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Forgot the Live Fundraising Auction Items in Your Program? Charity Auction Schedules Can Save You Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions Co.
Sometimes benefit auction catalogs are misplaced before the live auction begins. Other times a catalog isn't printed. Some groups print a program, but fail to include the live charity auction items, either because the items weren't yet decided by the printing deadline, or because they simply forget to include them.
To help guests follow along with...
Smart Ideas for Penny Pinching When it Comes to Fundraising Auction Printing
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions Co.
With many organizations trying to cut expenses, and with printed materials accounting for a large percentage of any benefit auction gala budget, it's worth taking a look at how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to printing.
Here's my opinion on when to splurge and when to save.
Fundraising Auction Invitation: WORTH IT, depending on ticket price The formal printed invitation has not yet been made obsolete by the "evite" and many guests...
When To Use a Single-Item Versus a Tablescape Auction Centerpiece
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
When I worked as a corporate event planner, I knew the trick. The least expensive way to decorate an event "on the cheap" was to dress up the table. Let the room dιcor fall by the wayside, but make sure the table looks good! It was the table - not the room - where guests would focus most of their attention.
So let's talk centerpieces.
Centerpieces are fun in that they can bring the theme of an event together. And talk about variety! There are a...
What to Do When Your Charity Auction Guests are Gen X or Gen Y
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Who is giving you the big bucks at your benefit auction?
If your auction trends the way of many groups, your largest donors are likely 46 years old plus. They are at least Baby Boomers, but most may be older. Certainly many of the most successful auctions held annually are filled with 45+ year old gala attendees.
So what the heck are you supposed to do if you're holding an auction filled with young professionals? How will you hit a $40k goal if...
Fundraising Auction Tips for Selling Art in your charity gala Part 1
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
I'm going to make a bold statement: Avoid selling traditional art in your live auction, unless you are an exclusive art auction.
Traditional art pieces items like sculptures, paintings, drawings, and mixed media which are produced by a professional artist who makes his or her living from selling artwork - are risky auction items for the standard, non-art benefit auction.
Art is too subjective. What I like, you don't. What fits my home dιcor,...
Part 2: Fundraising Auction Tips for Selling Art in your Charity Auction
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
(This is part 2 of a two-part post discussing the selling of art in your auction fundraiser.)
Last week I talked about why you should avoid selling traditional art in your live auction fundraiser. I gave tips for selling art, and I'm adding to it this week with three additional ideas.
Keep art politically "neutral."
In 2009 at a more liberal school auction, I sold a signed print of Frank Shepard Fairey's iconic HOPE poster for $2500. It was so...
Fundraising Auction Ideas: How to Find a Charity Auctioneer
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
If you're new to charity auctions or new to working with auctioneers, you might be unsure of how to go about finding and selecting a charity auctioneer.
Here are six steps auction planners can use to not just survive the selection process, but actually enjoy the conversations.
#1: Locate some auctioneers
If you're starting from a blank slate, visit the National Auctioneers Association website* and use their "Find an Auctioneer" search tool....
Three Free Phone Resources Every Fundraising Auction Chair Should Be Using
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Serving as Fundraising Auction Chair is stressful enough. Let's ensure you've got at least some basic tools to make planning the charity auction easier.
I often equate running a charity auction to running a small business. Many small businesses will have gross incomes of less than $100,000 so you can see how many non profit auctions rival the income of a small business. If you are chairing an auction, you have to think like you are running a...
Congrats, You Won the Fundraising Auction item! Will You Bother Redeeming It?
? Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
I have written about how dining at the Chef's Table can be a popular live or silent charity auction item to sell and a relatively easy item to procure. If you're already asking for a donation, why not see if the chef has a table in the kitchen and ask if *that* could be the special table for your winning bidders?
A while back on Twitter, I caught a link to the Chicago Business Journal. Shia Kapos wrote on this very subject. "Chef dinners on the...
Silent Auction Items - Strategies For Soliciting Donations
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Silent auctions are popular at many fundraisers because... well... because they are silent! In many respects, silent auctions easily fit into a scheduled event. They often take place during a cocktail reception, thereby not detracting from any portion of a speaking program. In contrast, live auctions require that time be set aside during the formal program to sell the items. Galas are often tightly scripted, so a silent auction fits more easily...
Fundraiser auction idea: Wrap Charity Auction Baskets with Clear Plastic Wrap
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
At smaller charity auctions, you can get by being a little "loosey-goosey" in the way you present your baskets in the silent auction. At larger fundraising auctions, you need to step up your game. Stepping up means wrapping up your baskets.
Here are some advantages of wrapping a school or charity auction basket in clear plastic / cellophane.
1) prevents the contents from falling out. Sometimes items are dropped. Sometimes items get tipped over....
A Family Photo Party Can Go Far at a Fundraising Auction
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
In most of the silent auctions my company conducts - and occasionally a live auction - at least one of the items will be donated from a photographer. Usually the donation is a free sitting with one 83X103 print for a family, a couple, or an individual.
It is almost a guarentee that the donated photography services will display nicely. Photographers always have lovely images of their work to serve as a prop. Despite all the visual appeal, the items...
Pull together Non-Floral Centerpieces for Great Looking Benefit Auction Tables
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Many of the benefit auctions I work use a floral centerpiece on the table. I certainly enjoy the freshness they bring to a table, but I've also seen some creative non-floral centerpieces at my auction fundraisers.
Most often an organization will opt for a non-floral centerpiece due to cost. As attractive as they are, flowers can be expensive. Flowers are a "nice to have," not a "need to have," so they can be quickly cut from a budget. A beautiful...
Fundraiser Auction Entertainment Ideas: Portrait Photos and Boothomatic
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Photos offer guests a remembrance of your benefit auction. Three of my auction fundraisers this past year have had professional portraits offered on-site.
Portrait photography works especially well for charity auctions which tend to have co-workers attending, such as corporate and hospital foundations. Guests look spiffy, so the photos show employees in their best light (all the better, considering those photos may show up on the company intranet)....
A Staple and a Less Frequent Theme in Benefit Auctions: Charity Galas themes of Venetian & Money
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
When I was a corporate event planner, deciding on a theme for a party or outing was one of the creative aspects of my work. Part of the process was making every element functional and fun. Part of the challenge was staying within budget and my personal challenge was working to knock the socks off attendees.
My team works between 40 and 50 fundraising auctions a year, so I see my share of great themes. There is a staple in the theme department:...
Unusual Fundraising Auction Venue: Airplane Hangars
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
When you're thinking about a venue for an auction event, I'm sure that you didn't envision standing inside a hangar, looking out towards ... the runway. Yes, I did say "runway".
An unusual venue - like a plane hangar - can be a fun place to have a benefit auction. During one benefit auction I attended, one of the favorite spots for the guests to gather was actually near the open hanger doors where they stood enjoying the view.
One of the stories in...
Charity Auction Ideas: How to Promote with Tweets
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Got an auction for charity coming up, and wondering what to tweet? Or maybe you just want to help a charity you love by getting the word out on Twitter?
Regardless of your motive, here are some ideas to model. I see great benefit auction-related tweets all the time on Twitter and pulled a few to get your juices flowing. (As a side, does this count as a RT (retweet)? I'm not sure what a tweet-to-blog communication is called.)
1. You can tweet...
What's the Perfect Number of Live Auction Items for Your Fundraising Auction
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Usually the question goes like this, "Sherry, how many items do you recommend we sell in our fundraising live auction?"
Oh, if I had a dollar for each time someone has asked me that. Many people contemplate that question in the same way they think about prunes: "I wonder if eight is too many? ... Will three get the job done?"
Here's what I've learned: If the fund raising gala's timeline has already been determined, my recommendation doesn't...
Avoiding Three Licensing Mistakes Which Could Hurt Your Fundraising Auction
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
When I worked as an event planner for GE, I would have been mortified to inadvertently overlook a detail which could have shut down my event. With so many rules to follow from municipal, state, and federal bodies, it really is difficult to stay on top of everything.
Licensing varies greatly from location to location, but here are three common licensing issues I typically see with regards to a fundraising auction.
(I don't hold myself out to be an...
Easy-To-Implement Auction Ideas: Quick Ways to Cut Fundraising Auction Costs
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Some of the fundraising auctions I conduct are large events with impressive auction catalogs to match. These auction catalogs can be expensive to print. In fact, printing costs are one of the highest expenses when producing a fundraising auction. Anything we can do to reduce unnecessary printing is good for your fundraiser's bottom line.
One of my clients was brilliant. She dropped her charity auction catalog production costs from $14,000 to $7900....
Silent Fundraising Auction Item or Live Fundraising Auction Item: Does it Matter Where it's Sold?
? Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
I don't know of any fundraising auction committee that hasn't sweated the details of donated items. Volunteers struggle to decide if items should be packaged together, what's the best marketing, and how should we promote.
If my client is only conducting a silent auction, I am never asked whether an item belongs in the silent auction or live auction - there's no choice! But if the auction fundraiser includes both components, the "silent versus...
Benefit Auction Ideas: Asking an Artist to Donate - Steve Haskamp Shares His Perspective on Auctions
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Want to meet an honest-to-goodness, full-time artist? Then allow me introduce Steve Haskamp. If you visit his blog (http://stevehaskamp.blogspot.com) you're sure to enjoy his designs which are used on greeting cards at Trader Joe's, tote bags, housewares, prints, children's clothing, books, magazines and a ton of other stuff.
I met Steve through his partner, Dale, who is good friend of mine from college. Steve has one of those jobs that others (or at...
Silent Auction Ideas: Printer's Plates Revisited
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
A few months ago I had written an article about a unique silent auction idea involving printer's plates. Here's a quick refresher before I get to my experience:
The newspaper's front pages are created from the images on the printer's plates. These plates are relatively easy to obtain, even without a contact at the paper. For example, you can check your local newspaper's Contact Us page and find either a telephone number or email address to begin the...
Steps to Successfully Sell a Puppy in Your Auction Fundraiser
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
I love dogs. And I'm not alone -- my town of Alexandra, VA is one of the United State's friendliest dog towns. Since there are lots of dog lovers in this part of the world, each year I usually sell one or two donated puppies as part of a live benefit auction.
Selling a puppy in a live auction makes the event memorable and typically (in D.C.) brings a $2,000 to $5,000 sale. Most bidders respond to the animal positively and are eager to pet the little...
Auction Items: Request Oprah Tickets for Your Benefit Fundraiser
Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC
At my grocery store, I noticed Oprah's December 2009 "O Magazine" cover has a teaser in the upper right corner about winning a trip "to the Oprah Show."
I am often asked what is the best auction item to secure for an auction fundraiser. Easy answer: Tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show
In your fundraising auction, Oprah will outsell tickets to the Superbowl, a private helicopter charter to a Relaix and Chateaux property, and even the chance for a...
Fundraising Auctions Should Consider Their Audience Before Inviting Clients to the Party
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
A handful of the non-profit fundraising auctions I work have a dramatically diverse mix of guests. The crowd is comprised of three distinct groups:
- non-paying clients
- non-paying or reduced-ticket-price employees of the non-profit
- full-paying guests
Although I can appreciate why a handful of "free" guests might be allowed to attend (e.g. a reward to an employee, or asking someone to speak), in a few charity auctions I've worked, the majority...
Silent Auction Ideas: Eliminating the Acrylic Stands from the Auction Displays
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
One key to a good silent auction is to have an attractive vertical display. Acrylic stands are an excellent option, but if you prefer a different look, or are willing to spend more time creating something from scratch, here are three other options.
These ideas typically involve more hand labor and may involve costs associated with having the frames built. On the positive side, your auction will have a more distinct look and the silent auction...
Auction Fundraiser Investments: Four Tips to a Better Experience
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Whether you are a volunteer Gala Chair or a paid Special Events Manager, you want your event to be a success. Let's look at some investments which will make your job easier and make you look good!
1. Invest your time upfront in placing volunteers into appropriate roles where they can shine.
Not all volunteers are created equal. To ensure fewer headaches for you later, make an effort early in the process to get to know your volunteers and committee...
Unique ideas for charity auction procurement: Walk-on Movie and TV Roles
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
"One of a kind" items always sell well in benefit auctions, and what could be more unique than getting to participate in a movie or TV production!
One of the most popular items we sell in our benefit auctions are items related to the entertainment industry.
A walk-on part usually refers to the opportunity for someone to be part of the background of a movie or a commercial. This isn't a speaking role, but for someone who hasn't been part of a...
Benefit Auction Item Idea - The Potato Cannon
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
"One of a kind" auction items will always perform well in a fundraiser benefit auction. A potato cannon ... made by the school's beloved maintenance department ... in an all-boys Catholic school ... is a perfect example.
What is a potato cannon?
True to its name, the cannon is designed to propel a potato hundreds of yards. It is typically constructed of ABS pipe and uses a can of hairspray as the propellant to launch the potato. For obvious reasons,...
Auction Ideas for procurement: Heavy Equipment Training School
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
If you are seeking an unusual silent auction item -- or possibly even a live auction item -- for your auction fundraiser, I have a suggestion.
Today I drove past a chain link fence with a large sign that read HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING ACADEMY. Bulldozers, dump trucks and other construction equipment sat behind the fence. On the other side of the street was another chain link fence with even more equipment.
A search on Google told me what I already...
Approach the Best Celebrity to Draw Attention to Your Auction Fundraiser
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
At times I'll talk with a non-profit working to build awareness of its fundraising gala by inviting a famous actor or musician to the event.
The charity's goal is multi-faceted. The presence of a star could draw others to attend their gala, or the star himself might donate to the auction, thereby raising funds in a more direct way.
When Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson - both active in several different charities - passed on the same day, the...
Benefit auction cash appeals: Do they hinder your live auction revenues?
? Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
As part of our full-service consultation plan with clients, we often work with organizations to help them structure their benefit auction for maximum revenues. Part of our dialogue is centered around the timeline and whether we can incorporate a cash appeal into the program. A cash appeal (for those who aren't familiar with the term) is an opportunity during the evening for guests to make a cash donation directly to the organization.
One of the...
Auction Centerpieces - Should They be Bought by Patrons or Given Away as Gifts?
? Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Some people have complicated relationships with people. I tend to have complicated relationships with centerpieces.
As an event planner, I loved centerpieces. If I needed to "dress" the room in a cost-effective manner, I knew the trick. Forget about wall decor. Divert a tad more money into the table decor (as that's where guests spend most of their time, anyway) and with the right linens and a fun centerpiece - KABOOM - you've got yourself a...
Benefit Auction Ideas: Procuring a Newspaper Printer's Plate
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
When my auction team conducts benefit auctions in Washington, D.C., one item which often appears in our auctions is a printer's plate. Usually it's sold in the silent auction.
What is a printer's plate?
The plate itself is a slab of imprinted metal which is traditionally used in offset printing. The raised areas of the plate carried the ink, which was transferred to a rubber blanket and onto the printing surface (i.e. the paper).
That said,...
A Raffle Idea for Greater Sales and an Improved Guest Experience
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Be a friend to your benefit auction guests and volunteers. When selling raffle tickets, give each guest who purchases a ticket a visual identifier. This alerts everyone else that he has already purchased a ticket.
This eliminates a common annoyance to guests: multiple people approaching them to sell raffle tickets.
Assume you have three teams of volunteers roaming the crowd to sell raffle tickets for a diamond bracelet. Team #1 approaches Mr....
Benefit Auction Item: Incorporate the Farm-to-Table Trend into your Auction for Top Dollar Donations
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Everybody has to eat, which is why dinners are always solid performers in benefit auctions. But the farm-to-table trend has given some dinners extra panache. The "locally grown" movement has been well publicized in magazines, newspaper articles, and news reports, and that publicity has fueled higher prices for these types of items in benefit auctions.
So, what *is* the farm-to-table movement and how does it tie into your auction fundraiser?...
Charity Auction Ideas: Chef's Tables at Restaurants
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
If you're looking for a boost in your fundraising dollars, ask your favorite restaurant for a seat at the Chef's Table
This begs the question ... what is the Chef's Table?
Perhaps not every restaurant has one, but a Chef's Table is a table situated within the kitchen of the restaurant. What makes this table unique? It's like real estate: location, location, location.
By virtue of where it sits (in the kitchen), the table allows guests to see how...
Benefit Auction Ideas: A Mechanical Bull for Silent Auction Entertainment
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
A number of organizations like to incorporate some type of entertainment into their benefit auction. Often this entertainment takes place during the silent auction, and it is usually reflective of the theme of the event. These groups like to have an activity, but are careful to ensure that the activity doesn't detract from the primary goal of fundraising.
One unique activity I saw at a western-themed fundraising auction was a mechanical bull. The...
A New Idea in Benefit Auction Procurement: Family Photo Parties
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Bless those photographers! In most of the benefit auctions my company conducts, at least one photographer has donated to the organization. Usually the donation is a free sitting with one 8"X10" print for a family, a couple, or an individual. We typically sell this item in the silent auction, although sometimes the item is sufficiently nice (perhaps the photographer is well-known) to be added to the live auction.
Although this donation is...
Charity Auction Idea - New York Fashion Week Tickets
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
New York City's Fashion Week is one of the more popular events the city holds. Tickets to this event are a distinctive item worth including in your charity auction (silent auction or live auction, although I've always sold it in the live auction).
Fashionistas know that Fashion Week happens twice a year - once in the spring (March) to showcase fall fashions, and again in the fall (September) to showcase spring fashions. The event is held in several...
Benefit Auction Ideas: Stock the Bar Pre-party
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Several years ago, I attended a wedding in which the couple was in their mid-40s. The marriage was a first for both, and each one had been living on their own prior to their marriage.
Given their age, the couple had already acquired the typical accoutrements of life, so standard wedding gifts such as blenders and Calphalon weren't appropriate. The couple asked that anyone wishing to bring a gift, "Please just bring a nice bottle of wine for our...
Benefit Auction Ideas: Cocktail Instruction Party
Cocktails are hot! As I travel to different cities, I invariably read an article on the train or plane about some local cocktail bar, a local bartender who has created a fabulous new cocktail, or even the types of music to play at a cocktail party.
Why not ride this benefit auction trend and work to incorporate a cocktail element into your own auction?
Is there a trendy bartender in your town? Or maybe you know of a popular place that the after-five o'clock crowd likes to frequent?
At one...
The Proper Way to Thank Donors to a Benefit Auction
Good manners make a lasting impression, and it's important to maintain a good image with your auction. That means sending thank-yous! Charity auctions wouldn't be able to function without donors, so it's crucial to thank them.
Remember that the donors - not the buyers - are the people who stepped forward first to support the organization. Before the invitations were sent out ... before any guest decided on what dress to wear to the gala ... before anyone set up the decorations for the night...
Benefit Auction Ideas: Four Strategies for Working with a Loud Crowd
Sometimes when I speak with non-profits about their benefit auction, they are adamant that their crowd is unusually loud. "Oh, our guests really like to party," one will say, or "They don't ever pay attention, even when a celebrity is on stage." The truth is, I've yet to see an auction which is louder than I imagined.
Let's be honest: Your attendees view the fundraising auction as a party.
It's a celebratory event ... a chance to honor volunteers ... a roast to tease a community leader ......
How To Determine the Best Day For Your Fundraiser Auction
Friday and Saturday are the two most popular days to hold an auction. But what happened to the other five days of the week? What's the matter with them?
Absolutely nothing!
The truth is, you can have a successful benefit auction on any day.
Of course, the day you select will naturally convey a certain feel or expectation from your guests. Here are some pointers as to how a day influences the perception of the event.
A Sunday afternoon auction must be a tea.
Auctions held over teas are...
Benefit Auction Item Idea - Research-Related Excursions
Are you a non-profit organization with some ties into research? Do you have access to research labs? If so, you might have a precious commodity for a live auction item sitting right in front of you.
Tours of research labs - or somehow giving guests the chance to participate in a research excursion - has a panache that some find appealing. For instance, many years ago my family was fascinated with a behind-the-scenes tour (although probably not "too" behind-the-scenes, considering the...
Benefit Auction Ideas: How to Reduce No-Shows at your Auction
Earlier this year, one of my clients experienced a higher-than-usual no-show rate. Almost 10 percent of their registered guests didn't attend the auction. For this client, it meant that several seats around the room remained empty.
A significant number of no-shows impacts your event. First, you've likely already paid for the food so that cost is already an incurred expense. Second, fewer guests means that there are fewer people available to bid on merchandise. Third, if it's visually...
Benefit Auction Ideas: How to Incorporate Vegetables into your Auction
Are you kidding me? Benefit auction ideas ... for vegetables?
It might seem like an unusual question, but I recently had an individual email me with this inquiry. If one person has a question like this, I suspect others might as well, so let's tackle the question in an article.
Vegetables and benefit auctions aren't as crazy of a pair as you might imagine. I already broached the vegetable topic once in a previous article which examined the popular farm-to-table trend. Now, let's pare down...
Why Are You Having a Benefit Auction? (Be Honest When Telling Your Auctioneer)
Why Are You Having a Benefit Auction? (Be Honest When Telling Your Auctioneer) Imagine this setting...
You've agreed to chair the Auction Committee for your favorite charity. You're excited because you have a lot of new ideas, but you also feel overwhelmed. You've heard that many benefit auctioneers are booked months in advance, so you've decided to call a few today to get an idea of their styles.
Stop. Don't pick up the phone until you're clear about one point. By answering this question...
Fundraising Auction Procurement Tip- Take Adavantage of Your Location to Connect With Celebrities
Just a guess:You want unique items for your fundraising auction, but you don't have "connections." How can you increase your chance of getting a donation?
If you're not afraid to reach out and you're committed to spending some time on the computer, use your location to turn a cold lead into a warmer one. Sometimes knowing about a possible donation is simply being in the right place at the right time.
Here's an example.
I love the band Pink Martini from Portland, OR and make every effort to...
Raffle Prizes - Where to Get a Great Prize When You Can't Find Anyone to Donate One
When using a raffle to raise more money, the most effective prizes are those which have been donated. This ensures that the organization will be able to use all of the proceeds from the raffle.
But if no appropriate donations are received, one option is to buy an inexpensive, popular raffle prize. The rationale of this approach is that your modest investment (i.e. buying the prize) will be handsomely rewarded in many raffle ticket sales. Your target market will be excited about winning the...
Interested in Being an Auctioneer? Five Reasons Why People Are Intimidated of the Profession
Interested in Being an Auctioneer? Five Reasons Why People Are Intimidated of the Profession Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
The National Auctioneers Association (NAA) published a June 2009 issue of the magazine AUCTIONEER. In this issue of AUCTIONEER, I read an article entitled, " A Rare Occupation." It discusses how rare it is to find an auctioneer.
Author and fellow auctioneer Robert Doyle conducted some research on the InfoUSA Website to compare the numbers of full-time...
Taking Advantage of Social Media-12 Ways to Promote Your Auction using Facebook, Twitter & LInkedIn
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Social media applications like blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be useful tools in helping you achieve guest mind share. Not only are these tools free to use, but they enable you to relay short, constant reminders about your cause and your auction.
Creating "something to write" can be overwhelming for some people, so to get you (or your volunteer P.R. person) started, below is a list of specific suggestions on what to write.
1. Announce...
Fundraiser Auction Raffle Plan- A Joyful Way to Sell Raffle Tickets That Leaves Guests Smiling
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
Have you spent any time in Manhattan?
I am talking about "The Big Apple." Not Manhattan, Kansas, lovingly known as "The Little Apple" to those residing in the Jayhawk state. The Little Apple has its own characters, but perhaps not as colorful as what I'm about to describe.
If you've spent any time walking around the streets of New York, you've seen street vendors. They sell sunglasses, fruit, umbrellas, hats, books, CDs, DVDs, jewelry, and many...
Five Ways to Lower Costs in Your Auction Budget
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC
How many times have we heard the adage that you must spend money to make money?
That message was repeated in a SuccessfulMeetings.com article posted on September 21, 2009. The article is entitled, "Business Travel Study: Companies That Spend More, Make More." The study was funded by the National Business Travel Association and found that for every $1 spent on business travel, over $15 could be earned.
The report examined ten years of data, and...
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