Welcome back to Elevate Your Event!
This week, the Handbid Home Team digs into a topic every auction planner needs to hear: why some items soar—and others totally flop. Spoiler alert: it all comes down to knowing your crowd. Whether you're tossing in zoo passes, weekend getaways, or a family photo session, what works for one event could bomb at another.

The team brings stories from real events, data-backed strategies, and a few laughs along the way (yes, someone really did donate a vasectomy). It's an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how to make auction items matter—and how to avoid wasting space on the silent auction table.

In This Episode:

• Why “know your audience” is the golden rule for auction success
• Common item flops: overpriced services, stale gift cards, and awkward experiences
• How bundling, presentation, and pricing can transform boring into bidding war
• Creative ways to use gift cards, wine pulls, and raffles
• The danger of overpricing based on inflated FMV (and how to fix it)
• How data reports like Handbid’s category performance can guide smarter decisions
• Bonus: what to fix first when an event just isn’t working

Why It Matters:
Putting the wrong items in your auction not only wastes space—it costs you revenue. When you know your audience and use data to guide your strategy, you can craft an auction that truly excites your bidders and delivers real fundraising results.

Key Takeaways:

• “One-size-fits-all” items rarely work—tailor to your audience every year
• Presentation and pricing are just as important as the item itself
• Gift cards and small items can shine when packaged creatively
• Use data from past events to make smart, strategic choices
• Event flow, check-in process, and volunteer roles matter more than you think

Final Thought:
Great auctions aren’t about throwing everything into the mix—they’re about curating the right mix for the people in the room. If you know your crowd, you can turn even simple items into major wins. And if you're not sure where to start? The Handbid Home Team is here to help.

Elevate Your Event Podcast | Powered by Handbid

Welcome to Elevate Your Event, the ultimate podcast for fundraisers, event planners, and nonprofit professionals looking to take their events to the next level! Hosted by the team at Handbid, this podcast dives into fundraising strategies, auction best practices, donor engagement tips, event technology trends, and nonprofit success stories.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to run a successful online, live, or hybrid auction
✅ Best practices for mobile bidding and fundraising software
✅ Creative donor engagement strategies
✅ Event marketing tips to maximize attendance and donations
✅ Expert insights from top fundraisers and nonprofit leaders

Whether you're organizing a gala, charity auction, school fundraiser, corporate event, or virtual fundraising campaign, we’ve got you covered with actionable advice to increase participation, boost donations, and create unforgettable experiences.

🌐 Learn More & Get Started with Handbid:
🚀 Visit our website: https://www.handbid.com
📖 Read our most popular blog post: "50+ Top Silent Auction Items & Ideas for Your Next Event" https://www.handbid.com/blog/silent-auction-items
📖 More event fundraising tips: https://www.handbid.com/blog

🔔 Subscribe & Stay Updated
Don’t miss out on the latest fundraising tips, event tech trends, and nonprofit success stories! Subscribe now and join a community of event fundraising professionals working to make an impact.

📲 Follow Handbid for More Event Fundraising Insights:
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🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Handbid

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