It's a big question: Will bidders bid more or less if they know the value of an item before they start bidding? I talk with many committees who debate as to whether they should print the auction item values in their catalogs because they wonder if it might psychologically affect the guest's perceived value of an item.Listen to the podcast below. ... Read On >
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Should you print auction item values in your catalog?
Tax season is upon us. I just saw a television ad from a tax preparation company. They confidently stated their tax professionals would be able to find deductions overlooked by your previous tax preparer. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? If you’ve ever talked with more than one tax expert, you probably noticed that each one has a different interpretation of what you can and cannot do, legally. Sometimes what is legal in tax law seems to depend on who you talk to. I share this because as ... Read On >
Live items should be on an auction schedule
If you're searching for some fundraising auction ideas that have an impact on the live auction, this is a simple but good one. Sometimes auction catalogs are misplaced before the live auction begins. Other times a catalog isn't printed. Some groups print a catalog, but forget to include the live auction items. Other groups can't include their live auction items into a catalog because the items weren't yet confirmed by the printing deadline. Whatever the reason, guests should have ... Read On >
Splurge or save? Benefit auction ideas for printing
With many groups trying to cut expenses, it's worth taking a look at how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to printing. Printed auction materials tend to consume a large part of a budget, so here are some benefit auction ideas on to splurge and when to save. Auction Invitation: WORTH IT, depending on ticket price The formal printed invitation has not yet been made obsolete by the "evite," and many guests will expect to receive their copy in the mail (especially if you have a ... Read On >
A smart way to cut costs in your benefit auction catalog
In fact, printing costs are one of the highest expenses when producing a fundraising auction. Anything we can do to reduce unnecessary printing is good for your bottom line and the environment. One of my clients was brilliant. She dropped her auction catalog production costs from $14,000 to $7900. Impressive, eh? Here's how she did it. 1. Eliminated tabs Tabs are expensive. Although I think the tabs make it easier to find a particular section, I do not think they are worth the added ... Read On >