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📦 Item Packaging: How to Bundle Donated Items into Auction Packages

👀 What is Item Packaging in ClickBid?

Item packaging allows you to collect individual donated items and later combine them into auction-ready packages. This is especially helpful when donors drop off items over time — and you want to track, store, and later bundle those donations into a polished auction listing.

Use the Managed Donors page to log donated goods (like wine, cleaning services, or gift cards) and add notes before turning them into live items.


🧰 Getting Started with Managed Donors

⚙️ Step 1: Open the Donor Management Page

  1. In the Admin, go to Items > Managed Donors.

  2. You'll see a spreadsheet-style table where you can:

    • Log donations

    • Track donor contact info

    • Add notes

    • Assign FMV (fair market value)

    • Link donated items to auction listings later

The Managed Donors table is just for tracking donated goods. Nothing added here is visible to the public until you attach it to an auction item.


➕ Step 2: Add Donated Items to Your List

Let’s say someone donates a six-pack of Clorox wipes:

  1. Click into a new row in the Managed Donors table.

  2. Fill in:

    • Item Name: Six-Pack Clorox Wipes

    • Donor Name: Mr. and Mrs. Clean

    • Display Name (public-facing): Mr. and Mrs. Clean

    • Fair Market Value: $30

    • Phone, Email, and Notes as needed

manage donors

Use the Notes column to track pairing ideas (e.g. "Could bundle with house cleaning services."). This helps when you're ready to turn donations into auction packages.

 


📝 Step 3: Continue Collecting Donations Over Time

Examples of what you might log:

  • 🍷 A box of wine from Julie Wilson → Display name: Anonymous

    • FMV: $225

    • Notes: “Would be great to pair with a hotel stay”

  • 🧽 A home cleaning service from Patty Johnson → Display name: Sparkle Homes

    • Item Name: One Month of Cleaning (2 Visits)

    • FMV: $500


🧩 Step 4: Create a Final Auction Package

Once you have a few items you’d like to bundle:

  1. Go to Items > Manage Items.

  2. Click Add Item.

  3. Fill in:

    • Title: Spick and Spain

    • Status: Active

    • Starting Bid: $100

    • Bid Increment: $50

    • Buy Now: $600

  4. Click Complete and Go Back.


🔗 Step 5: Link Donated Items to Your Auction Package

  1. Return to Items > Managed Donors.

  2. Find the items you want to include.

  3. Use the Attach to Auction Item dropdown to link to the auction item you just created (e.g. #104: Spick and Spain).

✅ You’ve officially packaged multiple donations into one auction item!

You can sort your Managed Donors table to easily find unlinked or incomplete items.


🏃‍♀️ Optional: Quickly Create an Auction Item from a Walk-in Donation

If someone walks in with something you’re ready to post online immediately:

  1. Go to Items > Manage Items > Add Item.

  2. Example:

    • Title: Wine & Dine

    • Starting Bid: $250

    • Bid Increment: $25

    • Buy Now: $600

    • FMV: $500

  3. Open the Donor Info tab, then click Add Donor:

    • Donor Name: Patrick Harris

    • Company: Wine For You

    • Description: 8 bottles of wine

    • FMV: $500

This creates a public-facing auction item and links the donor in one go.


👥 Let Someone Else Manage the Donor Page

If a volunteer or staff member is helping manage donations:

  1. Go to Software Settings > Users.

  2. Create a new user.

  3. Grant them permission to access Items > Managed Donors.

They’ll be able to:

  • Add/edit donations

  • Update notes

  • Attach items to auction packages


📤 Exporting + Editing Tips

  • Click any field in Managed Donors to edit (just like a spreadsheet).

  • Use the export tool to download your full list for backup or offline tracking.

Not every donation needs to become an auction item. Some things may stay in your donor list indefinitely — and that’s perfectly fine.

 


🏁 Final Thoughts

Item packaging is a simple but powerful way to manage donated goods in ClickBid. Use it to:

  • Log donations over time

  • Keep track of pairing ideas

  • Bundle items into exciting auction packages

  • Assign donor visibility

  • And streamline your item creation process

If you ever need help, reach out to our team — we're happy to walk you through it!