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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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