Printed catalogs disappeared during the pandemic when virtual galas emerged, and some of my clients have questioned whether they need to produce one now that they've returned to in-person events. "They are laborious," they complain, "Can't guests just look at their phone if they want to read about an item?" For live auction items, I'm a believer in having a hard-copy written description -- but it doesn't need to be fancy. (You'll see 3 widely differing examples in the video.) That ... Read On >
Catalogs & Programs
What to include in your auction item description
Send this video over to the volunteer/s writing your auction item descriptions. They can follow this format to ensure no key information is missed when writing the online or printed catalog descriptions. There are six areas to cover in your standard auction item description. In the video, I talk about each and provide examples. 1. Clear titles instead of cute ones 2. Description 3. Restrictions - all of 'em 4. Donor 5. Fair market value 6. Photo/s https://youtu.be/xTidzCniJwk ... Read On >
Using QR codes in your auction catalog
During the pandemic, restaurants taught many of us how to use our smartphone camera to access a menu, using a QR code. That idea is now popping up in auction catalogs, too. QR codes posted around your gala venue can direct guests to registration pages, online auctions, or donation pages. QR codes are also now appearing in auction catalogs. In today’s vlog, you'll see how two nonprofits incorporated QR codes into their auction catalogs. https://youtu.be/AAeXXijjS3w ... Read On >
Comparing 3 association auction catalogs for ideas
Browsing through auction catalogs is a solid way to get fresh ideas for your own gala -- and it's a lot cheaper than flying across the country to attend an event. In this video, I dissect three auction catalogs from different associations. Each gala was held at the annual conference of the association. Members of the association attended the gala and could participate in the auction. You'll hear examples of how each association altered its items to match the budget and interest of ... Read On >
The case for good auction item descriptions (EG: Far Niente wine)
I like to be prepared for my fundraising auctions, as I know it matters in different ways to the donor, the nonprofit, and the guests. In this video, I share a recent example of how the printed description of a donation (a vertical of Far Niente wine) didn't seem to match the label of the wine. The last thing I wanted to do was screw up the description of the 5-bottle donation. It's pricey stuff -- and the donation even included a unicorn 2016 vintage. Furthermore, about 300 C-level ... Read On >