All About AWC’s Online Auction

by Erica Hess

There are two paydays between now and Banner Brunch on April 30. What perfect timing for the “shopportunity” of the season – AWC-Austin’s first-ever online fundraising auction!  Yes, online – we’re taking the traditional Banner Brunch auction out of the ballroom and into your living room. 

Starting at 9 a.m. on April 14, an exciting catalog of items awaits your bidding, including tickets to a sold-out Adele concert, private cooking classes at Satay, and great goodies from local favorites like Bettysport, Feathers, Myo Massage, Castle Hill Fitness and the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. 

AWC-AUSTIN ONLINE FUNDRAISING AUCTION
Location: BannerBrunch.com (Then follow homepage link)
Auction Open: Thursday, April 14 – 9 a.m.
Auction Close: Thursday, April 28 – 8 p.m.
Benefits: AWC-Austin and the Jo Caldwell Meyer Scholarship Fund

THE AUCTION IN A NUTSHELL 

1. Shop: Visit our auction by following the link at BannerBrunch.com.
2. Promote: Once on the auction site, click on the Facebook and Twitter icons
   (in the left sidebar) to share the AWC fundraiser with your network.
3. Bid: Bid on as many items as you’d like!
4. Track: The auction site will email you when you’ve been outbid.
5. Win: The auction site will email you when you win an item.
6. Pay: AWC will process your payment.
7. Redeem: AWC will contact you to arrange delivery of your item.
8. Enjoy: Enjoy your item and know you’re helping the next generation! 

ONLINE V. LIVE BIDDING 

Some of you have asked, “Will all the bidding take place online, or will we start bidding online and then bid more on-site at Banner Brunch?” While a small handful of items (each marked “Live Event Item” on its item page) will still be open for bidding at Banner Brunch, the other 90% will ONLY be available via online bidding through the April 28 auction close time as outlined below.  We’re taking some art, jewelry and other items to Banner Brunch because they showcase well in person. 

If you’re bidding on a Live Event Item but can’t attend Banner Brunch, rest easy – choose the Absentee Bidding option and we’ll bid on your behalf at the event, up to the maximum bid you’ve indicated. 

A DEEPER DIVE: HOW ONLINE BIDDING WORKS 

1. Swoon: Find an item that tickles your fancy.
2. Assess: View the current bidding status (high bid, number of bidders, etc.).
3. Pounce: Click “sign in to bid.”
4. Register: Create a username and password when prompted.
5. Bid: Place a bid using one of the options below. Or you can take it off the market instantly and “Buy Now” for the full price shown.

Proxy Bid: Busy week at the office? Automate your bidding with one click.

Enter your maximum bid and choose “Bid up to this amount.” The auction program will then automatically bid on your behalf against other bidders, up to the amount entered. It will never enter a bid of more than the prior bid plus one automated increment. As the auction continues, you will be notified by email if you are finally outbid. From there, you can submit a new bid if you’d like! 

Straight Bid: Want to wager? Lay your chips down now.

Enter the amount you would like to bid on an item, and check “Bid this exact amount” option. The bid will be placed immediately at the amount entered. As the auction continues, you will be notified by email if you are outbid. 

NEED MORE INFO? On each item page, you’ll see a “Bidder Basics” icon, which links to Frequently Asked Questions from our auction platform, BiddingForGood. We partnered with BiddingForGood, the leader in online fundraising auctions, because they’ve thought of everything and are experts at this stuff!