Christmas time brings out the giving spirit in a lot of people. It’s no secret that this is a time when many people and organizations hold events to raise funds for good causes. One great way to go about doing this is holding a Christmas Benefit Auction. Whether silent or live, auctions are a great way to raise funds for everything from schools to charities, foundations and more. Regardless of what worthy cause you’re trying to raise money for, there are a few things to keep in mind when setting up your benefit auction.
Get a listing of local businesses and outlets you know or would like to get donations from for the auction. Having all this mapped out ahead of time will help you be able to better plan your Christmas benefit auction. Will you have several smaller items from each store that would be better suited for auction baskets? Are you able to land a few large items that will be the sort of “signature” lots for the auction?
It can be helpful for bidders and your sales staff to create certain themes for your holiday auction. You can use your donated odds and ends to create auction baskets in one section, while offering housewares in another. Maybe you had movie gift cards, concert tickets and theater tickets all donated. Offer them in a “Night Out” section.
If your holiday benefit auction is for parents of a local school, you might want to try for a mixture of goods that will appeal to both parents and their students. Similarly, if you’re looking to attract big donors, you might want to tailor your goods to their interests. For example, movie tickets might not be as appealing as a donated trip to a wonderful locale.
Whether you’re doing a silent auction or a live auction, presentation matters. In a silent auction your buyers will have an opportunity to look closely at items they bid on. Make sure you take some time to make sure they’re presented nicely. Use nice tablecloths, bows or ribbons to help accent your items.
If you’re holding a live auction, you should have some time for your bidders to examine the goods before bidding. Just like with the silent auction, make sure you’ve got your items looking great. Also when it comes time to bid, a projector displaying high quality photos of the item can be a great way to drum up interest and keep bidders focused on the items.
Auctions are a great way to build excitement in buyers and are a great option for Christmas benefits. Attendees at your auction are there because it’s the season of giving and most came ready to be generous. Using some of these tips, you can hopefully set your holiday auction to be a success for whatever good cause you’re raising money for.
