Though not ideal, one method of getting items to sell at your auction gala is simply to buy them. And one place to buy them is through consignment companies. During last week's Auction Procurement Masterclass, a student asked if it was OK / allowed to have more than one auction consignment company represented at your gala. The answer is “yes,” and I share why you might want to do that in the video. https://youtu.be/rAKxyORBIYo ... Read On >
consignment
Wine is the new (coronavirus-safe) auction consignment package
Last Thursday a big box arrived on my doorstep. Unlike so many of the packages I receive, I had to sign for this one. I didn’t know what was in it. After the UPS truck pulled off, I investigated. I couldn’t remember ordering anything that would require such a large box. Plus, it was heavy. I cut the tape to see what was inside. I saw two Styrofoam containers. And then I removed the lid of the Styrofoam container. Aha! I immediately remembered a call I’d received from a consignor who ... Read On >
I think “hotel silent auctions” are scammy — what do you think?
A friend from Kansas and her husband flew out to visit me last month. And this is where the story begins. My house is undergoing a renovation so they stayed in a nearby hotel. When I popped into the Hilton Garden Inn the first morning of their visit, I saw this in the lobby. A silent auction! I'd seen this type of set-up at a hotel in Ohio last year, but didn't have time to investigate. I walked over to see how it worked. First, I glanced at what they were ... Read On >
New for 2017: Procurement training “Mastering Nonprofit Auction Consignment”
By a long shot, the most popular trip I've sold in benefit auctions over the last ~3 years has been a trip to Cuba. For over 50 years, Cuba was a forbidden country for Americans. We couldn't (legally) travel there. As the rest of the world marched on, time stood still in Cuba -- and that's what auction guests are eager to experience. They are hot for Cuba because it's a step back in time. Magnificent buildings are occupied, but crumbling. Cars considered antiques in the United ... Read On >
Fake charity auction memorabilia raises problems
How would you handle this sad situation? Visualize your gala. You’ve worked hard to acquire items, and your guests are milling through a large auction. Some of the items are the local sorts of donations one often sees at events in your area. Other items are more glamorous because you’ve worked with a memorabilia company to bring in “big ticket” items. Guests are ogling and bidding on the merchandise, buying signed guitars from their favorite bands and snapping up memorabilia signed by ... Read On >