Babysitting
Looking for a silent auction item that is extremely popular and easy to come by? A Saturday Babysitting Day provided by two or three teachers is always a hit.
Talk to the administration and OK the use of a classroom or gym at the school for a few hours of group babysitting. Their kids will have fun seeing the teachers outside of school hours. The parents already know and trust the teachers. The parents get the free time knowing that their kids are in a safe environment. And the fundraiser reaps the rewards.
Have the teachers recruit a couple older students or local teenagers to help for the afternoon. This will provide a great introduction between the older students and parents, as well as a built in recommendation from the teachers, expanding the babysitting network for future dates and make the day that much easier for your teacher volunteers. A win-win silent auction item for all!
Geocaching
Want to add a bit of adventure to your silent auction? A Pearl Bids customer raved about the terrific response to a Geocaching Day offered by a teacher for their school’s silent auction. Geocaching continues to gain popularity for all ages across the globe.
The teacher was excited to introduce a handful of students to his favorite past-time. The kids loved the adventure of the hunt using a tool that they already have on-hand, their phones! With millions of geocaches hidden around the world, the item provided fun for the day. The winners also gained basics in a skill that is not only fun, but can be practiced for years to come. Whether the activity lasts an hour or is an all day adventure complete with a picnic lunch, this is an item that is sure to draw many bidders.
Pearl Bids made it easy to offer this item to multiple buyers.
A great source for those new to geocaching can be found at www.geocaching.com
Behind the Scenes Tour
Some of the biggest money makers for a school silent auction are those that require the least time or effort to acquire and may be right in your own backyard. A behind the scenes school tour, or other "off-limits privilege," can be a real treat for the bidder and a gold mine for you.
A guided tour of the staff lounge is simple to provide and and can make a student feel like a VIP. Parents love to provide that special experience for their kids. The fun with a "bidding battle" for the prized slot for their child, can also add spice to the evening.
But with a donation of a bit of their time, any of the staff can help contribute. Fun ideas include a pizza lunch with the department head, a movie outing with a favorite teacher, or even a make-your-own ice cream Sunday with the principal. The possibilities are endless. Ask your school staff and you may be surprised with some of the ideas they come up with. They know these kids and are a terrific resource for what may prove to be your most popular auction item.
Spruce Up The Gift Certificates
Add a fun item to gift certificates to draw more attention and enhance your display.
If auctioning off a gift certificate for a round of golf, place the certificate in a basket of golf balls...
...If auctioning off a camping trip, add s'more makings (graham crackers, marshmallows & chocolate) to your display. Add a scented candle or lotion to a gift certificate for a massage. Any creative display will help attract attention to your item and make the purchase that much more attractive.
Driver for a Day
Driver for a Day! Follow the "Uber" example; include one or two private drivers for a day as a silent auction item.
Whether purchased as a ride to get the kids from school to all their daily actvities or a treat for a day out on the town for mom or dad, having a driver for the day can be just the ticket. Flaunt the luxury of not having to worry about parking and not having to rush from one pickup to the next; having a driver for a day can be a real treat.
If you have several available drivers, try targeting the audience for each driver. Target one towards parents who need a "day off from driving" by throwing in a simple addition such as a stop at Cold Stone for a surprise treat. Promote the donation as a ladies treat and include a special bouquet of flowers at pick up? These small additions can help make this an extra special item that your bidder will not want to pass up.
Chef's Delight
Everyone loves a yummy new dish. Odds are at least one of your members or parents is an outstanding cook. Whether a professional chef or an extremely talented home cook, they can help you create an exciting silent auction experience. Offer a cooking class - where the participants get to learn how to create a mouthwatering dish and then experience tasting it as well.
As a fun activity that leaves the participants with the knowledge to further their adventure, cooking lessons are a real hit. Have your chef come up with tantalizing items that will make your silent auction attendees mouths' water and will be easy for them to present to their "auction class." They may even want to whip up a small sample to have in front of your bid sheets, so that your attendees will know what is in store from them if they bid on this prize "cooking class." Pearl Bids makes it easy to offer this item as a set price for a specified number of bidders, or as a classical auction item, where one bidder can win a cooking class for a specified number of attendees. Either way, you're sure to get a great response.
As an added benefit, see if a local grocery store will donate the ingredients. Often the chef is happy to supply all that is needed for their demonstration/class, but bringing in the extra donation can help your chef splurge and create a truly one of a kind experience.
Future Fire Fighter's Dream Come True
Kids love fire trucks and police cars! A special Future FireFighter auction item is sure to be popular.
Contact your local fire station, or you may even have a parent who is a fire fighter in your midst. Why not ask them if they can help you put together a special auction item for a future fire fighter? Whether it's a "private" visit to the firehouse, dinner at the firehouse with all the crew, or a ride on a fire engine, what grandparent (or parent) would not want to surprise their child with this one-of-a-kind treat?
Mobile Car Wash
Tweek your auction items to make the everyday seem extraordinary. For example, have a group of students contribute a car wash and wax; enhance the item by ...
... offering to have your team make a house call. All your bidder needs to do is set the date and the team will show up and get the job done! By taking a simple donation, like a car-wash, and customizing it, you have increased its value and appeal exponentially.
Meal Deal
Treat yourself to a night off from dinner prep and your family to an exciting new meal.
With all the great cooks around, why not ask a few of them to band together and offer a meal a week for a month? If four families get together, each can put together one meal for the month. The meals could be based on a theme - such as Around the World in 8 Weeks - offering 8 weeks of meals from different countries (Mexican one week, Chinese the next...). Another fun theme is a "color," having the whole meal be orange one week, red the next... Pre-school and kindergarten kids really love these simple themes and they can be a lot of fun to think up!
Here's how it works:
1. The winning bidder and donors coordinate to decide on what nights their meals will be delivered. (For example, every Tuesday in May by 5pm.) The Winner will also want to let the Donors know of any allergies or food dislikes.
2. On the appointed day, the bidder sets out a cooler on their porch and arrives home in the evening to find a tasty meal, complete with dessert, all ready and waiting. (When I have made these meals, make double - one half for my brood and one half to be delivered.)
3. It is easiest if all the items are in throw-away containers or ones that do not need to be returned. You can even spice it up by including an inexpensive pan or serving tray as part of the delivery. This can make the evening even more festive if the servingware are themed with the food. A fun new item for the Bidder to receive, and, as the donor, you will not need to worry about having your platter... returned.
A Private Collection
Does anyone in your community have a special collection? Perhaps a collection of memorabilia from a favorite sports team or movie? Or maybe a collection of one of a kind pedal cars?
Why not ask them to donate a "tour" as an auction item. Since any collector will be a wealth of knowledge on the items that they have collected, in addition to seeing the collection, the buyer of the tour will be treated to special insider facts which will make their visit a special outing.