ePier, a 3-year-old auction site that competes with eBay, has launched a new service for companies wanting to run auctions on their own site. Distributed Marketplace (EMASS) allows a site to run auctions on their own Web sites powered by ePier technology.

Marketplace owners can choose to run private auctions running exclusively on their own site, or they can choose to run auctions on ePier as well, benefiting from ePier's traffic. ePier customizes an auction engine to match a site's look and feel and hosts the auction marketplace on its own platform.

"We've tested the Distributed Marketplace on several sites, and it has been successful," said James Kim, ePier's President. "It's a low-cost way for sites to have auction capability." Some examples of sites using ePier's auction marketplace on their own Web sites include a collectibles site (Jacks Collectables) and a charity (regional Special Olympics).

Fisher radio stations in Montana (http://fisherradio.com/frrg) run auctions using ePier's Distributed Marketplace. An example of a completed auction event can be seen at http://www.epier.com/fisher/?eid=13&t=t.

Jerod Schaefer, Manager of Internet Services for Fisher Radio Regional Group, said he conducts 2-day auctions in each of his markets once a quarter. Each station heavily promotes the auctions on the air the week before the auction, and they "preview" auction items on the ePier site. Once the auction begins, it gets non-stop promotion on the air and on the station's Web site. "The auctions have been a big hit with our users and listeners, and we have plans of expanding the use of our ePier sites in the future," Schaefer said.

Sites can run auctions periodically, like Fisher Radio, or on a continuous basis. There is a $299 one-time set up fee, plus a 2.5% commission on each sale (there are no listing fees).

ePier's Kim said he is pursuing a patent on the technology, which he says will allow independent sites to market, grow and brand their own business. An example and a demo can be viewed from this page: http://www.epier.com/emassdemo/index_s.asp, or call 877-855-3969 for more information.