A few weeks ago I was in the kitchen of a busy Rockville, MD home. Prior to starting the procurement meeting, the six Moms and I chatted about all sorts of matters, including being over the age of 40. If you're organizing a school auction, it's likely that your auction guests are nearing or hovering around that age. If you're a nonprofit silent auction, some of your guests may only vaguely remember their 40th birthday party. So if you want us to bid ... be kind. Here are three silent ... Read On >
marketing
New silent auction display ideas for jewelry
Auction volunteers looking for creative ways to display jewelry in the silent auction will appreciate this approach. Most often I see necklaces draped over a box. Sometimes it's the same box the piece will be packaged inside when sent home later with the winning bidder. Boxes work well enough, but I recently spotted a couple of other silent auction display ideas you could use. Anyone who has heard me speak knows that my background was working in corporate marketing and sales. I'm always ... Read On >
Why I love acrylic stands in silent auction displays
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 ... 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 >
Using kids to raise cash at your gala, even when they aren’t attending – Part 2
Read Part 1 here, then come back to learn the final benefit auction ideas you can use to incorporate kids into your gala (even if they aren't physically present.) This post covers two strategies: 3. Let a Powerpoint slide tell the story In a ballroom, Powerpoint slides can provide imagery. At this gala raising money for heart-related causes, a child's photo was displayed with the text, "Nora Grace's heart was mended by Dr. Bill Hammill, and she hasn't stopped dancing since." Plus side: ... Read On >