Hoping to stretch their advertising dollars, representatives of businesses and nonprofit organizations made their way recently to the Pareidolia Brewing Company to attend Bids & Brews, the 28th annual Lifestyle & Media Auction to benefit the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and its Pelican Porch Visitor Center.
With a nod to making it a pandemic-friendly event, the hybrid affair was held outdoors and also offered some virtual bidding items for those not comfortable attending in-person.
Their icy mugs of craft brews or wine in hand, guests perused tables laden with various silent-auction items while networking with fellow bidders.
More than 40 live-, silent- and virtual auction items, valued at roughly $20,000, included radio, print and website advertising, marketing and printing packages, and assorted lifestyle packages.
“Overall, it was a good event, but we had lower attendance this year, and I think that had to do with COVID-19. Other than that, the food was delicious, and the weather was perfect ‘chamber of commerce’ weather,” said Cheryl Thibault, the chamber’s operations director.
“I think everything ran smoothly. Peter O’Bryan was phenomenal; he was training them how to raise their paddles and I thought that was cute,” she added. “We didn’t sell all of the items that night, so we extended it over the weekend and until Monday to give other people a chance to bid.”
Brittany Melchiori and Michael Natale, who each have a long history with the chamber, acted as event MCs with Thibault. Melchiori, a former longtime chamber employee before resigning to co-found the Marketing Branch, and Natale, owner of MN Worldwide, wandered about with microphones to chat with attendees and even did a little Pareidolia brew tasting.
Bids and Brews was presented by Tight Line Productions and hosted by Pareidolia Brewing; the food sponsor was Sandpiper Pest Control; and the beverage sponsor was MN Worldwide.
Thibault said they expected that the event would raise close to $9,000 which will help underwrite the chamber’s operating costs and keep dues affordable. The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1958, works to “promote business development, encourage growth of tourism and enhance the quality of life in the Sebastian River Area.”
The chamber’s next big event is Light Up Night, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 3. Members whose businesses are on and around U.S. 1, most within walking distance from the chamber, will welcome in the public with a little holiday cheer. For more information, visit sebastianchamber.com.
Photos provided
