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 >
Procurement
Finding a big donor – in prison
File this under the topic of "Donations found in the unlikeliest of places."While flying Delta last month, the inflight magazine Delta Sky profiled lifestyle company Beekman 1802.Years prior to starting the company with his partner, one of the two co-owners, Brent Ridge, was a doctor who was working at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.While Martha Stewart was in prison, Ridge wrote her a letter asking her to donate money to his employer, Mount Sinai.She did. The resulting gift of ... Read On >
New for 2017: Auction procurement training class “How to get 2016’s top-selling items” plus a newly-released Auction Item Guide
Like an aging beauty queen lacking any other skills, my 2015 Auction Item Guide™ (“What sold for lots of green in 2015”) was desperate to hang on to her glory. But over the holidays, I ripped off her crown and showed her the door.Meanwhile the new 2016 Auction Item Guide™ (“These stole the scene in 2016”) took over the reigning duties and made herself at home on my website.You can now get the new Guide AND participate in a “pop-up” auction procurement training class, "How to get 2016's ... Read On >
![[VIDEO] Free donations to sell at school auctions, like Spirit Rock](https://www.redappleauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Spirit-rock-at-school-auction1-150x150.jpg)
[VIDEO] Free donations to sell at school auctions, like Spirit Rock
I'm working with a lot of schools right now as this is the height of school auction season. In keeping with the season, here's an idea specifically for you school auction committees. I'm often asked for ideas for items that a committee can procure for "free." By "free," the committee means they won't have to ask a company for a donation. It can also reference the fact that the item itself doesn't have a hard financial value associated to it. Some more common examples of free items are ... Read On >
![[Video] Get aggressive about email marketing your auction](https://www.redappleauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/box-1-photo-150x150.jpg)
[Video] Get aggressive about email marketing your auction
Boy was I on fire when I recorded this video! I shot this about three months ago, after having two conversations with clients that got me all flushed about email marketing. I turned on the camera and my passion oozed out. (The audio didn't sync with the video on this, but the content is fine.)I get frustrated when clients explain that a school / nonprofit policy states they can’t send out more than one or two emails a month. Or that they have to promote the auction in a section of the ... Read On >