I've been racking up the airline miles working auctions nonstop for the last few weeks. Wisconsin, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and other states have been on my itinerary ... sometimes more than once. The constant go-go-go- has been exhausting, but the advantage of all that travel are the new ideas I pick up along the way. Today's tip is a nice touch from a classy Iowa gala I worked recently. If your benefit auction includes a live auction, somebody is ... Read On >
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BAS: The letters after an auctioneer’s name
My email signature is as such: Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS, CAI If I was so inclined, there are other initials I could use after my name, too. I've got a couple of bachelors degrees, a masters degree, and other certifications in addition to those three listed. Yet these three are only the designations I write with any regularity. I think it's because I must pay a fee to use them each year. I feel compelled to "get my money's worth" out of them. As it turns out, one of the questions ... Read On >
Video: Brand your fundraiser with a consistent gala auction theme
A few years ago I worked with an American Heart Association chapter located in a less populated area. Because of their size and budget differences, they approached their gala differently than the larger chapter I worked with in Washington, D.C. To conserve money on design and printing, they collaborated with two other regional AHA chapters. All three used the same gala theme each year in their respective locations. The marketing materials, forms, and even some decorative pieces of the ... Read On >
VIDEO: Benefit Auction Gift Ideas for Guests
It's a rare bird who wouldn't like to leave a party with a treat, and that includes your auction guests. But gifts don't have to take the form of a traditional gift bags filled with your nonprofit literature, either. (I'd rather they not.) In this video, I share several benefit auction gift ideas I've seen at events, starting with the more traditional and mundane (think edible goodies) to the more exquisite and rare. https://youtu.be/jmmUys8am-s?feature=shared Gifts are best when ... Read On >
VIDEO: LEGO® is trendy, but is it a great silent auction item?
Did you like LEGO®s as a child? If you did, you might think it should be included among those great silent auction items to offer. Wellll, I'm not so sure about that. They are popular right now, but I'm not sure about selling them in your auction. It depends on the form they take. I think selling it 'in the raw' is best, versus gettin' all fancy schmancy with it. Watch the video below to see what I'm talking about. https://youtu.be/RCmjSL9oIgg?feature=shared Got any ideas on where to find ... Read On >