Posted by Chris on March 21, 2004 at 22:15:18:

In Reply to: Re: Tricky Tray/Chines Auction posted by little j on February 23, 2004 at 20:03:29:

I have been to many Tricky Tray auctions. Let's just say I'm kind of addicted. Some are great, some not so great. The better ones seem to have a few things in common.

1. Advertisement - Use every resource available to you. Put flyers in stores, laundromats, on telephone poles, at the pharmacy, doctor's offices, post office, schools, restaurants, nail & hair salons, and everywhere else you can get one into. Even if you don't think someone will come from a place, put an ad there. Someone might see it and tell others.

2.Organization - Compile a list of each prize and let attendees know what's included in the basket or prize, who donoated it, etc. Print out prize lists for people to follow along with.

3. Community involvement - Ask EVERYONE!! for donations. Some larger companies may prefer to donate refreshments or supplies instead of prizes. Take everything you can get. (There are some auctions around here that get a lot of assistance from Lipton Foods, they're great!!)

4.Avoid "leftovers" - Some of the auctions that weren't so great featured what seemed like garage sale leftovers. People ended up avoiding entire tables because the prizes were things like butter dishes from the 70's, or used paperbacks, or the like.

5.The Announcer - Get someone who can keep a steady pace and keep the interest up with the crowd. Don't spend too much time describing the prize, leave that for the prize list. (And get lots of volunteers to "run" the prizes back and forth.)

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