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You are here: Home / Blog Post / Charity Auction Trends 2012: We’re still talking technology and always talking food
Dec 29

Charity Auction Trends 2012: We’re still talking technology and always talking food

Sherry Truhlar 8 Comments

charity auction trends 2012 cake pops

Cake Pops

I’m predicting three trends for 2012 charity auctions. Two of them involve execution.

No, nothing that harsh. I’m talking about the other kind of execution, when we’re getting stuff done.

We’ve heard a lot in the past couple years about trends in technology, but I think 2012 is the first time we are going to see some of these ideas in action.

First – for better or worse – mobile bidding will become more widely adopted in the silent auction.  

Vendors have been touting electronic bidding through mobile devices for a solid two years, but the high cost, the long planning life of a gala, and the fact that committees take time to research and absorb new technologies meant it wasn’t as widely used. 2012 is the first year we’ll see mobile bidding adopted at numerous events, primarily in metropolitan areas.

This fire is fueled by the many new vendors pouring into this space.  Prices are falling and the technology is improving. 

The mobile bidding of the past – and by “past” I mean 18 months ago – has morphed into text bidding and “use your own phone.” Instead of giving each guest a bidding device upon entering the gala, guests will be encouraged to use their own mobile phone and bid through a downloadable application or via text.

Moving forward, I don’t think you’ll see auction guests carrying around event-provided devices and key cards as much as you’ll see committees encouraging guests to use their own phones to bid.

The second nonprofit auction trend of 2012 rests with online auctions.

Online charity auctions have steadily gained in popularity over the last 10 years, but I think 2012 is the year when they will start to combine with the onsite gala auction experience. This merge could take several forms.

For instance, the final bid price achieved in the online auction might become the starting bid in the silent or live auction held onsite.

Or online bidders could be invited to place bids – in real time – during the live gala auction. This last technique has a proven history in commercial auctions but is generally new to the charity auction gala scene.

(Warning to auction chairs: this adds considerable complexity to the onsite gala. But at times, it would be worth the heartburn.)

And finally, no auction trend forecast is complete unless it covers food. 

In 2012, food trends will continue to spill over into charity auctions. Small, mini, and petite is what I expect to see on serving trays and buffet tables. The invasion of cake pops, mini cupcakes, and bite-sized delectables will give a fresh look to a gala’s dessert menu. 

(It also means I have less guilt about polishing off three desserts.)

I’ll be taking notes this year as my team and I work onsite at about 50 charity auctions around the USA. Stay tuned!

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Copyright © 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved

About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

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Comments

  1. Donna, School Auction Manager says

    September 16, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    I totally agree! And, from your fingers (typing) to God’s ears! The future is mobile bidding and mobile checkout. And, although that’s awesome on it’s own, it requires the auction to enter their items in software which not only automatically builds an online catalog but is a HUGE savings of time and energy plus, I think, it makes the process easier and adds an element of fun in the process. Thanks for your great words of wisdom.

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      September 16, 2013 at 8:05 PM

      Maybe the next step is to get donors to enter their own items into the software … and then it’s “approved” by the nonprofit (or packaged with something else before going online). Oooooh, wouldn’t that be sweet, Donna?

      Reply
  2. Pete says

    January 26, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    I am intrigued by your 100 top items list after listening in on your silent auction webinar the other day. However, i signed up for it and have not received. what should i do? thank you!

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      January 26, 2012 at 6:56 PM

      Ah ha! Thanks for emailing.

      This sounds like a whitelisting problem.

      Listen to the video on this page and view the whitelist instructions. https://www.redappleauctions.com/i-heard-you-had-good-taste/

      So .. try again now to get it immediately (using the same email or different (after you whitelist)) and see what happens.

      If this darn thing still doesn’t get through your barrier wall, then email info@RedAppleAuctions.com. That’s the email for my team member Lisa. She or Christina can email it to you (but neither work each day.)

      It’s worth the wait. 😉

      Reply
  3. Kate B. says

    January 18, 2012 at 2:23 PM

    Completely agreed! Mobile bidding will definitely be making an impact and I have to say, I’m a fan.

    And anything to do with cake pops, I’m in.

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      January 19, 2012 at 7:59 PM

      Ahhhh, cake pops. 🙂 Thanks for weighing in, Kate.

      Reply
  4. Anna Maria says

    January 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    Fab Posting , Love it ! excellent food for thought, no pun intended 🙂

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      January 12, 2012 at 11:27 AM

      Thanks for stopping by, Anna. Funny how food at any event – even online- can grab all the attention.

      Reply

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