58k.com is targeting major print buyers with its new private auction offering.


We have three live private auctions at present, and are in talks with a further 40 buyers, said managing director Martin Tamlyn. This is a UK initiative thats been taken up by 58k.com in the States the first test in America was for a $2.5m envelope deal.


Tamlyn said the private auction facility was tried, tested and working. It involves no investment in new technology of any kind for buyers, who can use it to hook up to their approved suppliers, for benchmarking and finding new suppliers if they want to.


Ive been speaking to someone who places 100m of pan-European print. I only had to explain what were doing and he was there.


Tamlyn is also targeting print management companies, and 58k.com has teamed up with transaction giant NCR to allow NCRs clients to order print online.


Im not kidding myself that we are seen as a great friend to printers, Tamlyn added. Our USP comes back to the auction facility. Other dotcoms are stren-uous in denying anything to do with auctions, but for us its a highlight. An auction site does add value dont make the mistake of thinking you know about it until youve researched it.


Tamlyn said that recent bad press received by dotcoms across all sectors meant they were currently viewed as a bad thing and unfashionable. Were going to have to live with that for a while, but Im actually more positive and more convinced now than at the start.


Story by Jo Francis