Discuss I'm looking for ideas for a silent auction on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. I'm looking for ideas for a silent auction - How'd you like a place to consult with your trusted forum friends about matters not entirely or necessarily related to kitchens or IKEA? Here it is! Use your discretion and remember that these forums are moderated and PUBLIC!.
My company is a non-profit, and a few years ago we did a silent auction as a fundraiser for our 30th anniversary. This year will be our 35th, and we are having another one. It's going to be at Fenway Park in Boston, it should be fun!
I'm helping to paln the event, and we are looking for items for the auction and for a raffle table. We have a few things already promised as donations, but we are looking for more. Has anyone here attended or worked on a silent auction? Do you have any ideas or tips to share?
Well, at Fenway Park, I'd solicit box-seat tickets, or a season pass for a family of 4. Maybe a signed ball/jersey/glove?
A bed and breakfast weekend would be a fun item to score. Hot air balloon ride? Do you have people who can solicit, or a board that can donate? Parents or other involved individuals who can offer services or items for auction?
The non-profit where I cut my teeth had a board of directors made up of the prominent folks in town - one who owned a surf shop and donated a surfboard signed by a top surfer, one who owned a florist shop and donated a years' worth of monthly arrangements, one who was a financial advisor and gave a years' worth of advice...that kind of thing. Who's getting the donated items?
That's all off the top of my head....
Susan
__________________ Shop through Amazon to Support IKEAFANS - Painless! Click through our Kitchen Planning Resources store before you shop, and we benefit! Support IKEAFANS!
The committee planning the event is gathering the donations, and I'm sure board members will come through. What we found to be helpful last time were items that were unique. They are working hard to put together some packages, like a theater weekend in NYC, a vacation at Cape Cod, that sort of thing. The idea about 12 months of floral arrangements is a great one!
Susan beat me to it...and I agree completely. I worked for a non-profit in NYC (The Fresh Air Fund) and we did a couple of silent auctions a year. The planning committee was usually made up of well connected people who could twist their high-powered friend's arms to get them to donate products and services. It always helps to know the actual (inflated) retail value of the item, gets the bidding going well.
We had designer clothing, handbags, spa services, limo services, jewelry, magazine subscriptions, concert tickets, cruise tickets, crystal, housekeeping services, artwork, all sorts of things.
Unusual experiences tend to sell well out here. For my kids' school, one year I donated a day at law school, and it sold for about $600. I arranged for the winner to sit in on classes and go out to lunch with me and several other profs. You pitch it at people who have children interested in law. You could try this with other professions too - shadow a judge or a research scientist for a day. Cooking lessons followed by a feast at the winner's home can be in high demand. Get some locally famous person to donate a hike or a beach-walk or a day on a boat. A weekend at a beach house or cabin in the woods (even if not a full-blown vacation package) can be really popular.
Stuff related to whatever the area of your organization is good. I am on the board of the farm, and we did lots of food/organics/services around that theme.
__________________ Slightly Overwhelmed and Completely Unprepared
At these events I see a lot of: sports memorabilia, private parties at local watering holes, bed and breakfast escapes, pet items, cook books and my ULTIMATE favorite thing to bid on...gift certificates from places like Best Buy and Circuit City (Can usually nab $100 worth for $75) and restaurant gift certificates!
Have also bid on windshield repairs, and darkroom lessons.
we've done auctions (both silent and live) as a fund raiser for our local art center - most of the items for these fund raisers were art or hand-made jewelry- there were several other things though that went over well -
a gourmet dinner for 10 - cooked by one of our members who is a wonderful chef ... served at her home w/ wine, coffee, dessert
services: e.g. chimney sweep, pest control, housecleaner
the silent auction is easier - and less intimidating for some of the bidders ... we did a combination once - everything started out as silent auction items - but those with a significant number of silent bids got moved to live auction - we made much more money w/ the live auction - as people get caught up in the bidding sometimes - also provides a forum to remind people of what the money is for ... which also helps to get them to open their wallet a bit deeper sometimes.
Our auctions were always on display for several weeks - and then the day of the auction we've got lots of good finger food - and wine, beer, sodas, water - etc. The wine and beer was typically donated - either by businesses or members.
You've got lots of great ideas from the posts here.... I hope your auction is really successful!!
Doreen
__________________ Do you know that IKEAFANS is not sponsored by IKEA ?? If you've been helped by IKEAFANS, please consider donating to the site TODAY!
We have a bunch of folks on the committee getting together to plan a canvas of local businesses. Some other comments on here reminded me of a few things:
A local custom jeweler , we can ask for a design meeting and perhaps a credit towards the work
A local architect to do a preliminary visit and plan for an addition
A stash of sports items at the ready for local signings, so we can grab some great autographs!
The gourmet dinner is one we tried last time, and, gladly, it did well! Sadly, the person never collected. (How could you possibly NOT have three couples in for a dinner which you did not have to cook???) However, we will try again!
Allison, Our non-profit runs group homes for adults with chronic mental illness, so we cannot offer a service others would bid on.
However, we did try something the last time: we had baskets of things geared towards residents, and encouraged folks to bid on them, and give them as a gift. We had a basket of home goods (pots, pans, a shower curtain, etc.) for folks moving into their own apartment, a basket of health services (eye glasses, dental exam, etc.) for a residet, and other things. It was a LOVELY idea, but didn't take off. Any ideas on how to sell those concepts?
I love the basket idea. It is too bad it didn't take off. I find that these things are quirky. Things that should be hits, seem to languish and things that seem like duds take off. I would try the baskets again with more signage explaining how important these things are to your clientelle and see if it takes off.
But speaking of baskets..I was going over our list of things from our Harvest Dinner Silent Auction and thought I would give em to you. We had a basket of organic cheeses and wine donated. My husband won it, and I love it. We won a tea basket with a really great tea kettle, teas etc. I gave it as a birthday gift for my mother...it was that nice. There were others that had to do with coffee, desserts etc. People love to eat and drink, and something that is grouped nicely and in a nice portable basket seemed to do really well. LOL
__________________ Slightly Overwhelmed and Completely Unprepared
IKEAFANS is a trusted authority on the design of IKEA kitchens. From articles to get you started to tools and links designed to ease the way and special offers just for IKEAFANS, we've thought of everything to make designing your own IKEA kitchen a snap. Check out our Kitchen Planning Guide...
Confirm
Join In!
