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Helping Hand Group Launches First European Office to Support Growing Demand for Fundraising and Charity Auction Services

Announcement posted by Helping Hand Group 22 Jan 2015

First Office Launched Outside Asia Pacific, as Leading Fundraising and Charity Auction Services Group Experiences Rapid Expansion Globally

Sydney, 22 January 2015Helping Hand Group, global leaders in the provision of no-cost fundraising and charity auction services, today announced it has officially launched an office in the Netherlands to support growing interest from European organisations and charities to introduce auction services into their fundraising campaigns, such as the Netherlands Red Cross. This is the first office Helping Hand Group has opened outside Asia Pacific, supporting its rapid expansion plans as it recognises the opportunities for fundraising auction services globally.

“It is a very exciting time for our business as we realise the growth potential of our business model outside Asia Pacific, where we have had a very solid footing over the past 17 years,” said Adam Herodotus, CEO of Helping Hand Group. “One of the main challenges of putting on a fundraising event is the sheer effort and coordination that goes into the planning and execution, which is where our services play such a pivotal role in helping organisations run a successful event and bring in much needed fundraising revenue.”

Founded in 1997 in Sydney, Helping Hand Group has nine offices across six countries throughout Asia Pacific and has operated auctions in 17 countries, from Australia to Abu Dhabi, Monaco, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Japan and more. It has raised and donated over AU$75 million for leading charities, community groups, schools and sporting clubs, by providing memorabilia (music/movies/sport), artwork, fine wines, holidays, experiences and other high-end items for fundraising through silent or live auctions. Demand for Helping Hand Group’s fundraising and auction services continues to increase significantly every year, with over 500 events held this year alone.

After thorough market investigation, Helping Hand Group identified the lack of a competitor in the Netherlands market offering similar auction services, coupled with a large number of charities needing its services and a population used to the way auctions operate. With low overheads, Helping Hand Group was able to establish its presence in the Netherlands relatively swiftly, with functions such as finance, HR and booking representatives driven out of its Sydney headquarters.

“A local presence in Europe will allow us to build strategic relationships with charities and businesses requiring fundraising support in the region,” said Mr Herodotus. “We have done so many events in so many different countries that we have seen our business model work time and time again, regardless of where we are or what the event is - whether it is a small event for 80 people up to big gala dinners. Our success has a lot to do with the quality of auction items that we offer that are specifically relevant to each market an event is held in, giving us a very solid foundation to build up from.”

The launch of the new Netherlands office is the latest extension of Helping Hand Group’s global reach, with another soon to be opened in New Zealand, as well as expansion within countries it already has offices in – Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

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About Helping Hand Group

Founded in 1997 in Sydney, Helping Hand Group has raised and donated over $75 million for leading charities, community groups, schools and sporting clubs, by providing memorabilia, artwork, fine wines, holidays and experiences for fundraising through silent or live auctions. It has operated auctions in 15 countries and has affiliations with nine offices across six countries. For more information, visit: http://helpinghand.com.au/