FOR VENDORS
The Opportunity
Fundraising auctions traditionally have offered locally contributed goods and services to a worthy cause and auctioned at a gala, once a year. cMarket is changing this process profoundly. Teaming with nonprofit auctioneers we’ve created a combination of online and offline auctions that extend for weeks, not hours, and attract a far greater number of bidders than customary, “live” events.
At the same time, we’ve extended the scope of items that can be made available, creating in cMarket Place a catalog of consignment goods and services that are particularly appropriate to such events. Unusual vacations, hotels, adventures, etc. that aren’t readily available to fundraisers can be selected from the cMarket Place catalog by any auction and included in the bidding. Because these auction items are included in the event without commitment by the charity, they are enthusiastic about rounding out their offerings in this way.
Doing Well by Doing Good
There are a number of opportunities for vendors in this unique distribution channel. Not the least of them is to bring your products and services into an environment where good works are being done by wonderful people. Your company can fulfill its charitable intentions in a wide and varied environment where cMarket’s long term relationships assure you of auctions run on behalf of good works. Since we work exclusively with non-profits, we know this terrain intimately.
The Audience
The audience for your goods is attractive in other ways, too. Overwhelmingly, bidders on cMarket auctions are in professional, technical or management occupations (78%). Ninety-five percent own their own homes. And, fully 69% of all bidders have household incomes in excess of $75,000 (General US population: 27% of households have income above $75,000.)
Clearly, this is an influential, resourceful and engaged group. Better yet, this year cMarket will host over 3,000 live, online auctions for more than 2,000 distinct groups. Over 150,000 people will browse the catalogs of these auctions, determined to find unusual, interesting and useful items and services to bid on. Most importantly, these bidders have more than “auction fever” propelling them: they are also deeply motivated to give to the cause hosting the nonprofit auctions we run.
Low Cost, No Risk
There is no cost to beginning your involvement with cMarket Place. Only in the event that your items are sold do we charge a commission on the sale. So there is no risk to listing your wares via cMarket Place. We’ll review materials, costs, text and availability with you and mutually agree on a strategy that will promote your offerings best.
Companies with discontinued lines, odd lots and overstock items may also donate or liquidate at minimal charge on cMarket Place. This resource is a wonderful and fulfilling alternative to discarding products.
Marketing Knowledge
Finally, cMarket Place has special relationships with companies who wish to do market research by offering their new products (or existing ones in new marketplaces) on hundreds of charitable auctions. Bid and sale results can be reported to you geographically Plus, we can share data on the depth of interest in bid items: we can report on the number of bidders interested in an item, the range of prices and the ultimate sale price. This sort of market research, in the demographic groups cMarket reaches, is invaluable.
