The best memories and your best profits will come from truly one-of-a-kind items. The good news is that these don't have to cost your group much at all, if anything. My mom, a 1st grade teacher, used to offer two hours of after-school computer time and an ice-cream trip. That item went for big bucks each year. Her cost: $3.99. At my children's school, the ride home in a police car, Principal for a Day, and naming rights for the school cafeteria (David's Deli, Rachel's Restaurant) are the big ticket items.
Not only do these items turn nice profits, they also generate the kind of buzz that helps you grow your auction year after year. Frankly, dry cleaning gift cards or a $50 restaurant trip for $42 just aren't all that buzzworthy. For long-term success, buzz matters.
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