With the winter solstice this week and snow in the forecast, we're in the heart of winter. If it feels like a sleigh ride might be on your "to do" activity list this season, don't forget to ask for a donation! Here are a some pointers around procuring a sleigh ride for your silent auction. Always ask. Spring and summer auction teams might not yet have the "procurement mindset" and may fail to remember to ask for a donation, even as they enjoy the sleigh ride with their own family. Don't be ... Read On >
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How many live auction items should you sell?
"Sherry, how many live auction items do you recommend we sell in our charity auction?" I hear this question regularly and contemplate it in the same way I'd think about prunes: "Will three get the job done? ... Is eight too many?" ;) Here's what I've learned: If the gala's timeline has already been determined, my recommendation doesn't matter. A specific amount of time ... 20 minutes ... 45 minutes ... 70 minutes ... has been allotted. Now I need to work with the client to choose the items ... Read On >
About last night… Proof these auction ideas work!
UPDATE 12/5/09 After I posted the original blog (scroll down), Maria wrote me this email: On behalf of our auction team, I wanted to thank you for meeting with us last night. We enjoyed your talk on procurement and we are fired up and ready to go after your ideas. This morning we got the PTA Chairs to approve the software agreement. I believe we can pay the full cost of the software with sponsorships. Well, as of this morning we have two more sponsors for our auction webpage. I didn’t even ... Read On >
Silent auction item or live: Where to sell it?
In my consultations with clients, I'm often asked for my opinion about items. "Should we include this airfare?" "Will we make more money if we package THESE together, or THOSE together?" "How should we promote this?" If the gala only has a silent auction, I'm never asked whether an item belongs in the silent auction or live auction - there's no choice! But if the gala includes both components, the "silent versus live" debate surfaces. In this post, I want to discuss how an auction item ... Read On >
Family Photo Party: The traditional silent auction photography donation gets updated
If your silent auction items are similar to many galas, at least one of the items donated will be from a photographer. It's often a free sitting with one 8"X10" print. Although the item is usually displayed nicely and the photographer often has a lovely image of their work available to view, it rarely sells for top dollar. I've been seeking a way to improve this donation and recently read something that offers a fresh twist on this traditional (but tired) silent auction item. Christopher ... Read On >