Bid Local First 2009: Coming Soon!

Our second Annual Bid Local First online auction starts on November 23, 2009 and we will once again offer a stunning array of unique, fun Bellingham experiences that can’t be found anywhere else! The auction will occur in conjunction with Buy Local Week and promises to reach an even broader audience this year. The more interesting items we have, the more funds we can raise. We need your help!  

The fun has already begun!  Check out some of the new items for 2009 in the upper green call out box or just scroll to the bottom of this page to view our featured items!

Last year's inaugural online auction was a great success! It was viewed by 1,000’s of people, 640 bids were placed over two weeks, and 100% of the items donated were bid on and won! All of this helped us to raise $9,360, exceeding our goal and enabling us meet these targets: Create the Energy Efficiency program (to be launched county-wide in the coming months!), Continue our Food To Bank On Program which is currently equipping nine beginning farmer’s with critical business planning skills while they donate weekly to the Bellingham Food Bank, and Further our collaboration with local colleges, producing two new Green Jobs programs: The Sustainable Building Advisor Program and the Sustainable Business Manager’s Certificate

Show your support by brainstorming a local experience you can donate through your business...  think rooftop dinners, lodging and adventure, private classes... or team up with another business to offer an auction package. The sky's the limit! Click HERE to submit your item/package or to get more information or ideas!  Be sure to watch the website for new items added throughout November! When you donate an item, your item and business will be visible to the public almost immediately on this website.  Your business name, logo and hyperlink will accompany your item - promoting you to all auction watchers, bidders and surfers!

Donation deadline: November 9th, 2009

What do we mean by "experience" anyway?  Well, anything that is personalized, interactive, participatory, informative, possibly set-up for a group, or something unique that goes a little beyond what someone could normally buy at your business.  Below are a few ideas from 2008 to spark your imagination!

Last year's top selling items:

• Get the Gear to Get Movin’ -  A personalized Shoe Fitting and Selection, Gait Analysis, technical shirt, and training advice with the owner of  Farihaven Runners & Walkers
• Native Landscape or Raingarden! – A professional consultation and layout plan for your yard from Northwest Ecological and a gift certificate to Plantas Nativa to fill in the plan
• Red Boots Design His ‘n’ Her Hoodies
• Two Gourmet Cooking Classes from Ciao Thyme
• Catered, Green Catamaran Excursion for 12 by Gato Verde Adventure Sailing and Haggen’s Market Street Catering
• A Yard Filled with Bird Song – A customized bird and habitat consultation from Wild Bird Chalet
• Beer Lover’s Dream Night Out for 8 at Boundary Bay
• Cottage Stay on Lummi Island at Full Bloom peony farm
• Dinner with the Owners of Village Books and author Clyde Ford! – cooked in Chuck and Dee’s apartment over their store!
• Exclusive Sneak-Peek into Artisan Mushroom Growing at Cascadia Mushrooms plus a grow-your-own kit