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Fundraising gala auctioneer Sherry Truhlar

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You are here: Home / Free Resources / Item Guide

Item Guide

What’s selling best in benefits? My FREE gift will tell you.  Enjoy my meaty Auction Item Guide™, stuffed with 100+ items I’ve sold around the USA. These are the benefit auction item ideas to take to your committee!

Each January, the Guide is carefully updated to contain the top selling items I sold the previous year. Stumped on procurement? You’ll have loads of ideas soon because I email you a link to the Guide immediately. Enter your name and email to get started.

Your privacy is important! I don’t rent, share, trade, or sell your email. You’ll also receive my popular Benefit Auction Ideas™ e-newsletter every-other-week.  It’s received rave reviews from readers like you who appreciate the ideas, practical how-to, and general inspiration you need when you’re planning an auction.  

Read what honest-to-goodness auction planners are saying:

I’ve been reading your e-zine for the last few months and enjoy your upbeat approach and original ideas. I especially loved the beach party motif photos. I’m now researching your site for information on sponsorships as I’ve got a pressing issue to manage. With the economy being what it is, we find that our auction is both more important, but we have even fewer resources to promote it.
Judith Waite Allee (Licking County, OH)

 

Thank you so much for all the wonderful ideas I downloaded from your website. It is a great list to jog us into action … Your enthusiastic shot in the arm came at the right time, as I need to stay pumped up so the board will be too. We have a fantastic board that works hard and we have used a lot of your ideas already over the years but it is always exciting to get new ones. Thanks again for all your ideas.
Peggy Brockamp (Milwaukie, OR)

 

I look forward to receiving your email updates and reviewing your resources online at your great website.
Lisa Antley (Morgantown, NC)

 

Love your articles and all of the great information you provide. I have gotten a lot of good ideas about items to procure from your Item Guide, so we’re starting our auction development process with that.
Nancy Finke (Florissant, MO)

 

I think your website clarifies so many issues like procurement, auctioneer-no auctioneer, how much time, and all the stuff.
Leighton Strader (Williamsburg, VA)

 

Thank you so, so much! You have so many great ideas…I can’t wait to run them by my procurement team members. I really appreciate your promptness, your support, your advice and your enthusiasm. You are an inspiration!
Carol Goldman (Oakland, CA)

 

The info that Sherry is sharing has been very helpful to me and my efforts to grow our event. I am in awe of the advice and direction she shares. I especially appreciate how true the advice is and the success I am having following her tips.
Janice Eatherton (Spokane, WA)

 

I found your website and e-zine about a month ago and it is amazing. I have read everything on it at least twice. I do not even have children, but for some reason I am obsessed with your website. I am up ‘til 2 or 3 AM every night reading all of the ideas and information. I just want to thank you for all the useful information. It truly has completely changed the way I think about auctions and how to properly ask for items and donations. Thank you again.
Jennifer Watson (Cosby, TN)

 

I love reading your emails, which I have been getting for a couple of years now. They always seem to spark some kind of idea. We’ve studied your Auction Item guide and tried a “Louisville version” of some of your ideas. Some worked out, some didn’t, but that’s procurement! Please let me know when the “What sold well in 2010” is ready. I look forward to it. A live and silent auction are intrinsic to our annual Gala, and we want to do better each year. I regret you are not near us. I think you would be a welcome spark.
Jim Evans (Louisville, KY)

 

I’m dying to download the “Divine in 2009!” I saved the “Great in 2008” but due to technical difficulties, I needed to re-register on your site. I’m hoping to download the “Divine in 2009” before I meet with the school auction committee tomorrow morn. Thanks a lot.
Linda Maher (Potomac, MD)

 

Love your website! I received your 2008 Auction Guide and I must say gave me some new and exciting ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Melanie Savidge (Pompano Beach, FL)

 

Your advice is great! Thank you.
Connie Burke (Escondido, CA)

 

Thanks for all of the great information you share with us!
Sue Loiland (Gig Harbor, WA)

 

Your site, ideas, etc have been fun to review and very helpful. Thanks!
eana Nuxoll (Effingham, IL)

 

Thank you so much for all the wonderful ideas I downloaded from your website. It is a great list to jog us into action … Your enthusiastic shot in the arm came at the right time, as I need to stay pumped up so the board will be too. We have a fantastic board that works hard and we have used a lot of your ideas already over the years but it is always exciting to get new ones. Thanks again for all your ideas.
Peggy Brockamp (Milwaukie, OR)

 

I look forward to receiving your email updates and reviewing your resources online at your great website.
Lisa Antley (Morgantown, NC)

 

Last chance …

If you read all the way to the bottom of this page, and still haven’t signed up, I need to recap. You get TWO tools.

1. You’ll receive my Benefit Auction Ideas™ e-newsletter twice a month. It’s published every-other-Tuesday.

2. Plus you get your FREE gift, my Auction Item Guide™ filled with 100+ auction item ideas.

Get the Guide

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What auction planners say

Sherry, oh, Sherry! You were an invaluable asset to this year’s gala. With your assistance we were able to add so many new elements that truly made a difference in taking our event to another level. This year was the most successful yet! Everyone loved you and the amazing energy that you brought to the event. We look forward to having you again in 2018!

Krystal Fenwick

Thank you so much for the outstanding job you did for us on April 1! I have received so much positive feedback from so many who attended. You even earned Sister Suzan’s (our Vice-Principal) seal of approval! Safe travels to all your many events and thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year our best ever!

Diane Albano, Director of Development
St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School (St. Augustine, FL)

Sherry is flexible and easy to work with. She gives honest feedback and advice throughout the planning and implementation process. Without a doubt, Sherry and Red Apple Auctions has helped take our annual fundraising event to the next level.

Beckie Middendorf, Development Director and Janet Gulla, Development Coordinator
St. Henry District High School (Erlanger, KY)

Sherry is “on board” from day one of auction planning, works closely with our steering committee and is only just a phone call away. The night of the auction, we toss her the keys and let her drive the event! We are never disappointed!

Charly Ryan, Director of Institutional Advancement
The Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, MD)

I was very fortunate to have Red Apple on board for my first auction. Working with Sherry was invaluable. She provided guidance at every phase of planning, from procurement on forward – and she challenged us to make our event more ambitious and more successful at every stage. Thank you, Sherry!

Pete Goldlust, Director of Development
Oak Hill School (Eugene, OR)

If your auction needs to upgrade, call any auctioneer you find on Google. But if you want your auction to be impressive, meaningful, and profitable, you need to call Sherry.

Erin Banda
2016 NYUMBANI Board member

The auction was entertaining .. proactive … the crowd was involved and felt a part of it,” he said, emphasizing, “The entertainment value was huge.

Darrell, a long-time attendee

We plan on booking Red Apple Auctions much earlier for our next event so we can take advantage of more of the pre-event offerings.

Nicole Carr, Director of Grants and Special Events
The Ivymount School (Rockville, MD)

2012 Oakcrest Anne and CarolinaSherry, personally, I can’t even begin to tell you the immense amount of positive feedback that I received having YOU (and Darby) there with is this year!… Read The Rest “Anne Livaudais Knudsen, 5th year gala co-chair”

Aren’t KK and Michael a cute couple? PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9NakF4TWkxSGRXVnpkSE10UW5Wc2JHbHpMVXRMTFdGdVpDMU5hV05vWVdWc0xVcHZjMlZ3YUM1dGNEUT0vP2NvbnRhaW5lcj1ldnAtV0JBVTkwTlVBUyI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+PGRpdiBpZD0iZXZwLVdCQVU5ME5VQVMiIGRhdGEtcm9sZT0iZXZwLXZpZGVvIiBkYXRhLWV2cC1pZD0iTWpBeE1pMUhkV1Z6ZEhNdFFuVnNiR2x6TFV0TExXRnVaQzFOYVdOb1lXVnNMVXB2YzJWd2FDNXRjRFE9Ij48L2Rpdj4= They liked that I “moved the crowd along … kept the crowd engaged but wasn’t obtrusive or invasive. We were able to talk but still keep track of what was going on.”

Staci Meruvia 150 ptYou have NO idea of how many people came up to me (I know Julie as well) and said, ‘That auctioneer was incredible … she engaged the crowd, …… Read The Rest “Staci Meruvia”

Geri said: “Great job of getting potential donors in the room to step up to the plate and not feel guilty or bad about it. They actually wanted to give more … and that’s not something I’ve seen in many other auctioneers.” 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 The following… Read The Rest “Geri”

Irene attended one of my New Hampshire auctions and assumed I must be a radio personality — until I started to chant that fast talk. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRdE1qQXhNUzFPU0ZOUVEwRXRTWEpsYm1VdWJYQTBMVEU9Lz9jb250YWluZXI9ZXZwLTVHMlVHQlFGN1YiPjwvc2NyaXB0PjxkaXYgaWQ9ImV2cC01RzJVR0JRRjdWIiBkYXRhLXJvbGU9ImV2cC12aWRlbyIgZGF0YS1ldnAtaWQ9IlIzVmxjM1F0TWpBeE1TMU9TRk5RUTBFdFNYSmxibVV1YlhBMExURT0iPjwvZGl2Pg== “I’ve been to this event before with a couple of other auctioneers,” she said, “Your ability to get personal… Read The Rest “Irene”

Most product & consulting remarks are found on their respective webpages, but I’ve listed two below so you’re assured my products are as spot-on as my auctioneering.   Not only was our 2013 auction a blast, but our Washington, D.C. public school raised $67,000 — that’s $25,000 more than last year! The evening went… Read The Rest “Carolyn Kahn-Hall and Andrea Del Vecchio”

Cynthia Steele Vance_150X180As a former Fox News Anchorwoman, I am often called on to perform at auctions. So, I know first-hand that auctioneering can be a difficult job. Sherry Truhlar is one of the best in the business.… Read The Rest “Cynthia Steele Vance”

Cynthia Steele Vance
Guest at The Potomac School 2014 auction (McLean, VA)

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