Showing posts with label Auctioneer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Auctioneer. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

7 tips on how to choose a good fundraising Auctioneer


While this may sound cliche, it's true. Auctioneer is not good costs you money. A good fund raising Auctioneer will make you money. Really good Auctioneer might be worth its weight in gold, because they can raise your entire budget and ... in one night.

When your group or organization looking for fund raising auctioneer, here are seven important tips to help you choose the best Auctioneer for you.

1) Auction industry experience: Auctioneers, not all the same. Just as doctors and lawyers have different skills and different fields of specialty, so do the evaluators. Some auctioneers have considerable experience, while others are fresh from the auction school. Most appraisers are experts; others are professionals. Some have an excellent reputation, others do not. Some specialize in fund raising auctions and some could care less about them. And if you chose the wrong Auctioneer to handle the event that your decision may cost you dearly. Your goal should be to find an Auctioneer with considerable experience, impeccable reputation, and someone who understands the complexities of running a highly successful auction from start to finish

2) mobilization of auction experience: not all auctioneers make good assets Appraisers. Automobile appraisers are often considered to be the best in the business, because they speak quickly and sell quickly, perhaps 150 cars per hour. That approach works well with fast cars and television (can we say "Barrett Jackson auction"). It's not always good with fund raising auctions because most attendees at your event is not an auction-based. Some auctions because she is new to them. Many had never attended an auction before, and your Auctioneer to move more slowly, to meet their needs. Seasoned funds Auctioneer will understand how to deal with your audience, how to read your crowd and how to create more money for your business.

3) Reputation and name recognition: your goal is to hire the best available means of Auctioneer. Which one are you hire? Often the best approach is to figure out which use other non-profit groups in your area. If the same name keeps popping up, it appears for a reason. And because these groups are glad that the performance and Auctioneer, which raises money for their group Auctioneer Some auctioneers have a remarkable reputation and is highly regarded in the community; others are not so high. Make sure you find one that will represent you well.

4) Highlighting ideas and innovation: an experienced fund raising auctioneer tend to have a better understanding of how to run these events than your entire Committee. The non-profit fund raising committees have one or two paid staff and other volunteers, often with little or no auction. Traffic Committee usually means that experienced volunteers will be replaced by inexperienced volunteers, which further compounds the problem. A good fund raising Auctioneer will walk you through it. They will meet with your Committee prior to the event. They will help you figure out what sells best that don't sell, how and where to buy the sold goods and how to run a smooth and successful event. We know of cases where Auction revenues more than doubled in only one year as a result of recommendations made by the Auctioneer. This service is only any fees that you pay your Auctioneer.

5) Enthusiasm for your business event &: you can find the best Auctioneer in the world, but if they aren't enthusiastic about your event, the other Auctioneer. Enthusiasm is contagious, and your crowd will clearly make sense if your Auctioneer believes in what you do, or just goes through the motions and really don't want to be there. Your Auctioneer is your organization on the catwalk, so some hire someone who projects the image for your group.

6) trading. Ability to work a room: this is what separates professional Auctioneer from volunteer experience. All too many groups have the mistaken impression that if they provide unpaid volunteers to call at the auction, they will save themselves money. But the truth is that it costs money. The Auctioneer, volunteers "usually someone known to the group, such as a member of the Board of Directors, parents, local policy or a local celebrity. This person can feel comfortable in front of the group, but they do not know how to squeeze money out of the room. Good Auctioneer can work a room, they can sense when trading is done, they will move quickly and auction will always ask for more offers from room than any volunteers Auctioneer.

7) special appeals bail: special undertaking treatment can often double or triple the amount of money raised at auction fund raising ... in only a matter of minutes. But too few groups use this tool to raise funds. If you find an auctioneer who meets tips # 1-# 6, and who is also effective for the special appeal of bail ... look no further. The Auctioneer is an experienced fund raising auctioneer, they realize the true power of fund raising auctions and will be able to raise substantial sums of money for your group ... year after year.

In General, do not judge auctioneer fees that they charge. Rather, all with the support of innovative ideas for generating funds, day auction proposal call, increased income they bring, and the overall success of your event. When all is considered, if you have selected the correct auctioneer, at the end of the night your crowd will say "thanks for letting us spend money with you. We will be back next year ... with our friends ". This is the ultimate sign of success fund raising auction.







Auction broker represent you without auctioneer

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Auctioneers are not all the same. Just as Doctors and Lawyers have different levels of experience and different areas of specialty, so do Auctioneers. Some Auctioneers have considerable experience, while others are fresh out of Auction School. Most Auctioneers are generalists; others are experts or specialists in a particular area. Some Auctioneers have an excellent reputation and a strong following of loyal customers, others are struggling to stay in business. Most Auctioneers are honest, some are not.

And if you select the wrong Auctioneer to handle your consignment, your decision could cost you dearly.

That's where an "Auction Broker" comes in. The difference between an "Insurance Agent" and an "Insurance Broker" is that the Insurance "Agent" represents one and only one company, whereas the Insurance "Broker" represents several companies, and is able to shop your business around with several companies in order to locate the best company, and to obtain the best rate, for your particular needs.

The same is true of an "Auction Broker". Whereas an "Auctioneer" represents one and only one Auction Company (their own), an "Auction Broker" represents several different Auction Companies and can steer your consignment to the Auction Company best suited to handle what you have to sell. This is extremely important because the key to getting the most amount of money for what you are selling at Auction is to locate the best Auctioneer for what you have. And the Auction Broker is often the best person to help you accomplish that.

Most Auction transactions involve signing a contract with the Auctioneer. That contract will specify important points such as the commission and fees involved, when you will get paid, standard terms and conditions of sale, etc.

All Auctioneers are going to charge you a "Commission". That commission will normally be a percentage of what they sell for you. For example, if your consignment sells for $10,000, and your flat rate commission is 20%, you will receive $8,000, while the Auctioneer keeps $2,000 to cover his/her staffing, advertising, administrative, and other expenses...and hopefully their profit.

If you are unable to deliver your merchandise to the Auctioneer, most will charge you to pack it and transport it to Auction. And occasionally other fees such as photography fees, listing fees, Internet fees, and other charges may apply.

In exchange for these fees you are, in effect, "renting" the following from the Auctioneer:

? The Auctioneer's Name and Reputation.

? The Auctioneer's Place of Business.

? The Auctioneer's Years of Experience.

? The Auctioneer's Expertise in the commodities you are selling.

? The Auctioneer's Marketing and Promotional Ability.

? The Auctioneer's Mailing List and Contacts.

? The Auctioneer's Knowledge of Potential Buyers for what you are selling.

So the key to getting the most amount of money when selling at Auction is to locate the best Auctioneer for what you have to sell. As an extreme example, you wouldn't want to sell your Tools through a Doll Auctioneer, because there would be few, if any, Tool buyers attending a Doll Auction. And you wouldn't want to sell your Doll Collection at a Tool Auction for the same reason.

But what if you have little knowledge of the Auction business in general? Or the specialties and reputations of local, regional, or national Auctioneers? What should you do with your consignment? That's where the "Auction Broker" comes in.

Just as the Insurance Broker can place your business with the best Insurance Company for you, so too can the Auction Broker help you to locate the best Auctioneer for what you are selling. A qualified "Auction Broker" will perform several vital services that will help you to obtain the most amount of money for what you are selling:

? They will explain the Auction process to you.

? They will explain the difference between National, Regional, and Local Auctioneers, and which Auction level is best suited for what you have.

? They will walk you though the legalese on an Auction Contract.

? They know which Auctioneers specialize in specific commodities, and which Auctioneers have upcoming Auctions in your particular category.

? They will locate the best Auctioneer for what you have to sell.

? They will help you to understand the best time of the year to sell.

? They will help you understand when to send it all to one Auctioneer, and when it's best to split your consignment between two or more Auctioneers.

? They will negotiate the fairest commission possible for what you have to sell. (Are you aware that in some instances Auctioneers will work for "Zero Commission?").

? Depending upon the merchandise, sometimes (but not always) they can negotiate a reasonable "Reserve" for you. (A "Reserve" is a minimum price below which the item will not sell, and usually has to be negotiated with the Auction Company).

? They will help to ensure that you are not cheated in the process

Here are just a few examples of how Auction Brokers have helped clients receive the most money for what they have to sell.

? Client had several pieces of better art, some better Tiffany and Cartier sterling silver pieces, along with some more average, middle market merchandise. Arrangements were made to have the better items saved for a much better "Catalog" Auction with a prestigious Auction House several months later. These items were pictured in a 4-color, printed catalog and sold on the Internet as well as before a live Auction audience, in order to attract a national and international bidding audience. Those items not worth storing were sold more quickly and turned into needed cash faster.

? Client had mostly middle market items, along with a few better pieces of jewelry. Arrangements were made to sell the jewelry through a company that specialized in jewelry sales, while selling the lower end items through a less experienced Auctioneer who was eager to sell such items, and who sold most of the items individually rather than as "Box Lots" (i.e., selling them by the box), thereby netting the client more money.

? Client wanted to dispose of a Stamp and Coin Collection. Arrangements were made for the Stamps to be sold in a Stamp Specialty Auction, while the Coins were sold in a separate Coin Specialty Auction, resulting in significantly higher prices than if they were sold through a non-specialty Auctioneer.

How are Auction Brokers paid? They are generally compensated in one of three ways.

? Flat Consultation Fee: Here the Auction Broker will charge the client a flat consultation fee to review the items, sort them into specific categories, and make recommendations where they will sell best. If the Auction Broker is expected to pack and transport the sellable items, those fees will be additional. This usually works better with smaller consignments.

? Percentage of Final Selling Price: Some Auction Brokers will work on a percentage basis. In this compensation format, they receive a percentage of the final gross selling price of all items. This concept encourages the Auction Broker to sell for as much as possible because the higher the final selling fee, the more money both the client and Auction Broker will receive. This format works better with higher value consignments, and not as well with low-value consignments. The more work that is expected of the Auction Broker (i.e., packing, transport to the Auction House, etc.), the higher the commission rate.

? Referral Fee from Auction Company: Sometimes the Auction Broker will receive a "Referral Fee" from an Auction Company, just as the Insurance Broker is paid for writing business with a particular Insurance Company. Often this represents a percentage of the final commission the Auctioneer makes on the consignment.

The "Broker" concept is well-established in the Insurance industry, but is fairly new in the Auction business. If you regularly attend Auctions and understand the Auction process, you probably don't need the services of an Auction Broker. But if you are relatively inexperienced in the Auction field, and if you are considering selling things of value at Auction, then an Auction Broker can probably help you from making a very major and expensive mistake.