Are you leaving money on the table at your nonprofit auctions? While most organizations focus solely on their high-ticket silent and live auction items, there’s an untapped revenue stream that could increase your fundraising results. The secret? Strategic buy-it-now items that give every attendee a chance to support your cause, regardless of their budget.
What Are Buy-It-Now Items for Auctions?
Buy-it-now items in auctions are items people can purchase immediately at a fixed price, without the need for bidding. Unlike traditional auction items where only the highest bidder wins, buy-it-now items allow multiple supporters to participate and take home something meaningful while supporting your cause.
These items are particularly powerful for nonprofits because they remove the intimidation factor of competitive bidding and create opportunities for supporters at every giving level to participate meaningfully in your fundraising event.
The Revenue Impact: Why Buy-It-Now Items Are Game-Changers
Buy-it-now items capture revenue from donor segments that traditional auctions often miss. While your high-net-worth supporters compete for premium experiences and luxury items, buy-it-now options ensure that:
- First-time attendees feel welcomed and can participate without feeling overwhelmed
- Budget-conscious supporters can contribute meaningfully to your cause
- Busy guests can make quick purchases without monitoring bidding throughout the event
- Online participants have instant gratification options that don’t require waiting for auction close
The psychology behind buy-it-now items is simple but powerful: they satisfy our desire for immediate gratification while removing the uncertainty and potential disappointment of losing a bid. This creates a win-win scenario where more people participate, and your organization captures revenue from supporters who might otherwise leave empty-handed.
Strategic Item Selection: Beyond Mugs and T-Shirts
While branded merchandise has its place, the most successful buy-it-now strategies think beyond basic swag. Here are proven categories that drive results:
High-Volume, Low-Cost Items Start with items you can offer in large quantities so everyone can participate. Traditional options like mugs, t-shirts, and tote bags work well, but consider unique branded items like custom keychains, vinyl stickers, or phone accessories. The key is choosing items with high perceived value but low actual cost.
Experience-Based Items Workshop spots, virtual meet-and-greets with your organization’s leadership, behind-the-scenes tours, or cooking classes create memorable experiences while building deeper connections with your mission. These items often have minimal hard costs but high perceived value.
Digital Products E-books, online courses, digital art prints, or exclusive content access require no physical inventory and can be delivered instantly. Consider creating digital recipe books, field guides, or educational content related to your cause.
Service Packages Professional consultations, home services, tutoring sessions, or personal training packages donated by supporters in your community offer high value with no cost to your organization. These items often sell at premium prices while providing genuine utility to buyers.
Seasonal and Themed Items Holiday decorations, event-specific merchandise, or items that tie directly to your mission create urgency and emotional connection. An animal rescue might offer custom pet portraits, while an environmental organization could sell native plant starter kits.
Partnership Items Local business gift cards, restaurant certificates, spa packages, or retail vouchers through partnerships with community businesses create win-win relationships while offering attractive buy-it-now options with built-in value recognition.
Mission-Based Items Think of ways your organization is making an impact, and come up with items that remind your supporters of your mission. Are you supporting an orphanage in Honduras that grows or roasts coffee? Sell that coffee in the auction. Are you breaking ground at a new location? Make items with something from the property that could be displayed in a home. Handmade items from the people your organization serves would also be an ideal low-cost, mission-focused way to raise money.
Pricing Psychology: Maximizing Profit While Staying Accessible
The most successful buy-it-now items hit the “$25 sweet spot” – high enough to generate meaningful revenue but low enough that most supporters can participate without significant financial consideration. This price point encourages impulse purchases while feeling substantial enough to create a sense of meaningful contribution.
Consider offering tiered pricing options with “Good, Better, Best” packages. For example, if selling branded water bottles, offer a basic version for $15, an upgraded insulated version for $25, and a premium set with accessories for $45. This strategy captures supporters across different giving levels while maximizing average transaction value.
When calculating your pricing, aim for at least a 300% markup on hard costs. If your custom t-shirts cost $8 each, price them at $25-30. Remember, supporters understand they’re paying a premium to support your cause – they want to feel their purchase makes a meaningful impact.
Technical Setup: Making It Easy with AuctionSnap
AuctionSnap makes implementing buy-it-now items straightforward and efficient. When adding your auction items, simply choose “Buy it now only” and then select either “online” or “in person only” availability.
Choose “in person only” if you want to hide these items from the auction website. This works well for items that you only want to sell during check-in or will be offered as upgrades in the checkout process. Select “online” if you want to make them publicly visible and available for any participant to buy right from the auction website..
The platform allows you to enter exactly how many of each item you have available, automatically tracking inventory and displays the quantity remaining. This prevents overselling and creates urgency when quantities run low.
You can also set up different payment and fulfillment options for different items – some for immediate pickup, others for shipping, and experiences for future scheduling. This flexibility ensures smooth operations while providing convenience for your supporters.
Marketing Your Buy-It-Now Items for Maximum Impact
Successful buy-it-now sales begin long before your event. Start promoting these items in your pre-event communications, highlighting their accessibility and the impact each purchase creates. Use email campaigns to showcase featured items with compelling visuals and clear connections to your mission.
During the event, strategic placement and signage make all the difference. Position buy-it-now displays near high-traffic areas like the entrance, bar, and registration tables. Use clear, attractive signage that shows pricing and highlights the mission impact of each purchase.
Social media can also amplify your reach. Create shareable content featuring your buy-it-now items, and encourage attendees to post photos with their purchases using event hashtags. This organic promotion extends your reach beyond the event itself and can drive additional online sales.
Consider sending targeted email campaigns to registered attendees showcasing your buy-it-now options, especially if you’re offering online purchasing. This pre-event promotion can generate early sales momentum and help you gauge demand for inventory planning.
Your Next Steps to Auction Success
Buy-it-now items represent one of the simplest ways to increase auction revenue while creating more inclusive fundraising events. By offering fixed-price options alongside your traditional auction items, you capture donations from supporters across all giving levels and remove barriers to participation.
Ready to transform your next auction? AuctionSnap’s intuitive platform makes it easy to set up and manage buy-it-now items alongside your traditional auction offerings. With built-in inventory tracking, flexible fulfillment options, and seamless payment processing, you can raise more at your next auction.
Start planning your buy-it-now strategy today, and watch as more supporters than ever before leave your next auction feeling connected to your cause and excited about the impact they’ve helped create.