Puppies at your Charity Benefit Auction

The “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne might have dropped $10,000 sometime back in the day on some barely legal (or not) products, but in July of 2011 he spent that same amount of cash on a new puppy at a Charity Gala.

Ozzy was in attendance with his wife Sharon at an annual benefit helping the HollyRod Foundation, which provides aid to families who are coping with autism and Parkinson’s disease.

Not everyone agrees that selling puppies via the Auction method is a good idea and there is considerable debate in Non Profits and the Charity Auction industry about it.

Justin Swisher a Charity Benefit Auctioneer from Virginia says “They aren't for every group and understanding the cons are important for your client. Having said, I sold two puppies with a high bidder's choice for south Florida's largest No kill animal rescue organization for over 22k+ each! Each winner could have adopted for $300 if they had just waited till Monday. This was certainly a reputable and nationally known rescue organization.”

Also in defense of the practice, Seattle auctioneer Kip Toner said a growing trend is to auction a dog along with goods and services to help the new owner, such as prepaid veterinary visits, food, obedience classes and spaying or neutering. “The intent is to create an increased probability that the dog will have a good home," said Toner.

Bidders often pay far more than the commercial value of the dog, prompted by a desire to benefit the charity, and sometimes get caught up in bidding competition.

Let’s examine the Pros and Cons

PRO – This is an emotional Issue
These cute adorable little puppies make people fall in love with them at first site. Attendees bid and they bid high. Charities find it’s easy to sell these cute little pups. The crowd loves it, the energy in the room skyrockets, and the overall event is so much the better. Everyone has a “Feel Good” attitude and leaves happy, even if they did not bid on the Puppy.

CON- This is an emotional Issue
Yes, little puppies make people fall in love with them at first site, but then they go home with the winning bidder, chew on the furniture, whine at night, bark during the day, and some grow, and grow and grow. The cute factor may go away. This is a 10-15-year relationship the winning bidder has just entered into. This Dog will now be a member of the winning bidder’s family. Is that a decision that should be entered into in the heat of an emotional moment, perhaps fueled by alcohol and peer pressure?

PRO- $$$$$$$
Let’s address the Elephant in the room. As a Non-Profit you need as much money as possible to your bottom line to fund your mission. It’s the Job of your Auctioneer to maximize the amount of money generated at your Gala. These animals bring in a LOT of money.  And when you are saving babies or funding Cancer research the money brought in from the sale of puppies goes a long way. How much formula and Diapers, or Chemo drugs can $10,000 buy for example?  It’s a strong argument for this method.

CON- Community Backlash
Some people in the Community where the Auction is being held may not be happy about this offering. Gemma Vaughan (info@peta.org ) an Animal Cruelty Case Worker for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was clear on PETA’s position when I spoke with her by phone: “Auctioning Animals of any kind puts them at risk as you cannot gauge the suitability of the owner at an Auction.”

She went on to state that that many owners feel overwhelmed by the ownership of an animal purchased at Auction.  PETA actually receives many calls from concerned citizens about Charities planning to Auction puppies and when they do they reach out and urge the Organization to reconsider, most will. 

PRO- The shelter option

Veronica Martinez CEO and Founder of “Pawty Breaks” a company that provides services to Dog Owners was generally against the practice as well.

“I believe in adopting, not shopping. In contrast, I would be supportive if, let’s say Austin Pets Alive! Had a pet auction at their annual fundraiser. A no-kill shelter could use it as an opportunity to home animals currently in their care. Because of the no-kill movement, should a home not work for the animal APA! could accept the dog back and help find the right home. In a situation like that the buyer could forfeit the money (aka donation) or trade for another dog that is a fit for their home. Ultimately, an auction could yield more money than the typical adoption fee one pays when they go directly to APA!”

 CON- The Law

27 States have Laws on the books that prohibit the giving away of an animal as a prize at an event. Texas is not one of them but cities sometimes do. 

For Instance, the City of Dallas prohibits the Sale of Animals by Auction at a Charity event. Here it is from the Dallas City Code.

EC. 7-7.6.   ANIMALS AS PRIZES, PROMOTIONS, AND NOVELTIES.

   A person commits an offense if he sells, exchanges, raffles, auctions, or gives away or offers to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away any live animal as:

      (1)    a prize;

      (2)   an inducement to enter a place of amusement or a business establishment; or

      (3)   an inducement to participate in a charitable fund-raising event. (Ord. 27250)

It says any live animal so presumably this would include Kittens, Snakes, Longhorns or even a Hippopotamus.   So know the Law in your area.

So, what are you to do when you are considering  Auctioning off an animal?  Here are some thoughts for your review:

1.      You have the right (and obligation) to obey the Law. So if it’s against the Law to Auction a Puppy in your City (Like Dallas) then draw your own conclusion and do what you think is right.

2.      A Charity can refuse to sell any items you are not comfortable with. If your gut tells you the animal may end up not well cared for or in danger you can say no. However, if you do decide not to sell the Puppy being offered, be prepared to explain why in no uncertain terms. We all know a lot of Donors do not like hearing the word “No” from the Gala Committee or the Development Director.

3.      If you are going to go ahead with selling a Puppy or other animal at an Auction then be sure to include with the Puppy a Crate, a months’ worth of Puppy Food, 6 months or more of Vet Care, Puppy Toys, Dog Dishes and anything else you can think of. Most importantly, you should have an action plan that calls for a staff member to follow up with the winning bidder, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after the Auction to check on the status of the animal. Be prepared to take the animal back if the buyer desires and refund the price paid. 

As I said before, there is considerable debate about this lucrative but sometimes controversial practice.  Whether you conduct these sales or not, have a plan, be prepared and know the Law.

Good Luck!!

Mike Hanley

License Number TX 15050

512-748-1849

www.Austinauctioneer.com

Puppies at your Charity Benefit Auction

The “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne might have dropped $10,000 sometime back in the day on some barely legal (or not) products, but in July of 2011 he spent that same amount of cash on a new puppy at a Charity Gala.

Ozzy was in attendance with his wife Sharon at an annual benefit helping the HollyRod Foundation, which provides aid to families who are coping with autism and Parkinson’s disease.

Not everyone agrees that selling puppies via the Auction method is a good idea and there is considerable debate in Non Profits and the Charity Auction industry about it.

Justin Swisher a Charity Benefit Auctioneer from Virginia says “They aren't for every group and understanding the cons are important for your client. Having said, I sold two puppies with a high bidder's choice for south Florida's largest No kill animal rescue organization for over 22k+ each! Each winner could have adopted for $300 if they had just waited till Monday. This was certainly a reputable and nationally known rescue organization.”

Also in defense of the practice, Seattle auctioneer Kip Toner said a growing trend is to auction a dog along with goods and services to help the new owner, such as prepaid veterinary visits, food, obedience classes and spaying or neutering. “The intent is to create an increased probability that the dog will have a good home," said Toner.

Bidders often pay far more than the commercial value of the dog, prompted by a desire to benefit the charity, and sometimes get caught up in bidding competition.

Let’s examine the Pros and Cons

PRO – This is an emotional Issue
These cute adorable little puppies make people fall in love with them at first site. Attendees bid and they bid high. Charities find it’s easy to sell these cute little pups. The crowd loves it, the energy in the room skyrockets, and the overall event is so much the better. Everyone has a “Feel Good” attitude and leaves happy, even if they did not bid on the Puppy.

CON- This is an emotional Issue
Yes, little puppies make people fall in love with them at first site, but then they go home with the winning bidder, chew on the furniture, whine at night, bark during the day, and some grow, and grow and grow. The cute factor may go away. This is a 10-15-year relationship the winning bidder has just entered into. This Dog will now be a member of the winning bidder’s family. Is that a decision that should be entered into in the heat of an emotional moment, perhaps fueled by alcohol and peer pressure?

PRO- $$$$$$$
Let’s address the Elephant in the room. As a Non-Profit you need as much money as possible to your bottom line to fund your mission. It’s the Job of your Auctioneer to maximize the amount of money generated at your Gala. These animals bring in a LOT of money.  And when you are saving babies or funding Cancer research the money brought in from the sale of puppies goes a long way. How much formula and Diapers, or Chemo drugs can $10,000 buy for example?  It’s a strong argument for this method.

CON- Community Backlash
Some people in the Community where the Auction is being held may not be happy about this offering. Gemma Vaughan (info@peta.org ) an Animal Cruelty Case Worker for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was clear on PETA’s position when I spoke with her by phone: “Auctioning Animals of any kind puts them at risk as you cannot gauge the suitability of the owner at an Auction.”

She went on to state that that many owners feel overwhelmed by the ownership of an animal purchased at Auction.  PETA actually receives many calls from concerned citizens about Charities planning to Auction puppies and when they do they reach out and urge the Organization to reconsider, most will. 

PRO- The shelter option

Veronica Martinez CEO and Founder of “Pawty Breaks” a company that provides services to Dog Owners was generally against the practice as well.

“I believe in adopting, not shopping. In contrast, I would be supportive if, let’s say Austin Pets Alive! Had a pet auction at their annual fundraiser. A no-kill shelter could use it as an opportunity to home animals currently in their care. Because of the no-kill movement, should a home not work for the animal APA! could accept the dog back and help find the right home. In a situation like that the buyer could forfeit the money (aka donation) or trade for another dog that is a fit for their home. Ultimately, an auction could yield more money than the typical adoption fee one pays when they go directly to APA!”

 CON- The Law

27 States have Laws on the books that prohibit the giving away of an animal as a prize at an event. Texas is not one of them but cities sometimes do. 

For Instance, the City of Dallas prohibits the Sale of Animals by Auction at a Charity event. Here it is from the Dallas City Code.

EC. 7-7.6.   ANIMALS AS PRIZES, PROMOTIONS, AND NOVELTIES.

   A person commits an offense if he sells, exchanges, raffles, auctions, or gives away or offers to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away any live animal as:

      (1)    a prize;

      (2)   an inducement to enter a place of amusement or a business establishment; or

      (3)   an inducement to participate in a charitable fund-raising event. (Ord. 27250)

It says any live animal so presumably this would include Kittens, Snakes, Longhorns or even a Hippopotamus.   So know the Law in your area.

So, what are you to do when you are considering  Auctioning off an animal?  Here are some thoughts for your review:

1.      You have the right (and obligation) to obey the Law. So if it’s against the Law to Auction a Puppy in your City (Like Dallas) then draw your own conclusion and do what you think is right.

2.      A Charity can refuse to sell any items you are not comfortable with. If your gut tells you the animal may end up not well cared for or in danger you can say no. However, if you do decide not to sell the Puppy being offered, be prepared to explain why in no uncertain terms. We all know a lot of Donors do not like hearing the word “No” from the Gala Committee or the Development Director.

3.      If you are going to go ahead with selling a Puppy or other animal at an Auction then be sure to include with the Puppy a Crate, a months’ worth of Puppy Food, 6 months or more of Vet Care, Puppy Toys, Dog Dishes and anything else you can think of. Most importantly, you should have an action plan that calls for a staff member to follow up with the winning bidder, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after the Auction to check on the status of the animal. Be prepared to take the animal back if the buyer desires and refund the price paid. 

As I said before, there is considerable debate about this lucrative but sometimes controversial practice.  Whether you conduct these sales or not, have a plan, be prepared and know the Law.

Good Luck!!

Mike Hanley

License Number TX 15050

512-748-1849

www.Austinauctioneer.com

Time to Talk and a Time to sell

I once heard an Auctioneer say “There is a time to talk and a time to sell”.

  

He was referring to the temptation to stop the sale and re-describe the item or Package being sold in an attempt to re-energize the bid or get it going again. This seems like something that would be a good idea. 

I’ve been told many times about an item that undersold last year ( when we were not involved) and have heard of Auctioneers being approached by an Auction Chair to ask them to stop the bidding and tell the crowd about the item again. 

“They can’t be aware of what this is” goes the thinking. “If they did, the bidding would be higher, they must have not been listening!” 

Rarely if ever have I seen or heard of this strategy working. Here are few points to consider:

1.      

         Pictures are worth a Thousand Words. If you have a pictures with a few bullet points on a screen that everyone can see then there is no need for a “Repeat” of the item. Your bidders can easily see what’s being offered.

2.       Ringmen can help. You may be tired of me harping on this but PROFESSIONAL Ringmen (Not Volunteer Bid Spotters) that are there to do one specific job will know what is being sold. They can communicate that to any attendees that may have not been paying attention.

3.       You’re right. They were not listening. At any Charity Benefit Auction held in the history of ever, there were a few people in the Audience getting a drink, talking business, or commenting on Jennifer’s Dress and how “She is too old to pull that off” when the Auction Team described one of the items. ( The Fund a need is different) But if they were not listening and you had the Items marketed ahead of time then they did not want that particular package.

4.       Sometimes no one wants what you or your committee thinks is awesome. It happens. You may have thought the chance to have a new room redecorated in your home was the best thing ever, but the majority of the crowd may not want their home turned upside down for 3 months or to fly to the South Pole even if they can see the Aurora Borealis. Or maybe they don’t like the San Francisco Giants.

5.       The most important point to consider is that you are probably hurting your chances to sell the Package for more. If you interrupt your Auctioneer and try and get him/her to re-describe the item, you are actually taking away the urgency to bid. You are saying to your crowd, “No one wants this” and you are slowing down the bidding.

When you use a Professional Charity Benefit Auctioneer and their team trust their judgement. They know when its time to “Talk and Time to Sell”

Art at your Charity Benefit Auction? A Chance for New Money or a Catastrophe waiting to happen?

Note: Many thanks to Drew Brophy - http://drewbrophy.com  Ro Diaz- http://www.rodiaz.com/ and Tom Varano http://premierespeakers.com/tom_varano for their contributions to this post. 

 Many Auctioneers who specialize in Charity Benefit Auctions will caution you against Art as a rule in a Fundraising Auction.  This is a valid concern as Art can be dangerous in a Benefit Auction if you don’t know the crowd or what they may or may not like.

I’m certain that it won’t surprise you that I would advise that you hire an auctioneer with experience doing fundraising auctions so let’s get that out of the way. Charity Fundraisers are not like ordinary auctions where you want to move merchandise as fast as possible to bidders looking for bargains. They're conducted very differently and the right auctioneers know how to do that. A skilled charity fundraiser auctioneer can make a huge difference in the auction's bottom line. Of course you must assure the auctioneer has notes describing each work of art and the background of the artist who created it. Art sells for more money if it is described and properly displayed.  A meeting between the Auctioneer and the Artist is recommended and at a time and place other than Auction day.

 If you are considering this type of Item in your Benefit Auction take a moment to consider things from the Artists point of view. The risk being run is considerable if the Artist is established and might take offense at his work not being sold at the best price. Even Artists who donate all the proceeds from their work to the Charity can be skittish. If their work sells for 25% of what it brings at a Gallery an Artists reputation can be damaged and the perception can be “Why should I buy it for that price in the gallery? I saw it go for much less at an Auction recently. “

 Most Charities ask for a straight Donation from the Artist and do not offer to share the revenue form the piece.  Other than feeling good about their contribution, there is little to gain.  There is no marketing value to these events, unless their name and art is printed on all of the Auction brochures and advertising (this rarely happens).

 Of course sometimes it is possible that a Piece sells for 2 or three times the Gallery or Collector price, and an Artists reputation can be enhanced and his work can sell for much higher after the public hears about the great price brought at the American Cancer Society Gala  (for example) recently. Demand can be created for his/her work .So consider these issues when approaching an Artist for a Donation. A few years ago

Consult with the Artist ahead of time and set a reserve for the piece. If it does not reach that reserve, don't sell it. If the reserve is unreasonable politely decline the offer or sell the work via another method.

 Drew Brophy a very popular Artist instituted guidelines for charities. He advocates sharing the revenue from the Art with the Artist. It’s a compelling argument and you can read it by following this link.  http://drewbrophy.com/brophy-principal-giving-art-to-worthy-causes-while-protecting-the-value/


 There is also the Performance Artist who paints or creates Art at your Event as the Attendees watch and wonder at the talent on display. Two of those that I know of are Tom Varano and Ro Diaz.

Tom Varano has been an artist for 25 years, and his studio is call, Varano Photography (varano.com). He is now using fingertips, palms and multiple brushes to paint custom portraits of honorees at your event on a 4 foot by 5 foot canvas in just a matter of minutes.
His creations are choreographed to music chosen by the Honoree or Gala Committee that is powerful and stimulates the senses. Tom's Emotion Into Art™ is described as taking his audience through an amazing journey of excitement, suspense, cheer, motivation and surprise. Check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qQtDK_MfX0

 Rolando Diaz , Born in Havana, Cuba, to a Cuban immigrant businessman who fled an oppressive Communist regime, Diaz learned early that there are those who will go through life with little or nothing they can call their own. This thought has touched the heartstrings of the artist, who has traveled through cities in the U.S. and other countries, including Cap Haitian, Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, recalling and painting those images, and raising funds through his art for the poor. Ro also creates his works during the event as the music plays and inspires him and he does it as the Audience watches in awe. Diaz travels internationally with his art to countries such as Africa, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Honduras, Guatemala, England and Canada.

Learn about Ro here: http://www.rodiaz.com/

  Both of these men bring a unique experience in Art to your Gala Auction. It’s new, fun and innovative.

The end game for you to consider is can this add to my bottom line? Generate more revenue for my event and therefore my cause.  Whether the Art is a lost Picasso donated by a generous Benefactor or the Performance Art by Rolando, Tom or some other artist does it make sense for my crowd?

We can help with that as part of our service is crowd analysis and consulting on the right items for your event. Call us at 512-748-1849 or visit www.austinauctioneer.com and let’s talk about these and other ideas for your event.