Running a silent auction is a tried-and-true way to raise money. A good lineup of items keeps people engaged, encourages friendly competition, and can bring in big results. The tricky part? Finding enough items that people actually want to bid on. Donations only go so far, and it’s easy to run into the same gift baskets, restaurant gift cards, or sports tickets year after year.
That’s where items on consignment come in. Instead of relying only on donated goods, organizers can bring in unique, high-value experiences or products without any upfront cost. If the item sells, your group keeps the profit above the base price. If it doesn’t, there’s no loss. It’s a simple way to add variety, boost bidding excitement, and take some pressure off the donation hunt.
In this post, we’ll cover what consignment items are, why they work so well for auctions, when it makes sense to use them, and some best practices to help you get the most out of each item.
What Are Consignment Items?
Simply put, consignment items are goods that you receive from a consignment service at no upfront cost. For any items that sell during your silent auction, you pay the listing price to the provider and keep the profit! Best of all, for the items that don’t sell, there’s no cost, making this a risk-free way to spice up any auction and generate additional revenue.
The popularity of offering consignment items is increasing because it lets your auction feel bigger and more exciting without stretching your budget. Items on consignment are typically unique and one-of-a-kind travel packages, but some providers also offer signed memorabilia and VIP event passes, too. Ultimately, consignment providers give your organization access to prizes that might otherwise be out of reach, helping you attract more bidders and raise more money for your cause.
Benefits of Having Items on Consignments
1. A Bigger Draw for Guests
Adding a few consignment items is sometimes all it takes to give your auction a real “wow” factor. Whether it’s a bucket-list vacation or a backstage experience, these kinds of prizes create a sense of excitement that makes your silent auction as a whole feel bigger and more memorable.
2. Encourages More Bidding
Unique items often spark intense bidding wars among supports. When bidders realize they won’t see this package anywhere else, they’re more likely to jump in and keep the bids flowing. For any fundraiser, that’s exactly what they want to see. More bids means more money raised for your cause!
3. No Upfront Risk
One of the biggest perks is that you don’t pay unless the item sells, meaning there’s no pressure or hit to your budget if things don’t work out. Plus, this is a great way to see which high-valued items worked best with your audience, then adjust for future events.
4. Complements Donated Items
Consignment items aren’t meant to replace what you’ve bought, or the items donated by your community, they work alongside them. The donated items bring in local charm, while the consignment packages provide that splashy “wow” element.
5. Fits Auctions of Any Size
Auctions on a smaller scale can usually get by with one or two premium items as a centerpiece, while larger galas feature several. Point being, consignment items give fundraisers of all sizes the flexibility to scale based on the interests of their audiences.
When Auction Consignment Services Make Sense
The nice thing about including items on consignment is that they don’t require a certain type of auction. Big gala, small school fundraiser, community silent auction, it doesn’t really matter. Since there’s no upfront cost, organizations can test out consignment items without worrying about losing money.
For a smaller event, you might just bring in one or two consignment auction items. Something eye-catching, like a travel experience or a signed piece of memorabilia, can make your auction feel more exciting. Silent auction items like these usually get people talking and can draw bigger bids than the usual gift cards, baskets, or home appliances.
At a larger auction, it’s easy to add several consignment items. A mix of trips, signed memorabilia, and VIP experiences gives your bidders more to choose from and adds energy to the room. Even if most of your auction is made up of donated goods, an auction consignment service can help fill in the gaps and drive higher bid totals.
That’s why many organizers are now relying on consignment items more regularly. They can work for any auction, cost nothing upfront, and help make any event a memorable one.
Best Practices for Success
Choose Items That Fit Your Audience
Not every crowd will respond to the same items. Some groups get excited about sports memorabilia, while others would rather bid on a tropical getaway. Think about what your participants actually enjoy, then pick items on consignment based on that information. The closer you align with their interests, the more bids you’ll see roll in.
Promote Early and Often
Build excitement long before the auction begins. Share teasers in your emails, social posts, or event program so people already know what’s at stake. Many reputable consignment services, including Auction Packages, provide marketing collateral you can use right away, making promotion less work for your team.
Set Smart Starting Bids
Pricing can make or break a consignment item. Too high and bidders hesitate, too low and you risk missing out on revenue. The good news is that most providers suggest starting bids and increments designed to protect your profit margin, so you don’t have to guess where to start.
Showcase the Experience
Don’t just list the item, sell the story. Use photos, detailed descriptions, and even short videos if you have them to help supporters picture themselves enjoying the experience. The more real it feels, the more likely someone is to place that first bid.
Lean on Your Provider’s Expertise
The right consignment company won’t just hand over items and walk away. They’ll act as a partner, offering guidance on what sells best, how to display items, and tips for driving up bids. Take advantage of that support because it could be the difference between walking away with a few hundred dollars to potentially thousands!
Should Your Auction Include Consignment Items
Adding items on consignment is one of the easiest ways to give a silent auction more appeal. Since you don’t pay anything upfront, there’s really no downside, you only owe the provider if the item sells. That makes it a low-risk option for any group that wants to test out bigger ticket items and raise more for their cause.
Plus, it’s not just large events that can benefit, either. Even a small school fundraiser or community auction can add one or two consignment items to mix in with donated goods. The right item, especially something like a travel experience, can spark competition and bring in higher bids than you’d get otherwise.
In the end, using consignment items simply gives your auction more variety, and that variety helps keep bidders excited and engaged.
Did You Know?
Bid Beacon is collaborating with Auction Packages, a trusted consignment service that has served organizations for over 15 years and helped raise over $60 million in that time. They offer over 250 travel packages, allowing fundraisers of all sizes find items that fit their events!
FAQ
What are consignment items?
Consignment items are goods your auction gets from a provider without paying anything upfront. If an item sells, you pay the listed price to the provider and keep the profit. If an item doesn’t sell, there’s no cost to your organization.
Can smaller auctions benefit from using a consignment service?
Yes. Even a small event can include one or two higher-value items on consignment. It gives your auction a “wow” factor and helps boost bidding energy without stretching your budget.
What types of consignment items are usually offered?
It depends on the service. Some offer memorabilia or event tickets, but the most popular options are travel experiences. Trips and vacation packages consistently perform well because they’re exciting, unique, and hard for people to pass up.
