Top Tips For a Successful Silent Auction
Silent auctions, by their very nature, lack the auctioneer’s presence to interest the crowd in the items up for bid. A silent auction’s success relies heavily on the quality of the auction items up for bid. But how do you ensure that your auction items don’t fall flat, leaving your basket ideas for silent auction organization with a mundane event? The secret is to work with a company that is experienced in helping schools, charities and non-profit organizations plan successful silent auctions. By doing a little research you can find a charity fundraising company that can help you conduct a successful silent auction.
When you are researching charity fundraising companies, read their fundraising testimonials and choose a company that has a long-standing track record in the industry. One of the most important factors to keep in mind is to understand all of the terms and conditions that these companies may require. Look for silent planning companies that offer a no-risk policy to your organization. The leading charity fundraising companies offer no-risk policies that ensure your organization will not take any losses on unsold auction items. This means that your charity can take silent auction items on consignment and if they don’t sell, you can return them without risk to the charity fundraising company.
Once you find a charity fundraising company that you feel comfortable with, what then? You can have them plan the entire silent auction or you can present the company with your theme ideas, audience demographics, venue selection, etc. and have them recommend appropriate auction items. While you will be most familiar with your audience and likely have a theme for your event, your charity fundraising company will have the perspective to recommend auction ideas that can help you maximize your profits. Your charity company can group certain items together to create special packages and themed units that provide increased appeal to your audience. Think creatively. Does your audience like rock music? Are they interested in the latest movie star collectibles, extravagant experience packages, or signed celebrity photos? Ask your charity fundraising company to help you create combinations of unique items that will intrigue your audience.
Presentation of the items is extremely important. Since silent auctions involve no live auctioneering it’s important that you acquire visually superior auction items. Attendees will enter the event room ready to bid, and your auction items must be able to literally speak to them; showing them their uniqueness and quality. Your silent auction items have to sell themselves, and that’s where your charity fundraising company’s experience can make or break your event. A good charity company will attractively frame your items so they are beautiful and ready for you to display when you receive them.
Silent auctions, by their very nature, lack the auctioneer’s presence to interest the crowd in the items up for bid. A silent auction’s success relies heavily on the quality of the auction items up for bid. But how do you ensure that your auction items don’t fall flat, leaving your basket ideas for silent auction organization with a mundane event? The secret is to work with a company that is experienced in helping schools, charities and non-profit organizations plan successful silent auctions. By doing a little research you can find a charity fundraising company that can help you conduct a successful silent auction. When you are researching charity fundraising companies, read their fundraising testimonials and choose a company that has a long-standing track record in the industry. One of the most important factors to keep in mind is to understand all of the terms and conditions that these companies may require. Look for silent planning companies that offer a no-risk policy to your organization. The leading charity fundraising companies offer no-risk policies that ensure your organization will not take any losses on unsold auction items. This means that your charity can take silent auction items on consignment and if they don’t sell, you can return them without risk to the charity fundraising company. Once you find a charity fundraising company that you feel comfortable with, what then? You can have them plan the entire silent auction or you can present the company with your theme ideas, audience demographics, venue selection, etc. and have them recommend appropriate auction items. While you will be most familiar with your audience and likely have a theme for your event, your charity fundraising company will have the perspective to recommend auction ideas that can help you maximize your profits. Your charity company can group certain items together to create special packages and themed units that provide increased appeal to your audience. Think creatively. Does your audience like rock music? Are they interested in the latest movie star collectibles, extravagant experience packages, or signed celebrity photos? Ask your charity fundraising company to help you create combinations of unique items that will intrigue your audience. Presentation of the items is extremely important. Since silent auctions involve no live auctioneering it’s important that you acquire visually superior auction items. Attendees will enter the event room ready to bid, and your auction items must be able to literally speak to them; showing them their uniqueness and quality. Your silent auction items have to sell themselves, and that’s where your charity fundraising company’s experience can make or break your event. A good charity company will attractively frame your items so they are beautiful and ready for you to display when you receive them.