Displaying Jewelry
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Jewelry can be a tough sell because it involves personal taste. Displaying the items becomes critical when it comes to maximizing the bids.
Having a volunteer wear the piece of jewelry during the SIlent Auction does not give everyone the opportunity to view the item, only those that the volunteer engages. It is much better to place the item on a Silent Auction table where everyone will see as they cruise the auction.
Recently, I saw a great idea where jewelry was displayed under heavy glass cheese domes. It provided a certain sense of security yet was very easy to view. Check the web for a variety of sizes for different options.
If your Silent Auction includes numerous pieces of jewelry, consider having a specific location for the jewelry with a large mirror for your guests to try on the pieces and a volunteer for assisting and explaining.
Live Auction jewelry items must be handled with care or your auction can come to a screeching halt. Potential buyers want to see jewelry items up close and if they did not have the chance to see the items during the Silent Auction, they will want to see the piece prior to placing their bids during the Live.
The best way to handle Live Auction jewelry is to have a volunteer go from table to table prior to the Live Auction, showing the item to anyone interested. This prevents having to stop in the middle of bidding to let someone view the piece. And if that volunteer is a beautiful young lady in a revealing outfit, the jewelry will get even more attention!
