Each week, The Washington Post Magazine has a section in its Sunday paper called "Making It." The section covers growing niche businesses in the Washington, D.C. area. Today the section featured Red Apple Auctions. Reporter Vanessa Gezari wrote the article, which you can read on the Post's site by clicking here. And whoo hoo! Some of my clients got honorable mentions, too. Food and Friends (which provides meals for people with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses) and the fabulous performing ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
Confessions from one of the auction team (Iris)
Here's a first for my blog: a guest article. Iris, one of the Washington, D.C.-based auction team members, told me one night that she felt really inspired to write about her experiences as part of the floor crew. I said, "Then you should write about your experiences." She did. It's below. +++++ With a parting glance in the full length mirror I grab my coat, and make my way to my car. I am off into the night. A mix of anticipation and apprehension fills the air as I careen down the highway ... Read On >
FREE teleclass: How to Get Your Board ON Board to Boost Your Benefit Auction Profitability
UPDATE: This class has passed. To keep abreast of future calls, subscribe to Benefit Auction Ideas. ++++++ If you've been reading my e-newsletter Benefit Auction Ideas (subscribe here), you know that I've been working to arrange for some teleconferences that will offer you more constructive ideas about specific aspects of your event. For one of my first topics, I'm interviewing nonprofit consultant Amy Delouise about getting Board support for your benefit auction. I've seen first-hand ... Read On >
Tips to Reduce No-Shows at Your Benefit Auction
This past spring, one of my clients experienced a higher-than-usual 9.5% no-show rate at their gala. If all of the no-shows had been seated together (they weren't), it would have amounted to over three empty tables. A significant number of no-shows impacts your benefit auction. First, you've likely already paid for the food so that is an incurred expense. Second, fewer guests means fewer people to bid on merchandise. Third, if it's obvious there are a number of guests missing, it may have a ... Read On >
Does a paddle-raise hurt your live auction proceeds?
If a group is conducting its first paddle raise (also called a fund a need, mission moment, and other names) "Don't you think that we'll make less money in the live auction or the silent auction if we also conduct an appeal?" No, I don't. Nor has that proven to be the case at any of the auctions I conduct onsite annually. Instead, my client just raises more money. We raise the same or similar live auction revenue. We raise the same or similar silent auction revenue. And by adding in ... Read On >