Here's a benefit auction item idea that will prove popular at your gala: the opportunity to dine at the chef's table in a restaurant. What is the chef's table? Not every restaurant has one, but a chef's table is a table situated within the kitchen of the restaurant. As with real estate, what makes this table unique is the location, the location, the location. By virtue of where it sits (in the kitchen), the table allows the guests to see how their food is being prepared, observe ... Read On >
Procurement
How to rewrite your auction donation request letter
In her recent post Attention Getting Strategies for Fundraising Letters, Sandra Sims of Step By Step Fundraising had some good pointers for writing fundraising letters. When I think of a fundraising letter, I specifically think of an auction donation request letter ... but what would you expect from a benefit auctioneer? Sandra suggests five opening strategies: Use a Headline Attention Getting Words or Phrases Questions Bold Statements & Exclamations Narratives & True ... Read On >
Winning big ticket items comes naturally to auction team member Julie
Earlier this year, auction team member Iris guest posed in my blog. Today, meet Julie. If you’ve ever spoken to Julie at one of our auctions, you know she’s got a wicked sense of humor! What you might not know is that she is a master at winning sweepstakes. Julie regularly wins stuff. Great stuff. I suggested she write about her expertise, as some of you might be intrigued. Maybe Julie is onto an unconventional auction procurement process here. ;) +++++ Does anyone ever win those ... Read On >
Silent auction item descriptions inspired by movies, like “Julie & Julia”
Using popular movie titles in your silent auction item descriptions is one way to grab some eyeballs. I saw that trick used this past weekend at a gala. Julie & Julia was released in August. I liked the movie. It's generally received positive reviews. This charity capitalized on the vibe and good feelings of the movie by writing "Julie & Julia, Part 1" in the silent auction header description of a French cooking class. In the Washington, D.C. area, L'Academie de Cuisine is a ... Read On >
Benefit Auction Procurement Trend: Cocktail Instruction
Cocktails are hot! As I travel to different cities, I invariably read an article on the train or plane about some local cocktail bar, or a local bartender who has created a fabulous new cocktail, or the types of music to play at a cocktail party. Why not incorporate a cocktail element into your benefit auction procurement plan? Is there a trendy bartender in your town? Maybe a good hangout that everyone heads to on Friday night after work? At one benefit earlier this year, I sold a clever ... Read On >