Are you ready to take on the Trade Up Challenge for Guide Dogs?
Step up your skills, test your creativity, and make a real difference! Join the brand new Guide Dogs Trade Up Challenge, where your sharp negotiating skills and savvy bartering can help change lives.
It starts with a cap…
Following in the footsteps of the famous “paperclip to a house” challenge, in which one man traded his way from a single paperclip to owning a house in a series of 14 trades, we’re launching our very own “Trade Up Challenge,” but with a twist - it all starts with an item from Guide Dogs… a snapback cap!
Whether you’re a born negotiator, a natural hustler, or simply someone who loves a fun challenge, this is your chance to shine.
Develop your sales pitch, showcase your charm, and see just how far you can go, trading each item for another of equal or higher value - all with the aim of raising funds to support people with sight loss.
We are not currently accepting new sign ups to the Trade Up Challenge.
Making your challenge a success
Below are some top tips for making your Trade Up Challenge a success!
Be sure to check out our FAQs section as well for more helpful information and guidance. If you have any questions you can also email our Fundraising Innovation team - we're happy to help and are grateful for your support!
Use your network
Promote your Trade Up Challenge to friends, family and colleagues - they might be interested in trading with you and supporting a good cause! You could also reach out to local businesses to see if they're open to a trade.
Creative trades
Rare or special items are more likely to get interest from potential traders than readily available items - the more creative your trades, the better! You could also trade your single item for a set or collection of new items.
Tell a story
The key is to trade UP in this challenge, so negotiating is key. The item you are offering will often be seen as less valuable than the item you are hoping to obtain, so you'll need to frame your offer carefully, look for ways to add value, and tell an interesting story about your item to generate interest!
Snap your trades!
Document your Trade Up Challenge! Take a picture of each trade you make and share an image (and maybe a little story about it) on your socials, tagging Guide Dogs. Use the hashtags #GuideDogsUK and #TradeUpChallenge - we'd love to see how you're getting on!
Prohibited items
We suggest using eBay to auction off the final items and they have strict rules on what can, and can't, be sold. Read our FAQs below for more information or visit the eBay website for a full list of prohibited items. Guide Dogs also asks that you keep your trades family-friendly.
Auction time
When it comes to auctioning your item, use your best sales pitch to describe your final item, the benefits of it, and how the winning bidder will be helping to change the lives of people living with sight loss.
Start with a Snapback! 🧢:
Sign up today for just £5 (includes postage) and we'll send you an exclusive Guide Dogs branded snapback cap as your first item to trade!
Trade Up 🔁:
Your mission? Trade the cap for another item of greater value, then keep trading! With each swap and deal that you strike, grow the value of what you hold. For example, you could trade the cap for a gaming controller, then trade the gaming controller for a painting. Trade as many times as you like!
Auction day! 🚀:
By 24th March 2025 (International Day for Achievers!), or before, you'll be ready to auction your final item in aid of Guide Dogs, with proceeds supporting our life-changing work supporting people with visual impairments. We recommend using eBay for Charity - visit the eBay for Charity help pages for more information (please note that this is an external link and Guide Dogs has no responsibility for it).
Preparing for Auction
The Trade Up Challenge is part of the Guide Dogs Innovation Hub. It is a pilot challenge we have launched to help us develop new fundraising opportunities for Guide Dogs, so we can help more people with sight loss live their lives to the fullest.
Contact us
Do you have a question that's not answered here?
Contact a member of our friendly team on fundraising.innovation@guidedogs.org.uk
© The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association 2025
Guide Dogs is a working name of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Registered Office: Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YG. A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (291646) and a charity registered in England and Wales (209617), Scotland (SC038979) and Isle of Man (1334).
