As a fundraising auctioneer, I get asked two questions more than any other question. The first question is “What auction items are selling best?” And the second is “How do I get good auction items donated?”
Over the next few weeks (heck maybe months… we’ll see where this takes us), I’m going to answer these questions for you and then some!
It is only fitting that we start with the first question: What auction items are selling best?
I have a popular blog post that I wrote called “The 5 types of items you need on your live auction” that goes over the basics that will help you plan a well-rounded live auction, but let’s dig into what is selling best RIGHT NOW, in 2021.
What auction items are selling best in 2021:
Outdoor Experiences
This was something we saw a rise of in 2020 and seems to be continuing in 2021. With all of the restrictions on indoor activity and in restaurants, donors are craving outdoor experiences more than ever. Some examples that we sold this year were:
Guided Fishing Trips
Golfing Packages
Snowshoeing Experiences
Private Box at an outdoor music festival
Top Golf Party
Boat rental
These types of items sold much higher than similar sporting experiences that would be done inside a venue or in a large crowd.
Anything Fitness Related
In a similar fashion, people were looking to get active and move their bodies this year. The experiences that came with exercise equipment or outdoor sporting experiences continued to sell well above retail value. These were things that in the past, I would have recommended putting in your silent auction, but now due to the broad appeal, definitely need to be in your live auction. Some examples I have sold lately are:
Paddle boards
Peloton (went for nearly 2x retail value)
BowFlex Weight set (hard-to-find fitness gear is great)
Private Yoga class
Wellness retreat
Domestic and Local Travel
It will be a little while before the international travel becomes the hit again. With another year filled with uncertainty, gala guests (virtual gala guests) have been bid on travel when they don’t know if they will be able to cash in the trip. So when looking for trips to book, think domestic or even a getaway that is driving distance. Many of my clients are in Minnesota so northern MN getaways tend to go well. People don’t know if they’ll take time to go to Italy in the next 2 years, but they can guarantee they can drive 3 hours for 4 days sometime this summer. Some examples include:
Family Disney Getaway
Stay at a Luxury Cabin
Colorado Ski Resort
Guided hunting or fishing trip in Montana
Booze
Yes. This has been the item that have consistently sold above and beyond in the auctions this past year. Whether it is a live auction whiskey tasting experience or a margarita basket in your silent auction, bidders are going nuts for booze this year. We can avoid the question of whether this is a healthy obsession or not, and just recognize that this is what the people want. The best part is that you can get alcohol donated to your gala so that all the revenue goes straight to your bottom line. Some examples for Live Auction alcohol items would be:
Private wine tasting with food pairings
Wheelbarrow of Booze
Wall of Wine
Brewery/Vineyard/Distillery Tour
If you are looking to stock your silent auction, cocktail baskets are very popular. This is where you would pick a cocktail and add all the fixings and glassware necessary. Popular cocktail baskets include:
Moscow Mule Basket
Old Fashioned Basket
Margarita Basket
What will you try?
Which of these items are you most excited to get for your auction this year? Let me know! It will be fun to see what you come up with!
