In two weeks, I'm teaching a FREE teleclass on auction procurement and how you can get donated items without leaving your house. (Click to register for my Seven Procurement Secrets no-cost call.) I'll be writing about procurement until then. Today I'm sharing a short story about consignment items for fundraisers. ++++++++++++++ Here's a quick story about consignment that clients tell me again ... and again ... and again ... and again ... and you get the idea. While working for a small gala ... Read On >
Silent Auctions
One silent auction display idea for jewelry, furs, and fashion
Gala auctions tend to have no shortage of jewelry. It's across the board at my events ... live auctions, silent auctions, bonuses, games, upgrades, etc. Some groups do a better job than others at showcasing the pieces. And then there are those random clothing items that are donated: dresses, furs, coats, and the like. Given that your silent auction is -- at its core -- a retail store, what's one good silent auction display idea for selling your wares? (Sidebar comment: Gosh, if you've spent ... Read On >
How to display a flag selling at a benefit auction
My team recently fielded a question by LinkedIn reader Ed in Oklahoma City. Ed was curious about how he should display a couple of flags he'd procured. He would be selling them in his benefit auction. Each would likely go into a separate package, but could be sold individually. He wanted ideas. "A folded flag doesn't seem too appealing to me," he wrote. Well, it might not be appealing. But that's how most are sold. Typically flags are folded and stored in a triangular wooden case ... Read On >
Can you cancel the silent auction for a Fund a Need auction instead?
I was speaking in Topeka, KS, about two weeks ago. I mentioned that some participants might want to eliminate their silent auctions and instead offer a well-orchestrated Fund a Need auction. I wasn't kidding. Well-orchestrated Fund a Needs surpass the silent auction revenue at a number of my clients' galas. ++++++++++++++++++++ (CAVEAT: It needs to be the right type of Fund a Need, well-orchestrated, and aggressively marketed. Learn all you need to know with my uber-popular DVD, Fabulous ... Read On >
Party sign-up for the Moms
The majority of the school auctions my team works occur in the spring. As we approach Mother's Day, I start talking about "buying this jewelry for your wife" and "What a nice Mother's Day gift this item would be." Here's an activity that the Moms might enjoy. It could be advertised as a Mother's Day appreciation gift. Party sign-ups like this can be incorporated into the silent auction. Moms Night Out at the Movies Enjoy an evening out with the girls at the Avalon Theater. Join your friends ... Read On >