One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

Please note: this post is 118 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Last weekend, supporter Lydia did something a little bit unique; she held a clothes auction in aid of North London Cares. Intrigued? Read on to hear how it works.

BY LYDIA LEWISON

Last weekend my house was a hotbed of fierce competition as 20 women battled it out to get the best bargains. Over nibbles, bubbles and giggles I held a clothes auction in aid of North London Cares and raised over £350 in one brilliantly fun afternoon. What could be better than shopping, drinking, bonding and fundraising all at the same time?!

How to host your own clothes auction:

1. Invite the wonderful people in your life to your party, asking them to bring along some clothing or accessories that they are prepared to part with. (Top tip: quality over quantity is the key!)
2. Buy in some snacks and drinks (drinks of the alcoholic persuasion may encourage your friends to bid generously, just sayin'.)
3. When all your chums are gathered let the browsing of each other’s wares commence! You may wish to stand well back at this point as clothes start flying around the room and modesty goes out the window.
4. When everyone has had a chance to try things on and pick their favourites, gather everyone together and start the auction. The host showcases the clothes, and with each turn, the person who selected the item presented begins the bidding. You might want to set some minimum bids to maximise your earnings.
5. We also instituted the ‘Park it’ rule - if someone wants to bid on something and you haven't had a chance to try it on, you can yell 'Park!' and save it for the next round of bidding.
6. Run the auction in rounds so people have a chance to do more trying on, snacking and chatting in between.
7. When all is done, tot up your total donation to North London Cares. I had set up aVirgin Money Giving fundraising page so that my friends could pay by card; no small change necessary.
8. Whatever is left unsold, take along to your nearest charity shop to spread the love even further.

Et voila! Your very own clothes auction is complete. Your friends will go home with a new wardrobe for next-to-nothing, new friends and that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from raising money for a good cause.

Once you've tried it, you'll be hooked. All of my friends are desperate to know when the next one is - we're currently planning to do one per season like true fashionistas.

If Lydia's story has inspired you to hold your own clothes auction in aid of North London Cares, please contact Emily who will be able to help you every step of the way.