be limited to:

  • Professionally Designed Illustrated Ads in Print Media
  • Online Event Postings to Internet Platforms
  • Postings to Online Event Calendars
  • Internet Banner Advertising
  • Illustrated Fliers
  • Direct Mail Campaigns
  • Email Campaigns
  • Collector Club Postings
  • Complete Catalog Postings to Online Bidding Platforms
  • Local Print Advertising
  • Printed Catalogs
  • Telephone Campaign
  • Press Release

Additional measures may be undertaken depending on the potential of each unique situation. Each individual marketing campaign is outlined in writing at the time of contract. The combined Soulis Auctions mail lists total more than 20,000 contacts. When applicable, a press release will be sent to major trade press and newspapers in advance of each auction. Prior to every auction, preview times are scheduled and potential bidders can also make an appointment to view the upcoming lots outside of the scheduled preview times.

Finally, the auction process is executed in a professional and courteous manner with anticipation of bidders' needs and the measures that will inspire them to bid their max. The DSA team is imbued with a high level of understanding for both the local marketplace and the global marketplace and the dynamics of both. Their standards of performance are at a higher level than any auction house in the region. The DSA team provides professional in-house shipping, local delivery and they stand behind the items they sell. Bidders do not appreciate receiving information, statements and descriptions that are later fully disclaimed by the standard auction terms of "as-is, where is with no guarantees."

More

Dirk Soulis is recognized as an undisputed pioneer in the use of technology marketing and is credited with a number of 'firsts' in the business. In 1999 he conducted one of the first Live Internet auctions in the world and sold a painting for $49,750.00 to a telephone bidder while the back-up bidder competed live via the Internet. Only a few auction houses experimented with the idea of Live Internet bidding at that time. This short-lived technology was too early for the majority of Internet users and their connect speeds. But the idea was viable. In 2003, a Live Internet bidding platform returned to the world wide web in the form of eBay Live Auctions. Again, Dirk was on the forefront of this emerging concept and was not only among the first in the world but for some time the first in the mid-west to harness this powerful marketing tool. Since then he has learned a great deal about the global marketplace and how to effectively engage bidders from around the world. This is not as simple as merely going through the motions of incorporating Live Internet bidding. There are many important factors realized only by experience. Since January 18, 2003 Soulis Auctions has catalogued just under 70,000 lots and executed more than 250 auctions that incorporated Live Internet bidding (per LiveAuctioneers.com as of 6.2.2015).

As demonstrated here in their archive of past sales results, Soulis Auctions possesses the understanding, the know-how and the experience to effectively market a wide, wide range of valuable commodities.