Elias Arjan
Performance Auctioneer
Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction Hosting a live benefit auction is an ideal way to create an exciting event, build relationships and generate revenue. A high-quality auction is fun, gets your organization noticed and will generate buzz in the community for months or even years to come. By retaining the services of a professional & experienced auctioneer, fundraising consultant and event planner, it’s possible for a successful benefit auction to make up to 10 times the initial cost. This document is an offering to demonstrate the value of conducting a live benefit auction. If you are ready to start the process of creating your fundraising event - CLICK HERE - to contact Elias directly.
ŠMike Byrne www.factionco.uk
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Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
Make it an Event
Your supporters and donors want to be engaged with the organization and each other. They want to discover what the organization does, how it does it, and be invited to participate and support your cause. An auction is the most entertaining way to acquire donations and a fun, well promoted, educational and exciting event will convert attendees into supporters and donors.
Serve food & beverages and include speakers and entertainment as part of the evening. Make it something people want to go to, even if they don’t currently support the organization. A well-produced event will generate more new donors than most email, Facebook or online campaigns.
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Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
Hire a professional auctioneer,
fundraising consultant and event planner.
Yes, there is that member on the board who is a good speaker, or your friend who did that event last year but to generate revenue at a fundraising auction requires both a professional and a comprehensive strategy. All the aspects of running a live/silent auction, locating a suitable venue, managing the service providers, training volunteers and so on require a professional team. The money you invest in the event will be directly proportionate to what the event will generate. Even as a non-profit and/or charity you can find the basic resources to hire a few professionals to manage and train staff and volunteers or otherwise you will end up wasting your valuable time and energy.
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Plan well in advance
A successful benefit auction will gear up 6 months to a minimum of 90 days before the event. Many benefit auctions are planned as soon as the last one ends for next year. Allocating the proper time to acquiring auction items, securing sponsors, finding staff resources and ensuring all the elements are well thought out will ensure the event is executed perfectly.
Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
As part of a good marketing strategy you need as many incentives as possible. Advertising a $1,000 or $10,000 raffle, or whatever suits your event will get people in the door. Make sure everyone gets one ticket for attending and then up sell more tickets, before and during the event. This way everyone will stay until the end of the night to see if they win something in a raffle. If your event is well produced and you have the right auctioneer (see tip #2) people who may have only come for the raffle will leave having bid and won an item.
Keep the night lively, give away minor prizes throughout the event. Simple keepsakes like t-shirts, dinner vouchers or other items relevant to the organization will inspire an environment of giving and excitement.
Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
Another way to scare bidders away is to have everything too expensive, too cheap or just too much of the same thing. An all art auction may work if that suits your audience, but even then why not mix it up to get even more people interested in attending. In most cases a variety of items with different price points is preferred for a benefit auction (a professional auctioneer will provide you the details regarding this). Bundle lower priced items into larger themed packages, create a silent auction for the overflow or even start a year round ebay store for the organization.
Don’t forget the value of experiences in a live auction, they often sell for higher value then merchandise and are easier to obtain.
Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
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Have a highly efficient registration/checkout
This may not seem like an important tip to an auction novice. However once a few hundred people arrive at the event to check in and obtain their bid card you realize that this is essential. If your registration is a disaster you have lost before you even begin. Likewise, imagine a crowd eager to leave after a long night and stuck in a slow check out to pay for their auction items. People will leave, you’ll have to spend time tracking them down for payment and good will is lost. You can position volunteers in these positions, however they will need solid supervision (they are collecting your money) and good pre-event training. In the pre-event consulting your auctioneer will support this process.
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Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
Get Started!
Many organizations do small events or silent auctions believing that they do not have the resources for a larger event. Think small-be small. Aim high-touch the stars!
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” - Goethe, Faust I
Once you commit to having an auction you’ll be amazed at all the items that start to be offered and the opportunities that open up. Once the momentum builds, you’ll be on your way to having the most successful fundraiser ever.
“Elias was instrumental in transforming our annual fundraiser, in particular our live auction. He successfully helped plan and create buy in with our staff and board. His expertise showed itself in the final results - we saw a 40 % increase in overall revenues and we quadrupled our live auction profits!” - David Jordon, Executive Director Vancouver Int. Fringe Festival
Seven Steps ToA Successful Benefit Auction
What is a Performance Auctioneer? Imagine you took a luxury art dealer, a empowerment coach and a circus ringmaster and had them at your event working the crowd? This is Elias Arjan - Performance Auctioneer. Elias has been on stage for 20 years as an actor, comedian, presenter, lecturer and auctioneer. After a successful entertainment career Elias moved into presentational sales and luxury auctions and has generated over 15 million dollars at live events around the world. This vast experience allows Elias to cater to each client ensuring your event will be unique, exciting and successful. Elias is so confident that he can increase your revenue that he will guarantee it in writing, making hiring him the easiest decision your organization will make this year!
Elias Arjan
Performance Auctioneer
604-600-9550 elias@eliasarjan.com