The item from Pearl Paradise is usually valued in the $400 range. Every auction is different in terms of bid price, based on what you think people are comfortable bidding and how appealing the item is to your particular guest list. We would start it at $300, thinking it will bid up a little over actual value by evening's end. We might have another $400 item, let's say, tickets to a Broadway show and dinner, which we would start at its full value, knowing it will easily bid up to the $600 range.
As for safety, we do put our expensive items out during the event--it is very hard to sell jewelry without letting people view and sometimes, touch. We have a very large event--650--but we've been lucky and haven't had a theft problem. We did buy enclosed lucite displays to house some of our jewelry and we found that it deterred people from touching.
The greatest theft risk seems to be prior to the event, after set-up. We always have one volunteer at our auction to ensure the safety of the items during that time.
Hope this helps.
BTW, we found that putting hand mirrors by the jewelry really helped encouraged bidding. When people try something on and can see how it looks on them, they get hooked:)
I have two questions please concerning Pearl Paradise:
1. I am getting a donation from Pearl Paradise for my event. Is it safe to put the necklace out on display for the bidders to see or is there a theft risk?
2. What is your recommendation for a starting bid for the pearl necklace from Pearl Paradise.
Jenn H - I am waiting to apply for Disney since the requirements are no more then 6 months so I figure in June i am going to fil out the form and fingers cross they come thru.
I am on Long Island and I sent requests out to all NY based sporting teams as well as the LI Ducks (which I got four entrance tickets), Blue Man Group, all of the ones that i found on this site - I probably mailed out over 70 letters! I also got some candy baskets thru some vendors on ebay they were very generous and then our schol had a craft fair right before Mother's Day so we went, and I grabbed peoples cards spoke to them about the auction and about four of them are willing to donate an item I just have to contact them again in November and they will mail it out or I even told them I would pick up. Craft fiars are great since the vendors want to advertize their items and if they donate I have asked everyone to please include a business card/flyer etc in the basket so that the winners know were it came from for possible future shopping.
