I've previously written about silent auction displays and mentioned that keeping it vertical is the key to a good display. But if you don't like the look of acrylic stands, or have more time than money (acrylic stands can be pricey), here are some other vertical options. Option 1: Oversized Vertical Silent Auction Displays The following displays were made out of a posterboard-type material. In speaking with the staff, I learned that the hospital foundation auction team (3 ... Read On >
Benefit Auctions Blog
When to send your auction thank you letter
Today I received an email from one of my clients. She wrote, "What's the "correct" way to thank donors? Do I send an auction thank you letter when I receive the item ... AND after the gala? Or is it OK to just send one letter? I don't want to be redundant, but I also don't want to be rude." I thought her question was insightful. She's a young, hip Development Director, and she's got manners. Good manners can build your auction's reputation for the long haul. Second, this question brings ... Read On >
PODCAST: School Auction Excels at Marketing a Potato Cannon
Unique school auction items that are properly marketed can sell big -- like this potato cannon which commanded $1000 ... twice! It sold well not only because the item was clever, but because the school did an exceptional job of promoting the item. To learn more about how the school marketed the cannon, listen to this week's podcast. As a side, discover 100 other top-selling items (like this potato cannon) by getting my free Auction Item Guide. It's the best items I sold in gala auctions ... Read On >
A School Auction Excels at Marketing a Potato Cannon
The right unique school auction items will sell for high dollar in your gala. And a potato cannon, made by the school's beloved maintenance department, in an all-boys Catholic school ... is a perfect example of that. The cannon sold for $1000 at the school auction... twice. (Once the Auction Chair saw how well it was selling, she confirmed the maintenance team would be willing to build another one. The school doubled its revenue on that item.) Not only is this a fun idea, but what helped ... Read On >
This Virginia benefit auctioneer is in Indiana for an “MBA”
This week I've been in Bloomington, IN. I'm attending the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) Education Institute's program known as Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI). CAI is a three-year program, so I won't graduate until 2011. My colleagues include ~66 auctioneers of all specialties. The Education Institute describes CAI as being "designed for leaders in the industry." It's an "executive development program focused on developing skills and providing tools." Most of us just refer ... Read On >