Silent Auction Help!!!!

S.,

My best advice is to look within- the school that is. Ask parents, staff, etc....We've had alot of luck with companies parents work for donating stuff, families with their own businesses, home-based businesses, season tickets to the Tigers, etc... Our hottest item last year was "Principal for a Day". Also, our art teacher donated a hand painted stool that was beautiful. This year, for our silent auction, each grade is creating a gift basket with a different theme to donate.

Outside of the school family, the local community is best- companies who have a vested interest in reaching out to the school community- non-chain restaurants, children's clothing stores, bagel shops, etc.....

Good Luck!

T.

Hi S.. I am from another elementary in Troy. We just had our annual fair and our auction items from busiesses were WAY down this year too. With the economy,, we found busiesses just weren't willing to give as generously as they have in the past. Good luck, I hope you have better than we did.

S.,

I notice a lot of children's type/related companies dropping off information and samples,etc. at my kids daycare.

Try contacting the bouncing house/party companies-- there is a new one in troy and one on M-59 in Clinton Twp-- maybe they would donate a party?

The prepared meal companies are always dropping off information too-- maybe they would donate a week of meals?

Try to think of companies that can use the donation as advertising (they get something out of it too).

Music classes/sports classes-- donate a free lesson or whatever.

Think closer to home too-- I just had a baby and the best gift I got from two friends was taking my 4 year old for the day...how about having parents donate to take a certain age child for the day...turn into fun, take the child to Chuck E Chesse, movie or something.

Massage Envy is a new massage place that just opened on Rochester Rd-- maybe they would donate a massage?

Local bakeries could donate a gift certificate for a b-day cake or mothers day cake...

Let the companies know they can post a flyer or bring business cards or something to advertise.

Good luck.

I would call Karl Eckert at Eckert's Greenhouse of Sterling Heights. He might be able to donate a gift certificate or plants as a prize. He is a very giving man, so he might want to help you.

Karl's # is 1-###-###-####

Good Luck!

I'll do free piano lessons for an auction item.. just PM me and give me the info.

I'd suggest contacting the Troy Chamber of Commerce.. look online and maybe they have a listing and call them. They'd be the ones that would be most interested in creating business for themselves.

Maybe call gymnamnastics and dance places too, it's good marketting for businesses to donate a little.

I don't know what $$ amount you are looking for but I do a golf outing for my work every year and local restaurants usually donate at least a $25 gift certificate. You can "lump" some together if you want a bigger prize. Also my boss got some massage certificates when he was getting therapy. Since we have out of town reps that come in, we also hit some hotels in the area for a one night stay. We do a lot over the phone to get them to commit and then just set up a route to pick them up. Good Luck!

Have each class donate something ... put the request in the newsletter.

Or have each class fill a gift basket; with something or a gift certificate.

In the school newsletter ask for donations from parents and friends from the school ie landscaping, dinner gift certificates; special wines ( custom labeled).

Any artists ... auction off ... mosaics; prints; special photgraphs; or framing work, quilts, pottery.

Donations of special furniture ... antique table cloths ... rockers.

Just a few Ideas.

Jan