joint auctions to continue through long-term …expanding businesses and networks. the joint...

partners for success

The June American Legend - Fur Harvesters - Saga Furs auction in Helsinki will mark the start of a long-term strategic alliance. Immediately after the March auction the heads of the three companies focused on the obvious benefits of the strategic alliance with an eye toward extending the cooperation.

The whole trade assembled in March to bid on the top lines of North American mink, the world’s best collection of wild fur and superior collections of European mink and fox.

The three houses will continue selling together on the longer term at selected joint auctions in Helsinki, Seattle or other parts of the world.

Joint auction concept has won praise from all corners of the fur-fashion industry

Not only was the March gathering at Saga Furs auction house the biggest fur auction ever held, the one-stop-shopping concept proved to be a powerhouse that stimulated interest in the vast selection of fur types offered to an unprecedented mix of global buyers.

In spite of a challenging market, prices in the buzzing auction room were favourable across the board with top grades generating a premium. The majority of the total number of lots was 100% sold.

Joint auctions to continue through long-term strategic alliance

CONTENT

Top lot stories

What the buyers say

Preliminary sales programme

Auction services

Buyers find business potential in everything-under-one-roof concept

The joint sales are propelled by the strengths of three trusted brands - each the world leader in its respective area. United efforts and the synergy between the brands give customers and suppliers added value through enhanced marketing as well as the sharing of resources and ideas.

Such a vast assortment available to the entire global buying community presents new opportunities for expanding businesses and networks. The joint auctions are like a multi-brand store no buyer should miss.

AUCTIONS DATES1-12 JUNE 2014

MinksSaga Furs 3.800.000American Legend 1.600.000TOTAL MINKS 5.400.000

Foxes Saga Furs 673.000

TOTAL JUNE OFFERING

Wild fursFur Harvesters 405.900

Other furs Saga Furs 113.500

“Buying a top lot is a wonderful experience that you get when you purchase the best skins in existence and that is a Blackglama female top lot. Since the board of directors from ALC decided to hold their auctions in Helsinki, we have nothing to say or complain about. We will honor their decision no matter where they sell and will follow Blackglama everywhere,” says Chris Tsoukas of Tsoukas Bros. New York/Greece. With activities in New York and Greece, the company is world-renowned for being one of the best manufacturers of mink and sable garments. Tsoukas purchased the top lot of Blackglama females at the joint auction in March.

Planeta Mexa has been doing business with Blackglama and Saga Furs for nearly 40 years. The Dubai-based company works with over 60 famous international designer-furs manufacturers and offers the public a fabulous selection of luxury garments. The purchase of the top lot of Blackglama male skins in March was part of Planeta Mexa’s strategy to provide its customers with the best quality furs available. Top lot offerings fit perfectly into the company’s business strategy.

The top lot of Saga Lumi Royal Arctic Marble Frost Fox was acquired in March by Tommaso Guida for Guida Italy. In the recent past, the company established its Guida Lab, a dynamic new segment of the business for “revolutionizing” the look of fur. “My two brothers and I are the third generation in the fur business, mainly brokering and wholesale in the past, but we founded Guida Lab a few years ago to get into the production end,” says Tommaso Guida. When the company picks up a top lot, they generally have rough plans for the pelts, but with the promise that whatever comes out at the other end is sure to be exciting.

Sergey Morokov was happy about the top lot of Saga Lumi Royal Silver Fox pelts he bought for something exquisite to be made by the Furnatur company of Moscow. His enthusiasm is shared by other buyers. “It’s a great feeling when you buy a top lot,” says Konstantinos Bourtsos, who bought the Saga Lumi Royal Top Lot of black female mink in March for his company Bourtsos Bros S.A. “As we start mink production in our new factory in Greece, we have chosen Saga Furs and the black Lumi top lot to be in our collection. We have been buyers of Saga Furs since 1991 and we choose only the best quality skins. A Lumi collection will be manufactured in Greece and will be available in our Bourtsos line.”

The Dios Fur Company was established in Greece over 40 years ago and for the past 25 years has specialized in serving the Russian luxury market. At the March auction, the company acquired top lots of lynx cat and lynx for its discerning clientele. “We know that Fur Harvesters Auction has the finest collection of wild fur in North America, and for that reason we continue to return to FHA for our top lot purchases. We are always satisfied with the quality of skins we obtain from FHA, and our clients are extremely happy with the product we provide,” says CEO Athanasios Dios.

Of her top lot purchases for Power of Fur, owner Victoria Tikhostyp says” From its very start the Power of Fur brand has presented only luxury quality coats, every time making a surprise for our customers with new types of furs and textures. By purchasing the top lots of such rare and prestigious species as sable and fisher at Fur Harvesters auction, we are sure that we satisfy our most fashionable clients. Working with FHA we got convinced in their professionalism and honesty. We also like the fact that FHA has the widest array of exotic wild fur types to offer. FHA knows how to find an individual approach to every customer, which makes them very comfortable and pleasant to work with.”


What the buyers say

The top spot for buying top lots

Eddie Reich, ER Fur Trading, NY “This was a great experience and so well attended by a broad range of interests from the industry. It was good from a social as

well as a purchasing point of view, and it was an efficient way to buy all the goods you need.”

Mr. Liu, Yuyao, China “With two auctions at once, it meant one less auction to cover. It was very convenient and good with the offering of mutation

mink and Blackglama. It was a value to come here.”

Tommaso Guida , Guida Italy “ALC and Saga are both auctions where you feel secure. This is a good union. The companies are similar, the way they sell,

the way they treat customers. You feel pampered and this is good for people who come to buy, to feel relaxed. It was a good test and the market responded well. For us it was a time saver.”

Pierre Lipski, Hurwitz Exports Limited, London “The idea of American Legend, Saga Furs and Fur Harvesters joining forces to offer a

one-stop-shop experience proved to be the right one. Buyers and sellers alike benefited from a larger, more diverse selection of goods on offer, in one superb location as opposed to three. In my opinion, it makes commercial sense to continue with this successful formula, long may it continue.”

Tim Everest, Cyril Murkin (HK) Ltd., HK “Putting in the most diverse offering of

raw fur skins was an inspired move. What made it special was the professionalism that the parties brought to that occasion. The team from Seattle managed a monumental task of holding an auction on the other side of the world, and did so seamlessly. The success of the sale in very difficult market conditions can be attributed to excellent leadership and a fabulous response from the whole team. The facilities operated by Saga Furs were a perfect launch pad for the cooperation. The auctioneers from Seattle were far more relaxed than when selling in Seattle and all performed at the top of their game. The back-up services provided by Saga Furs assured that the outcome would be positive. I look forward to another successful sale in Helsinki in June.”

PRELIMINARY SALES PROGRAMMEJUNE 2014

Inspection 26-31.5.2014Selling 1-12.6.2014

Sunday, 1 June

Fur Harvesters TOTAL SHOWLOTS

Red fox 8.000 60

Cross fox 800 20

Silver fox 100 10

White fox 1.500 10

Grey fox 2.000 20

Coyote 15.000 120

Raccoon 120.000 250

Beaver 50.000 110

Wild mink 20.000 90

Muskrat 100.000 30

Otter 4.500 55

Sable 40.000 210

Chinchilla 1.000 20

Fisher 6.000 65

Badger 1.000 30

Ermine & Squirrel 15.000 15

Skunk & Opossum 3.000 25

387.900 1.140

Thursday, 5 June

Saga Furs TOTAL SHOWLOTS

Sapphire M/F 70.000 400

Black M 140.000 350

Mahogany M 140.000 350

White M/F 280.000 440

Marten 2.000 30

Chinchilla Rex &Castor Rex

6.000 90

638.000 1.660

Monday, 2 June

Fur Harvesters TOTAL SHOWLOTS

Ranch foxes 3.000 140

Lynx 3.000 40

Lynx cat 12.000 800

Saga Furs

Silver fox 65.000 500

Gold fox 7.000 100

Gold Cross fox 1.000

Red fox 500 20

91.500 1.600

Friday, 6 June

American Legend TOTAL SHOWLOTS

Black F 260.000 350

Mahogany F 100.000 200

Pastel M/F 20.000 100

Pearl M/F 20.000 100

White M/F 10.000 30

Various mutations M/F 10.000 120

Breeder F 50.000 125

Saga Furs

Palomino M/F 50.000 300

Pastel M/F 30.000 150

550.000 1.475Tuesday, 3 June


Blue Shadow fox 35.000 200

Blue fox 520.000 550

Blue Frost fox 45.000 300

Finnraccoon 25.000 250

Karakul 80.000 250

705.000 1.550

Saturday, 7 June


Black F 150.000 250

Mahogany F 140.000 350

Black Cross M/F 140.000 620

Various Crosses M/F 80.000 480

510.000 1.700

Wednesday, 4 June


Black M 240.000 400

Mahogany M 100.000 250

Blue Iris M/F 50.000 100

Ranch Wild M/F 75.000 250

Breeder M 200.000 200

665.000 1.200

Sunday, 8 June


Brown F 350.000 500

Glow F 270.000 350

Pearl M/F 250.000 720

870.000 1.570

Monday, 9 June


Brown M 350.000 500

Glow F 200.000 350

Silverblue M/F 300.000 720

850.000 1.570

Tuesday, 10 June


Section III M/F 465.000 1.000

465.000 1.000

We reserve the right to change the quantities and dates.

For updates and final offering information, please check: www.sagafurs.com and click, AUCTIONS


Wednesday, 11 June


Breeders F 100.000 500

Breeders M 350.000 1.200

Various mutations M/F 10.000 200

460.000 1.900

Thursday, 12 June


East European mink M/F 400.000 1.400

400.000 1.400

Minks Saga Furs 3.800.000 American Legend 1.600.000 TOTAL MINKS 5.400.000

Foxes Saga Furs 673.000

Wild furs Fur Harvesters 405.900 Other furs Saga Furs 113.500

TOTALTo be finished at 1.30 p.m.

RegistrationPlease sign up to attend the auction at:[email protected] or use our online registration form: www.sagafurs.com and click, AUCTIONS

We recommend you register for the auction and book hotel accommodations early.

VisaA Schengen visa is applied for from the embassy or consulate of the destination country. It is advisable to apply for a visa well in advance of the planned date of travel. A minimum of 14 days should be reserved for processing.

For the official letter of invitation from Saga Furs, please send a request by email to:[email protected]

Request should include the following information:

NameDate of birthPassport number and photocopy of passport (page with photo)Company the applicant representsName of the broker

Visiting addressSaga Furs Oyj

Martinkyläntie 48FI-01720 Vantaa, Finland

Tel +358 9 84981Fax +358 9 849 8319

HotelsYou are welcome to make your hotel reserva-tions via Saga Furs at:[email protected]

Crowne Plaza Helsinki*Hilton Hotel KalastajatorppaRadisson Blu Royal Hotel HelsinkiScandic Hotel ContinentalScandic Hotel SimonkenttäSokos Hotel Presidentti

We recommend you book a room at least 7 days in advance of the first inspection date to ensure the availability of a room.

Note: Some hotels may charge a full room fee if a cancellation is made less than one week before the first inspection day.

Bus transportationOur courtesy bus to and from Saga Furs will make stops at the hotels specified above on all inspection and selling days.

* Bus service is not available at Hilton Hotel Kalastajatorppa. Information about the bus schedules will be available at the information desk during the auction period.

American Legend CooperativePO Box 58308

Seattle, Washington 98138

Tel +1 (425) 251 3200Fax +1 (425) 251 [email protected]

americanlegend.com blackglama.comalcbusiness.com

Saga Furs OyjMartinkyläntie 48

FI-01720 Vantaa, Finland

Tel +358 9 84981Fax +358 9 849 [email protected]

sagafurs.com

Fur Harvesters Auction Inc.1867 Bond Street

North Bay, Ontario, Canada P1B 8K6

Tel +1 (705) 495 4688Fax +1 (705) 495 3099

[email protected]

furharvesters.com

AUCTION SERVICES

THREE ICONIC BRANDS


joint auctions to continue through long-term …expanding businesses and networks. the joint...

Documents