The Price of Commission
Eric & Bristi Gipe — Eric Gipe
30 years was the price of admission for the way I am feeling right now. Blessed, excited and hopeful.
I have tried to be a small business owner since I was 24. I have been broke, unsuccessful, and full of bad ideas. Sometimes when I had good ideas, I didn't know how to execute them. Each time I told myself I had learned something, dusted myself off and would try again. Believing wholeheartedly that each venture was going to work. To no avail I would always meet obstacles that would cause me to close the business.
My most recent venture was a little over a year ago, it was a great idea, but there just wasn't a need for the software I created. I took a little break, I wasn't quitting but I just didn't know if I was ever going to start a business that worked.
One evening my best friend asked why I wasn't doing auctions. I kicked the idea around but didn't give it any weight. Armstrong Western LLC didn't give up he kept reminding me about all the great sales I had been a part of and continued to encourage me. "You should do auctions." Finally one evening in October 2025 I went to Bristi Gipe and said, "I think I want to go to auction school." She said, "you should," that support was exactly what I needed.
I graduated auction school, passed my state exam and began my journey of building a business. January 15th I told the IRS I was doing this again, I'm sure someone at that office chuckled when they saw my name again. Then came the hard part, letting all of you know I was open for business.
Slowly the calls have started to come in. I got my first consignor. and now, as I am approaching the first preview and close I know I've got something. Southwest Louisiana, you are a place full of surprises. You gave me my wife, my home and now my small business.
The take away is never give up, always keep fighting and moving forward. Whatever the goal, you aren't crazy for trying to achieve it. I love that God made me this way, a guy full of hope. Giving up at any point would have robbed me of this moment right here.