Planning a fish/plant/frag auction? - Aquarium Advice

Burks · 05-07-2007, 08:29 PM

Does anyone have any experience planning a fish/plant/frag auction? I've never helped plan one let alone actually attend one.

Can someone post their experiences, either attending or planning, to help me out a bit? Any little bit helps.

Thank you!

BillD · 05-08-2007, 02:40 PM

Is this a big event or a small one? Our society has a large show and auction each year, in April, with typically, at least one thousand (minimum) items in the auction. The seller is charged $3.00 for each lot of fish or items, plus $1.00 per bag. Tables are set up and numbered, usually one to twenty. A seller puts one item per table up until they have placed 20 pieces. If they have more than twenty, the next 20 go into another lot and the process is repeated. We typically start with table one, and then, the sequence for the rest is decided by random draw. Used dry goods are no longer allowed because the auction got too big. Other clubs typically take 25% of the selling price without a seller charge. You need an auctioneer who can keep things moving. If it is a big event, you should have coffee and snacks. There are other ways of doing it, depending on size, but, because we only charge a buck a bag, it draws lots of sellers, with better quality and variety. This year was our 39th show and auction. Good luck.

gohabs9 · 05-08-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillD

Is this a big event or a small one? Our society has a large show and auction each year, in April, with typically, at least one thousand (minimum) items in the auction. The seller is charged $3.00 for each lot of fish or items, plus $1.00 per bag. Tables are set up and numbered, usually one to twenty. A seller puts one item per table up until they have placed 20 pieces. If they have more than twenty, the next 20 go into another lot and the process is repeated. We typically start with table one, and then, the sequence for the rest is decided by random draw. Used dry goods are no longer allowed because the auction got too big. Other clubs typically take 25% of the selling price without a seller charge. You need an auctioneer who can keep things moving. If it is a big event, you should have coffee and snacks. There are other ways of doing it, depending on size, but, because we only charge a buck a bag, it draws lots of sellers, with better quality and variety. This year was our 39th show and auction. Good luck.

where is this auction?

Burks · 05-09-2007, 05:41 PM

This will be our first auction. No idea how many people will be there but we are getting the information out to 100,000+ people. So the turnout could be quite nice.

I "think" the place we have lined up actually has a kitchen so food and beverages will be available.

The 25% sounds like a good deal...but so does the $1 per bag or something like that.

Thanks for all the help. Any more information is greatly appreciated.

05-07-2007, 08:29 PM	#1
Burks Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 556	Planning a fish/plant/frag auction? Does anyone have any experience planning a fish/plant/frag auction? I've never helped plan one let alone actually attend one. Can someone post their experiences, either attending or planning, to help me out a bit? Any little bit helps. Thank you!

05-08-2007, 02:40 PM	#2
BillD Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada Posts: 921	Is this a big event or a small one? Our society has a large show and auction each year, in April, with typically, at least one thousand (minimum) items in the auction. The seller is charged $3.00 for each lot of fish or items, plus $1.00 per bag. Tables are set up and numbered, usually one to twenty. A seller puts one item per table up until they have placed 20 pieces. If they have more than twenty, the next 20 go into another lot and the process is repeated. We typically start with table one, and then, the sequence for the rest is decided by random draw. Used dry goods are no longer allowed because the auction got too big. Other clubs typically take 25% of the selling price without a seller charge. You need an auctioneer who can keep things moving. If it is a big event, you should have coffee and snacks. There are other ways of doing it, depending on size, but, because we only charge a buck a bag, it draws lots of sellers, with better quality and variety. This year was our 39th show and auction. Good luck. __________________ Join a fish club. Don't have one in your area? Start one.

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05-09-2007, 05:41 PM	#4
Burks Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 556	This will be our first auction. No idea how many people will be there but we are getting the information out to 100,000+ people. So the turnout could be quite nice. I "think" the place we have lined up actually has a kitchen so food and beverages will be available. The 25% sounds like a good deal...but so does the $1 per bag or something like that. Thanks for all the help. Any more information is greatly appreciated.