Case Study: Easter Seals Ontario/Rogers Conn Smythe Celebrity Dinner & Auction

About the Event

Since 1922, Easter Seals has provided support and service for children in Ontario living with a physical disability. The annual Rogers Conn Smythe Celebrity Dinner & Auction is one of Easter Seals primary fundraising events. The 2011 event featured notable head table celebrities such as Mark Messier, Doug Gilmour, Angela James, Dion Phaneuf, WWE Star The Edge, Wendell Clark and Bob Gainey. This year, the auction raised more than $75,000.

The Project

Each year, the dinner and gala auctions a number of high-profile prizes, including sports memorabilia (i.e., autographed hockey jerseys and sticks, baseballs), holiday packages and romantic getaways.

Tenzing was contracted to create a custom mobile smartphone application streamlining the auction bidding process. A dedicated section of the auction was allotted for bidding through blackberry devices exclusively.

The Event

For the 2011 event, Blackberry supplied Tenzing with about 100 Blackberry devices to lend to auction participants. Participants who have their own  blackberry smartphones were given information to download the mobile auction app. Both Tenzing and Blackberry staff were also present at the event to provide assistance and support. Volunteers handed out loaner blackberry devices at each table.

Bidding began at the beginning of the gala and ended with the finale of special live auction items. Bidders could track their bids not only on their devices but also on the Tenzing-supplied leaderboard, located near the auction items. Nearing the end of bidding a large group of auction bidders eagerly followed results on the leaderboard.

The Outcome

The auction was an overwhelming success with a significant increase in revenue acquired and visitor participation. The mobile auction bid was a hot topic throughout the evening and added a new dynamic to the event. With the huge success of this flagship event, Tenzing looks to continue the mobile app push at subsequent sponsors and events.