Preparation
Creating a successful auction starts long before you publish it.
Before creating your first auction, make sure you have all the information, documents and branding assets prepared. A well-prepared auction inspires confidence, attracts more bidders and generally produces better results.
Complete Your Organizer Profile
Before publishing an auction, review your Organizer Website and complete the essential information, including:
- Organizer name
- Logo
- Cover image
- Contact email
- Telephone number
- Business website (optional)
- Social media profiles (optional)
- Company description
Your Organizer Website represents your brand. Buyers should immediately recognize who is behind the auction.
Complete Your Payment Setup
Before accepting bids, connect your payment account.
AOS uses Stripe Connect to securely process payments between buyers and organizers.
Complete your payment verification as early as possible to avoid delays when publishing your auction or collecting funds.
Review Your Legal Settings
Every auction includes a professional legal framework.
During the Auction Setup, you will configure only the key legal parameters, such as:
- Governing Law
- Jurisdiction
- Buyer’s Premium
- Payment Deadline
- Accepted Payment Methods
- Reserve Price Policy
- Collection Deadline
The remainder of the legal documentation is generated automatically from the AOS Legal Framework.
You do not need to draft legal documents from scratch.
Prepare Your Branding
Strong branding builds trust.
Before publishing, prepare:
- high-quality logo
- cover banner
- brand colours
- typography preferences
- sponsor assets (if applicable)
Consistent branding across all your auctions helps buyers recognise your business and strengthens your reputation over time.
Prepare Your Horses
Collect all relevant information before creating horse profiles, including:
- registration details
- pedigree
- breeder
- photographs
- videos
- veterinary documentation
- competition results
- breeding information
- external references (such as HorseTelex where available)
Having this information ready will significantly speed up the auction creation process.
Define Your Auction Strategy
Before creating the auction, decide:
- Which horses will be offered.
- Whether the auction will be Online, Live or Hybrid.
- The auction opening and closing dates.
- Whether Reserve Prices will be used.
- Whether a Buyer’s Premium will apply.
- The expected target market.
- The countries you intend to reach.
A clear strategy results in a more professional auction experience for buyers.
Invite Buyers Early
Do not wait until the auction opens to start attracting bidders.
Begin promoting your auction in advance by:
- inviting existing clients;
- sharing your Organizer Website;
- distributing direct auction links;
- using social media;
- sending email campaigns;
- encouraging buyers to register before bidding opens.
Early registrations create momentum and increase participation once the auction begins.
Final Checklist
Before publishing your first auction, confirm that:
- Your Organizer Website is complete.
- Your payment account is connected.
- Your legal settings have been reviewed.
- Your branding is ready.
- Your horse information is complete.
- Your media files have been uploaded.
- Your auction schedule has been confirmed.
- Your buyers have started registering.
Completing these steps before publication will help ensure a smooth, professional and successful auction.