Insights from the Year
2025 wasn’t just about pressure-testing auctions — it was about possibility.
Running auctions ourselves, while working closely with auctioneers and their teams, let us see both sides of the shift: where experiences struggled, and where new formats unlocked energy we hadn’t seen before. This wasn’t about fixing one problem — it was about rethinking what auctions can feel like when the experience is intentional.
Here’s what the year revealed.
2025 Changed Auctions
Something shifted in 2025
Auctions have always been about timing. In 2025, they became just as much about engagement.
We saw auctions evolve beyond static catalogues into experiences with rhythm — clearer flows, better pacing, and moments that held attention. When the experience felt designed rather than assembled, bidders stayed longer, interacted more, and came back for the next sale.
The shift wasn’t subtle. Expectations moved — and they didn’t move back.
Mobile Bidders
Auctions are mobile-first now — not eventually, not “nice to have.”
Mobile didn’t just win in 2025 — it became the primary lens through which auctions were judged.
On phones, every decision matters more. Clear actions, fast feedback, and intuitive flow all became table stakes. When mobile experiences felt thoughtful, bidding felt effortless. When they didn’t, momentum faded quickly.
Mobile didn’t just raise the bar. It clarified what actually works.
Buyers Want an Experience
Entertainment isn’t extra — it’s part of the sale now.
One of the most exciting developments this year was the rise of influencer-style and live, interactive auctions.
We watched bidders respond to energy — real-time interaction, chat, sound cues, and a sense of shared participation. These formats didn’t replace traditional auctions; they expanded what was possible. They brought in new audiences, extended attention, and made bidding feel social again.
When auctions felt alive, people didn’t just bid — they stayed.
Your Brand Matters
Control is becoming a non-negotiable.
As experiences became richer, branding became more than visuals — it became ownership.
Auctioneers increasingly wanted platforms that reflected their identity, their audience, and their rules. White-label platforms weren’t just about independence anymore — they were about creative control, consistency, and trust.
When branding, flow, and functionality worked together, the auction felt cohesive. And cohesion built confidence.
Bidder Wander (and Why It Matters)
Bidder wander showed up clearly in 2025 — but not as a failure. As feedback.
When experiences felt slow, generic, or disconnected, bidders explored elsewhere. When experiences felt engaging, stable, and familiar, they stayed put. Wander wasn’t random — it was a signal that attention follows intention.
The takeaway wasn’t fear. It was opportunity: bidders are willing to stay when the experience gives them a reason to.
Happy New Year
If 2025 was the year auctions expanded, 2026 will be the year they differentiate.
The future isn’t about choosing between tradition and innovation — it’s about designing experiences that respect both. Mobile-first, yes. Stable, always. But also engaging, expressive, and unmistakably yours.
At RocketBid, these insights came from building, running, and refining auctions in the real world — shaped by bidder behaviour, auctioneer feedback, and a belief that auctions can be both powerful and fun.
Happy New Year everyone! Here’s to what’s next. 🤝
