FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO I HAVE TO BE AN ISPA MEMBER AND/OR A CONFERENCE EXHIBITOR TO DONATE?

No! In fact, participating in the Auction is a terrific way for both exhibiting and non-exhibiting companies to get exposure at Conference. Donations are:

• displayed throughout the Conference.
• described in the Auction Catalog (for exhibiting companies, booth numbers are listed alongside their items), if received before Oct. 6, 2008. These are distributed to each person at the Conference, guaranteeing exposure to more than 3,000 of the spa industry’s leading professionals.
• tax deductible.

In addition, donors are entitled to request a copy of the bid-sheet for their item(s). This allows for follow-up with attendees who are specifically interested in your product.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY RAISED FROM THE AUCTIONS?

The auction proceeds help the ISPA Foundation create resources that advance the industry, such as the Uniform System of Financial Reporting and Retail Management for Spas. The 2006 proceeds are supporting collegiate curriculum development to further the quality and quantity of the spa industry workforce.

ARE THERE BENEFITS TO DONATING EARLY?

Yes! The earlier you donate, the earlier we can begin promoting your donation through a listing on the ISPA Web site and Pulse magazine.

I AM DONATING A CERTIFICATE.  DO I NEED TO SEND IN SOMETHING TO DISPLAY?

This is entirely up to you. Historically, however, items with a display that engages one or more of the five senses are more exciting to bidders. For a spa package, for instance, consider sending in a robe with the spa’s logo. With a mini-vacation, you might include a basket of products from the destination area. The sky’s the limit! The more unique an item is, the more buzz it generates with bidders – both for the item AND for your company!

WHY MUST CERTIFICATES BE VALID THROUGH DEC. 31, 2009?

This encourages frequent and higher bidding because it allows the winner a full year to schedule their visit to your property.

WHAT IS THE SHIPPING/HANDLING POLICY FOR ITEMS NOT CLAIMED ON SITE?

Auction items not claimed on site at the Conference will be returned to the ISPA Foundation headquarters.  They will be shipped from there to the high bidder at the high bidder’s expense. In addition to shipping costs, a $30 handling fee will be assessed for each item. This covers ISPA’s cost of transporting the item to and from Conference and then coordinating payment. To avoid these charges, plan to take advantage of our on-site Payment Center, open throughout the day following the conclusion of the Auction.  Large items can then be sent directly to your home or spa via the hotel’s convenient Shipping Center.

The ISPA Foundation Silent & Live auctions are sponsored by