Shrink those floral centerpieces at your benefit auction
Simple tulips were an elegant auction centerpiece at this school auction.
When I was a corporate event planner, deciding on centerpieces for special events was one of the creative aspects of my work. Part of the process was making them functional and fun.
As an auctioneer, I have definite ideas on what makes for a good centerpiece! To keep this post short, I’m only going to talk about fresh floral centerpieces. Non-floral centerpieces will be covered another blog day.
Here are three auction tips for selecting a good floral centerpiece for your auction fundraiser.
Keep them inexpensive.
This low, Balinese-inspired auction centerpiece worked well at a school auction.
This low, Balinese-inspired auction centerpiece worked well at a school auction.
Even if you sell the centerpiece, they usually won’t make you more than what you paid for them. I’ve noticed a trend that the centerpieces are being scaled down in this economy — smart move! Even when the economy is booming I’d prefer if the centerpieces were inexpensive.
Keep them small
The auctioneer needs to be able to see around and over them. Both bidders and auctioneers get frustrated when they can’t see each other.
This floral auction centerpiece blocked the view of the screen from this seat. Keep centerpieces low.
This floral auction centerpiece blocked the view of the screen from this seat. Keep centerpieces low.
If you aren’t selling them (or borrowing them), give ‘em away.
Guests love taking centerpieces home! If you think there’s going to be a swarm of people clamoring for your centerpiece, create a process so guests know the correct pecking order. Mark one of the wine glasses with a gold star, or tell the group that the person with the shortest hair at the table gets first dibs on the centerpiece.
For other auction tips on centerpieces, you might want to read about:
- selling auction centerpieces,
- using vegetables in auction centerpieces, or
- see what the Robin Hood Foundation in New York did for a non-floral centerpiece.
(c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
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