1. Get items that people want to buy at an auction

Before you can get the people to show up at your event, you need to have an inventory of things that will entice them to attend.

• Find unique and distinctive items.   No one wants to bid on items that are not exciting and can be found at every retail store in the neighborhood.  An auction is not a typical shopping opportunity. People are eager to contribute but they also want to walk away with something interesting. It is the unique and exceptional items that draw competition in the bidding. It is also very important to match the items you procure with the audience you expect to get. If you aim too high or too low your auction will fail.

Auction items that have proven to be popular are:

• Vacations and Getaway travel packages
• Tickets to sporting events and cultural activities
• Adventure or Thrill experiences, (Balloon rides, Sky-diving)
• Photo sessions
• Gift of the Month Clubs

• Seek local community support
• Small (and new), service businesses can reach new clients quickly by making a donation of their service to your auction, such as hairdressers, cleaners, car repair, restaurants, specialty stores, baby-sitting services.
• Talk to people who teach or coach, such as swimming instructions, skiing lessons, dance, music or art lessons.
• Many local stores have programs to support local nonprofit organizations with gift certificates.
• A get-away weekend to a local hotel

• Request donations from your patrons.    No one has a greater vested interest in the success of your auction than the very same people who attend it.  Ask them for support. Provide them with ideas and suggestions on things you want to offer in your auction. We recommend making a ‘wish list’ of items and requesting someone to sponsor them.

• Host a ‘Wish List’ party at your home and invite some of your best patrons. Have a list of items on a white board with a blank space nest to each item for folks to sign up for sponsorship. Display the cost of each item so people can choose the item they are most comfortable sponsoring. Remember that The Auction Registry can help you create a sponsor ‘wish list’ that is completely risk free for the sponsor.

• Other suggestions include:
• A dinner at your home for a group of 4 or 8
• Poker night for the ‘boys’ sponsored at someone’s home
• Donate a ‘skill’ you may have such as computer training, sewing, handyman repair etc.
• Donate something you’ve made by hand
• Donate something you may have or you’re willing to buy such as college game tickets, concert tickets, or frequent flyer miles.
• Donate something the kids in the neighborhood have made. Parents rarely miss the opportunity to bid on something their child was involved in creating. Ask someone to volunteer and supervise a special children project for the auction. Projects like:
• Painted furniture
• Sewn bed covers
• Tie-dyed Tee shirts

Continue to Page 3: Attracting Potential Buyers