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You are here: Home / Blog Post / Searching for trendy fundraising auction themes? Use the official color of 2014 (Radiant Orchid)
Jan 07

Searching for trendy fundraising auction themes? Use the official color of 2014 (Radiant Orchid)

Sherry Truhlar 4 Comments

Pantone 2014 color of the year for Benefit auction decor

Photo courtesy of Pantone.com

Congratulations to “Radiant Orchid.” From a field of millions, she’s been chosen by Pantone to be the 2014 color of the year.  

You’ll soon see this color popping up in clothing, makeup, toys, fabrics … even websites. To my untrained eye, my 2013 / 2014 website color theme even uses shades of this color.

And don’t be surprised if you see it in a few fundraising auction themes, either. 

(For dozens of ideas and photos easily organized to help you with auction themes, centerpieces, and decor, check out this resource. It’s a big time-saver and a nice resource for decor chairs … a bit like what Pinterest could be, if Pinterest were well-structured. 🙂 )

tablecloth in radiant orchid hue for fundraising auction theme

This tablecloth is in the trendy color genre.

These battery-operated lights on this gala table emitted a "Radiant Orchid" hue.

It’s not an exact match, but these battery-operated lights emit a closely-related hue.

Where could you use this color? Here are some of the usual suspects when it comes to gala auctions:

  • Lighting
  • Invitations
  • Accent colors
  • Auction centerpieces perhaps using — DUH! — an orchid.
  • Gift bags
  • Metallic bead necklaces
  • Tableclothes
  • Napkins

The photos on this page are my attempt to find a few “Radiant Orchid” auctions that fall into the correct color scheme. Use it for your inspiration.

If you find the subject of color intriguing, you might also enjoy these other articles.

  • fundraising auction themes Radiant Orchid color decor

    This casual-styled gala for a hospital vibes in “Radiant Orchid.”

    2013 blog post: Making other colors green with envy, Emerald is chosen as 2013′s official color

  • 2011 blog post: Hello Honeysuckle! 2011′s official color packs punch in benefit auction themes
  • Pantone’s press release on the 2014 color: Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2014
    PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid
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About Sherry Truhlar

Fundraising auctioneer and educator, helping schools and nonprofits plan more profitable benefit auctions. A prolific writer for her own blog and other fundraising sites, she’s been covered in The Beacon-News, Town & Country Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wiley's Special Events Galore!, AUCTIONEER, and other publications.

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Comments

  1. eric huizer says

    January 22, 2014 at 9:41 AM

    Thank you for this very interesting article about colours and themes..
    You have a inspiring way or writing which i like very much.
    I am of writing some more on my blog…. maybe you will find it interesting, let me know what you think…
    Gr eric huizer

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      January 22, 2014 at 10:01 AM

      You’re working in a different area of the auction industry than I, Eric. Good luck!

      Reply
  2. Sharon Tracy says

    January 9, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    Sherry,
    My auction is for golfers. It has been very difficult over the past 8 years trying to interest them with auction items, though we do okay. Many come as guests of their bosses and don’t see that they too are expected to participate in the fundraising activities. We’ve tried putting in a bunch of lower priced items and that has helped a little. Last year we tried a ticket auction along with our live and silent auctions. I think we got more activity with that than the other two combined. And mostly the women present participated in the ticket auction. This all is being said to ask if given our circumstances, a color theme is likely to make a difference. While the lovely orchid color is nice, we would have to supply the tablecloths, napkins and any other colored decorations. I would wonder if the cost of all that would make enough of a participation difference to make the effort and cost worthwhile. Your thoughts?

    Reply
    • Sherry Truhlar says

      January 9, 2014 at 10:53 AM

      Good question, Sharon! For a golf auction, I just wouldn’t bother. Let me couch this in another way …

      Sometimes people hire me as their auctioneer because they want to raise more money.
      Sometimes they hire me because they want to have a more professional, elegant event.
      Sometimes they hire me because they want their event to be different than everyone else’s gala in town (a competitive advantage).
      Sometimes they hire me because I’m less expensive than another auctioneer.
      Sometimes they hire me because their friends saw me at a different gala and thought I was hilarious.
      There are many, many reasons someone will hire me. It’s not always about money.

      You might want to use a color at your event to make it LOOK NICER… or to give it a more POLISHED FEEL… or to KEEP UP WITH THE COMPETITION (other golf tournaments in the area that present better) … etc. But if you’re thinking it will raise you more money, it won’t. So if your goal is to raise money, the answer is “no.” If the goal is to “maintain an edge,” the answer might be “use it.”

      Reply

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Sherry, oh, Sherry! You were an invaluable asset to this year’s gala. With your assistance we were able to add so many new elements that truly made a difference in taking our event to another level. This year was the most successful yet! Everyone loved you and the amazing energy that you brought to the event. We look forward to having you again in 2018!

Krystal Fenwick

Thank you so much for the outstanding job you did for us on April 1! I have received so much positive feedback from so many who attended. You even earned Sister Suzan’s (our Vice-Principal) seal of approval! Safe travels to all your many events and thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year our best ever!

Diane Albano, Director of Development
St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School (St. Augustine, FL)

Sherry is flexible and easy to work with. She gives honest feedback and advice throughout the planning and implementation process. Without a doubt, Sherry and Red Apple Auctions has helped take our annual fundraising event to the next level.

Beckie Middendorf, Development Director and Janet Gulla, Development Coordinator
St. Henry District High School (Erlanger, KY)

Sherry is “on board” from day one of auction planning, works closely with our steering committee and is only just a phone call away. The night of the auction, we toss her the keys and let her drive the event! We are never disappointed!

Charly Ryan, Director of Institutional Advancement
The Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, MD)

I was very fortunate to have Red Apple on board for my first auction. Working with Sherry was invaluable. She provided guidance at every phase of planning, from procurement on forward – and she challenged us to make our event more ambitious and more successful at every stage. Thank you, Sherry!

Pete Goldlust, Director of Development
Oak Hill School (Eugene, OR)

If your auction needs to upgrade, call any auctioneer you find on Google. But if you want your auction to be impressive, meaningful, and profitable, you need to call Sherry.

Erin Banda
2016 NYUMBANI Board member

The auction was entertaining .. proactive … the crowd was involved and felt a part of it,” he said, emphasizing, “The entertainment value was huge.

Darrell, a long-time attendee

We plan on booking Red Apple Auctions much earlier for our next event so we can take advantage of more of the pre-event offerings.

Nicole Carr, Director of Grants and Special Events
The Ivymount School (Rockville, MD)

2012 Oakcrest Anne and CarolinaSherry, personally, I can’t even begin to tell you the immense amount of positive feedback that I received having YOU (and Darby) there with is this year!… Read The Rest “Anne Livaudais Knudsen, 5th year gala co-chair”

Aren’t KK and Michael a cute couple? PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9NakF4TWkxSGRXVnpkSE10UW5Wc2JHbHpMVXRMTFdGdVpDMU5hV05vWVdWc0xVcHZjMlZ3YUM1dGNEUT0vP2NvbnRhaW5lcj1ldnAtV0JBVTkwTlVBUyI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+PGRpdiBpZD0iZXZwLVdCQVU5ME5VQVMiIGRhdGEtcm9sZT0iZXZwLXZpZGVvIiBkYXRhLWV2cC1pZD0iTWpBeE1pMUhkV1Z6ZEhNdFFuVnNiR2x6TFV0TExXRnVaQzFOYVdOb1lXVnNMVXB2YzJWd2FDNXRjRFE9Ij48L2Rpdj4= They liked that I “moved the crowd along … kept the crowd engaged but wasn’t obtrusive or invasive. We were able to talk but still keep track of what was going on.”

Staci Meruvia 150 ptYou have NO idea of how many people came up to me (I know Julie as well) and said, ‘That auctioneer was incredible … she engaged the crowd, …… Read The Rest “Staci Meruvia”

Geri said: “Great job of getting potential donors in the room to step up to the plate and not feel guilty or bad about it. They actually wanted to give more … and that’s not something I’ve seen in many other auctioneers.” PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRckxTdEJTRUVyTFN0SFpYSnBLeTByVTJobGNuSjVLMlJwWkN0aEsyZHlaV0YwSzJwdllpdHZaaXRuWlhSMGFXNW5LMlJ2Ym05eWN5dDBieXR6ZEdWd0szVndLM1J2SzNSb1pTdHdiR0YwWlN0M2FYUm9iM1YwSzIxaGEybHVaeXQwYUdWdEsyWmxaV3dyWjNWcGJIUjVMbTF3TkE9PS8/Y29udGFpbmVyPWV2cC1CVk4xMFNDUTRXIj48L3NjcmlwdD48ZGl2IGlkPSJldnAtQlZOMTBTQ1E0VyIgZGF0YS1yb2xlPSJldnAtdmlkZW8iIGRhdGEtZXZwLWlkPSJSM1ZsYzNRckxTdEJTRUVyTFN0SFpYSnBLeTByVTJobGNuSjVLMlJwWkN0aEsyZHlaV0YwSzJwdllpdHZaaXRuWlhSMGFXNW5LMlJ2Ym05eWN5dDBieXR6ZEdWd0szVndLM1J2SzNSb1pTdHdiR0YwWlN0M2FYUm9iM1YwSzIxaGEybHVaeXQwYUdWdEsyWmxaV3dyWjNWcGJIUjVMbTF3TkE9PSI+PC9kaXY+ The following… Read The Rest “Geri”

Irene attended one of my New Hampshire auctions and assumed I must be a radio personality — until I started to chant that fast talk. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cDovL3JlZGFwcGxlLmV2c3VpdGUuY29tL3BsYXllci9SM1ZsYzNRdE1qQXhNUzFPU0ZOUVEwRXRTWEpsYm1VdWJYQTBMVEU9Lz9jb250YWluZXI9ZXZwLTVHMlVHQlFGN1YiPjwvc2NyaXB0PjxkaXYgaWQ9ImV2cC01RzJVR0JRRjdWIiBkYXRhLXJvbGU9ImV2cC12aWRlbyIgZGF0YS1ldnAtaWQ9IlIzVmxjM1F0TWpBeE1TMU9TRk5RUTBFdFNYSmxibVV1YlhBMExURT0iPjwvZGl2Pg== “I’ve been to this event before with a couple of other auctioneers,” she said, “Your ability to get personal… Read The Rest “Irene”

Most product & consulting remarks are found on their respective webpages, but I’ve listed two below so you’re assured my products are as spot-on as my auctioneering.   Not only was our 2013 auction a blast, but our Washington, D.C. public school raised $67,000 — that’s $25,000 more than last year! The evening went… Read The Rest “Carolyn Kahn-Hall and Andrea Del Vecchio”

Cynthia Steele Vance_150X180As a former Fox News Anchorwoman, I am often called on to perform at auctions. So, I know first-hand that auctioneering can be a difficult job. Sherry Truhlar is one of the best in the business.… Read The Rest “Cynthia Steele Vance”

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Guest at The Potomac School 2014 auction (McLean, VA)

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