GMDC widens audience for silent auction

PHOENIX — With 125 items ranging from an evening with two legendary Yankees finishers to Disney World tickets and assorted jewelry, artwork and experiences, the silent auction fundraiser for GMDC Education and Insights at the 2015 Health Beauty Wellness conference has the potential to raise a lot of funds, and in turn generate education and insights for GMDC members.



One of the central parts of GMDC HBW conferences, in years past bidding on items in the silent auction has been limited to attendees onsite for HBW, but this year the bidding has been moved online, opening it up to all GMDC members, even those who aren’t in attendance at HBW 2015.



“In the past, we always had silent auctions focused inside the actual HBW event,” GMDC’s director of research, industry insights and communications Mark Mechelse said. “This year because we have a mobile app, we’ve opened it up to all GMDC members, not just those attending the conference. All GMDC members can now bid and that has begun to accelerate the opportunity to socialize this fundraising event well beyond our attendees.”



Expanded opportunity for bidders means that the auction — which brings in about $30,000 every year — is now open to more people who benefit from the insights beyond GMDC’s HBW members. Especially given that GMDC is focusing on three areas in the next three years — Why GM Matters, the Health & Wellness Minded Consumer and Center Store/Front End is Essential to Total Store — it follows that members who might benefit from insights can take part in helping generate them, and take home an item from the auction in the process.



“It's not just HBW companies that benefit; it's GM companies as well,” Mechelse said. “They all benefit from research and insights. Our insights are actionable to help retailers refine and transform their strategies and help them plan for ‘next practices’ that capitalize on future shopping trends.”



A full list of items up for auction can be found by clicking here, and you can follow all of DSN’s coverage of GMDC HBW 2015 by clicking here.