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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GAVELNET.COM Unveils New Site--Version 2.0

Enhanced look and feel and improved ease-of-use provide customers with state-of-the-art online auction site

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 16, 2000) - GAVELNET.COM, the Web-based premium collectibles, fine and decorative arts auction house, announced today that it has taken another step forward in delivering the most entertaining, safe and satisfying online auction experience in the world, with its newly enhanced site at www.gavelnet.com. The new site, which combines ease-of-use with an industry-leading look and feel, will allow customers to more easily browse and bid on the items offered. The new design is in direct response to the needs expressed by collectors interested in purchasing art in an aesthetically pleasing and secure online format. The site now offers a number of features that enhance navigation, simplify use, and assist browsers in finding specific items in an elegant, contemporary design. This design will optimally illustrate the company's many upcoming auction events.

The new black background creates a strikingly dramatic backdrop for showcasing the beautiful and rare properties offered on the site. This new look differentiates GAVELNET.COM from other auction sites, providing customers with a more gallery-like and eye-pleasing atmosphere. Additionally, each item now enjoys a more thorough description, accompanied by date, artist and medium. Many of the items will also have links to articles about the relevant artist or period, enriching the content on the site and providing bidders with a greater source of information through which to ascertain the value of each piece.

Beyond aesthetics, the new site offers a score of enhanced features and functionality that will give users simplified navigation, registration, bidding and monitoring capabilities for each auction. Users may now jump laterally from one property category to another, search auction listings by artist, make, date or period, and sort auction listings by current bids or estimates, enabling them to find exactly what interests them quickly and easily. They will also be able to preview property prior to auction and view completed auctions, allowing them to compare items that have sold to those currently up for bids.

Registration for users has been greatly simplified by offering two distinct levels of free "membership" to the site, both of which offer the benefits of "My Portfolio." My Portfolio allows registrants to track auctions they wish to monitor (whether bidding or not), track items they have bid on, review past purchases and see upcoming auctions in a convenient calendar format. My Portfolio is now available to seasoned users as well as those that have not yet chosen to participate directly in online auctions.

"We took a long look at how our customers are perceiving our site, and overall, the feedback was extremely positive," said George Noceti, CEO of GAVELNET.COM. "But we were able to identify some areas that, if enhanced, would increase its overall desirability. We made these changes quickly, illustrating how closely we're listening to our users and adjusting our course to improve their browsing and buying experience. I feel certain that the site's look and feel, combined with our trademark Transaction Guaranteed and SafeShip programs, make GAVELNET.COM the most desireable auction house on the Internet, hands down."

The new site debuts just in time for a series of planned live auctions webcasts including a Tiffany Lamp auction on March 19, an Asian Art auction on April 2, and a vintage poster auction on May 7, as well as two back-to-back 24/7 auctions of Hollywood memorabilia celebrating the 72nd Annual Academy Awards during the month of March. More information on these events can be found at http://www.gavelnet.com.

About GAVELNET.COM
GAVELNET.COM is a Web-based auction house that offers premium collectibles, decorative and fine arts items from a worldwide network of prestigious galleries and dealers in an entertaining, interactive online format. GAVELNET.COM is "Taking Auction to a Fine Art™" by creating an exceptionally safe and satisfying online auction experience. With headquarters in San Francisco and offices in London and New York City, the company has received financing from Benchmark Equity Group of Houston, Texas, and may be found on the Internet at www.gavelnet.com.

For more information, contact:
Shawn Wolfe
GAVELNET.COM
415-544-2677
swolfe@gavelnet.com

Jon Alper
Miller/Shandwick Technologies
617-351-4120
jalper@miller.shandwick.com

 

 

 

 

 

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