Washington/Alaska

Checklist for Auction

• Select a venue.
• Acquire action items and assign a value.
• Compile invite list, create and send out.
• Borrow a digital camera to take pictures of items.
• Create on-line auction page.
• Send weekly reminders to bidders.
• Distribute items to the highest bidder.
• Send thank you notes and tax receipts.

Step By Step

Live auctions are fun coupled with any get-together and an online auction can take place any time. They can be divided into two parts; an online auction where people were allowed to make bids via the web for a 5-day period and a happy hour hosted a week prior to the TNT event where the top 3 items are auctioned off. Everyone wants to help - all you have to do is ask!

Week 1

• Select a venue for the happy hour.  Don't forget to ask if they will donate a portion of the evening's proceeds back to LLS.
• Acquire auction items. (4-6 hours over many weeks depending on how many items you attain and/or how big/expensive they are).
• Compile invitation list and create flyer, send out. (1-2 hours depending on your design skills).

Week 2

• Create customized online auction page (we used www.wufoo.com); list items, retail values, photos, brand websites, auction start and end times (1-2 hours).
• List auction items on company intranet (½ hour).
• Send email with link to Online Auction, invitation to Happy Hour/Live Auction and Walk (15 minutes).

Week 3

• During the 5-day auction period send out daily notices containing the highest bids and reminders to register / donate for the Walk (15 minutes).
• Prepare tax receipts and thank you notes to anyone who donated an auction item or service (½ hour).

Tips

• Start your auction item bids at 50% of the retail value.
• Ask colleagues for donations of new, unused items valued at $10 or more (the more items - the more money!).
• Think of fun and unique benefits that your company can offer for free, i.e. you can auction off a "casual" work day if you work for a company with a dress code, or an extra day of vacation (donated by Human Resources).
• Getting items donated for your auction is a matter of asking - the donation is tax-deductible (always provide a thank you letter including the Tax ID # from the LLS).
• Digital cameras are handy for taking photos of auction items, photos make your online auction items more enticing, it helps people understand what they are bidding on. Remember, the better looking your auction page the more money you'll make!