• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • About RAA
    • Meet Sherry Truhlar
    • What makes us unique
    • Reviews/Clients
    • Press
    • Licensing
  • Contact
  • Client Login

Fundraising gala auctioneer Sherry Truhlar

  • Services
    • Onsite Auction Services
    • Virtual Auction Services
    • Fund a Need Experts
    • Consulting
    • Onsite workshops
  • Products
    • $10 Trainings
    • On Demand Webinars
    • Books
  • Speaking
    • Why Sherry
    • Keynote and Other Topics
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
    • Webinar: COVID-19
    • Virtual Gala Cheat Sheet
    • Newsletter
    • Auction Item Guide™
    • Recording: Porch Parties
    • Benefit Auction Case Study
    • Blog
  • Store
You are here: Home / Blog Post / Why I love acrylic stands in silent auction displays
Feb 07

Why I love acrylic stands in silent auction displays

Sherry Truhlar 11 Comments

school silent auction display framed

This school auction used both framed and frameless stands. I prefer the frameless.

I’ve written extensively on how to structure a good silent auction display. And despite my particular interest in acrylic frames, I’ve even talked about how to create displays without using acrylic stands.

But I’ve not covered why I really like using those acrylic styles.

Here’s why acrylic stands catch my fancy.

First, they are frameless.

Unlike using traditional photo frames, which have a 1″-2″ frame (see photo) around the edges, clear plastic stands are frameless. It leaves more room for text and other critical information.

Second, they are stackable, making them easy to store.

You’ll need more boxes and bubble wrap to box up 100 photo frames versus 100 acrylic stands.

Third, they are reusable. Buy them once; use them again and again.

(Yes, you can do the same with regular photo frames, too. But those other stands don’t have the frameless and stackable advantages.)

Fourth is the vertical presentation. 

This is the most important reason to use stand-up frames for your displays.

When you present content vertically, more guests can simultaneously view the item and decide if they want to bid.

In contrast, when you present the content horizontally, I can’t read what is written until the guest standing next to me moves out of the way. Then I move into his position, peer down, and read the description.

Presenting the content horizontally isn’t effective for traffic flow. You have a short period of time to make a sale in your auction gala, so you need to be effective in your presentation marketing.

Yes, I realize that any photo frame will present the content vertically, but the acrylic frames have the added advantages of being frameless and stackable.

All are good points to remember for your displays.

Share on Facebook Share
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Pinterest Share
Share on LinkedIn Share
Send email Mail
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.

Reader Interactions

Groundhog Day Blasé: 5 benefit auction ideas to update tired galas
PODCAST: Why I love using frames in silent auction displays

Comments

  1. Pam says

    February 15, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Do you have affordable site to procure the acyclic frames?

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      February 15, 2011 at 12:13 PM

      Pam, check out this post …
      https://www.redappleauctions.com/silent-auctions/buying-acrylic-frames-for-your-silent-auction-displays-and-my-love-of-ebates/

      … and the other people’s comments in this post because Shanthi gave an option I’ve not used.

      Reply
  2. KKB says

    February 10, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    It’s the little things that make all the difference – to the volunteers and to the auction guests. Thanks for covering the important details.

    Reply
  3. Gayle L. Gifford, ACFRE says

    February 10, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Sherry,
    Another fabulous suggestion and another reason I refer all my auction thinking colleagues and clients to your site.

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      February 10, 2011 at 9:12 PM

      Aren’t you a sweetheart! Thanks much, Gayle.

      Reply
  4. Gayle L. Gifford, ACFRE says

    February 10, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Sherry,
    Another fabulous suggestion and another reason I refer all my auction thinking colleagues and clients to you.

    Reply
  5. Amy Eisenstein says

    February 9, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Great suggestion, Sherry. I recently volunteered for my PTO silent auction and we spent hours taking frames apart and folding the display signs, because the frames were smaller than 8 x 11. It was a nightmare. This would have helped a lot!

    Reply
  6. Shanthi L. Sivanandham says

    February 8, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    Dan Craft Displays is a great resource for acrylic frames at good prices.

    I used them last year and everything shipped beautifuly. Their customer service is great. Thanks, Sherry!

    — Shanthi L. Sivanandham

    http://www.dancraftdisplays.com

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      February 8, 2011 at 11:46 AM

      Thanks for sharing this resource, Shanthi. I know others will find it helpful, too.

      Reply
  7. Bunnie Riedel says

    February 8, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    The devil is always in the details! Thanks Sherry!

    Reply
  8. Betsy Baker says

    February 7, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Presentation is so important! Thank you for sharing your expert advice, Sherry.

    Betsy Baker

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Connect with Me Here

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)

home | auctioneering | consulting | free item guide | about

 

Red Apple Auctions Co., PO Box 6066, Arlington, VA 22206
Toll free: 888-474-0838 | Email: Info@RedAppleAuctions.com | Copyright © 2005 - 2021

 

Sherry Truhlar • Charity Auctions • School Auctions • Fundraising Auctions • Auction Galas • Benefit Auctions

 

Terms of Use · Privacy Statement