Floral gala centerpieces are the norm at most of our auctions, but are other ways of decorating your table. Check out this NON-floral, balloon centerpiece I saw in St. Louis, MO last week at the Missouri Meetings & Events Expo. The "Boot Camp" theme of the Expo wasn't lost on the company that brought this balloon bouquet. American Carnival Mart decked out their booth in full Boot Camp motif, so this "floral" arrangement is on the green-and-black side. As you can see, the balloons ... Read On >
Decor
Three silent auction ideas that pamper the 40+ crowd
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 >
Burn Notice: Keep fires in check at your charity auction
This post is frothy. Nothing you don't already know, but a reminder for safety at charity auctions. You'll recall that a couple of weeks ago that most of us living in the USA moved our clocks forward one hour to adjust for daylight savings time. And somewhere in modern history, this "fall back / spring forward" shift has also became the de facto time of year when our local firemen remind us to change the batteries in our home's smoke alarms. Change your clock and change your smoke alarm's ... Read On >
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 >
Do guests wear costumes to your auction? Here’s a coupon.
I like to share deals when I find them, and here’s one that caught my eye. Spirit Halloween sells product online, but the company also sets up temporary storefronts which appear a few weeks prior to Halloween and disappear shortly after October 31. Some benefit auction themes encourage guests to wear a costume. If your auction is the type of event that will have guests wearing costumes, this might be a store worth browsing. They may also have decor elements you could use, depending on your ... Read On >