Some people are intimidated about asking for items for their auction. After this past weekend's auction, several of us went out to dinner. (The auction was an afternoon event, so the day was still young for an evening meal.) I sat next to the Gala Chair, who does a great job with procurement, and visited with her about how she likes to ask for items. In the video, you'll hear a couple of nuggets she shared with me. https://youtu.be/5jd_JnuiV2k ... Read On >
Procurement
Nonprofit auction consignment trends tied to travel
I am noticing 5-6 trends in the travel auction consignment sector. I cover three in today's video. 1. Adding activities to trips Adding wine tastings, tours, dinners and other activities to consigned trips is popular. Tip: For many of my clients, I'd advise against this as I tends to make the package more expensive overall. 2. Winner's Choice This stems from the auction world where it's often called "High Bidder's Choice." For instance, I use it as a way to drive prices higher on ... Read On >
Auction item idea: White House Christmas ornament
Living in the Washington, D.C. area, I become accustomed to seeing certain auction items at many of my events. For instance, flags flown over the Capitol and tours of the House or Senate buildings are easy donations from your congressman. But I forget that if you live outside the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia metro area), some auction items and ideas are not necessarily as well-known. One such item I saw recently at a school auction was the White House Christmas ornament. The ornaments ... Read On >
Did you see it? Auction Item Guide™ released
Did you catch it earlier this year when I released the The Pandemic Years: 2020-2021 Auction Item Guide,™ covering item sales during COVID? Since starting my business in 2005, I’ve released an publication showcasing 100 of the top-selling items from events I’ve worked the prior year. These are the items the crowds most loved, paying over full price for each one. It's curated full of great auction item ideas for your next event. Since launching my Guide, a number of software ... Read On >
Fundraising auction consignment: It’s OK to use more than one company
Though not ideal, one method of getting items to sell at your auction gala is simply to buy them. And one place to buy them is through consignment companies. During last week's Auction Procurement Masterclass, a student asked if it was OK / allowed to have more than one auction consignment company represented at your gala. The answer is “yes,” and I share why you might want to do that in the video. https://youtu.be/rAKxyORBIYo ... Read On >