Szul, Improvements And Sixdegrees Join Mercata’s
We-Commerce™ Network
We-Commerce Technology Provides Group Buying Savings To Partners’ Customers

BELLEVUE, Wash. – August 28, 2000 – Mercata™ (http://www.mercata.com), a leading provider of Internet-based group buying services, today announced that Szul, a top online jeweler, Improvements, a site for do-it-yourselfers, and sixdegrees, a group site for young adults, have all selected Mercata’s We-Commerce Network to provide group buying to their customers.

For Szul, the We-Commerce Network has developed a private-label group buying store, through which Szul can utilize Mercata’s proprietary business methods and technology to offer a wide selection of diamond, gemstone and pearl jewelry in a group buying format. Improvements’ group buying site, also private label, will offer dynamic pricing on products for home repair and preventative maintenance.

In addition, the We-Commerce Network has launched a new PowerBuy™ Center for sixdegrees, bringing the power of group buying to the millions of users currently logging onto sixdegrees.com every day. Customers visiting the sixdegrees PowerBuy Center can purchase PowerBuy products and services from several We-Commerce Network partners, including Mercata.com.

“Our relationships with Szul and Improvements illustrate how our We-Commerce technology can seamlessly create a new, highly efficient sales channel, enabling merchants to sell multiple products to large groups of buyers in a single transaction,” said Warren Meyer, executive vice president of Mercata’s We-Commerce Network. “Our e-commerce solution allows partners to increase their sales opportunities and customers, while maintaining better control over price, margin and inventory.”

“Szul is known for offering the best values in online jewelry shopping. Now, we have the unique opportunity to offer dynamic pricing and even greater savings through Mercata’s group buying technology,” said Sanjay Pandya, president of Szul.

“Mercata creates a great opportunity for potential customers to sample some of our products at less than regular price, for an even-better-than-usual value,” said Ken Ellingsen, president of Improvements. “And it gives us a chance to add sales in a new and exciting merchandising medium.”

“As a leading young adult group environment, sixdegrees is constantly looking for ways to enhance the group experience and deliver value to our members,” said Lewis Sherr, senior vice president of marketing for sixdegrees. “Our members can now benefit from our communication and collaboration opportunities and participate in group buys directly from sixdegrees.com.”

About SZUL
Szul.com is one of the first online jewelers to offer a remarkably wide selection of diamond, gemstone, and pearl jewelry. Szul.com aspires to become the top e-tailer of quality jewelry by building trusting, confident relationships. Szul.com was founded by jewelry industry experts and seasoned Silicon Alley Internet and e-commerce entrepreneurs.

About Improvements
The Improvements® Catalog is one of the nation’s leading catalogs containing quick-and-clever problem-solvers to make life around your home, yard and car easier and more enjoyable. It offers hundreds of innovative, practical items for fast, easy home fix-ups, and for preventive maintenance that help homeowners avoid costly repairs later. More than 1,600 products are on the web site (www.ImprovementsCatalog.com). Improvements is part of Hanover Brands, Inc., the business-consumer division of Hanover Direct, Inc. (AMEX: HNV), a leading specialty marketer with a diverse portfolio of specialty catalogs and proprietary products delivered via direct mail and electronic commerce.

About sixdegrees
Sixdegrees is a leading young adult online group communication and collaboration environment for more than three million members. The unique proprietary suite of sixdegrees group tools includes bulletin boards, shared calendars, and RapCamTM, webcam enhanced chat. Sixdegrees is a subsidiary of YouthStream Media Networks, the leading omni media company for the young adult market.

About Mercata
Mercata, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet-based group buying services. Its patented PowerBuy™ services and technology provide partners with hosted group buying services through Mercata’s We-Commerce™ Network (http://www.we-commerce.com). As Network partners, manufacturer, retailer, portal, and community Web sites offer merchandise for sale using Mercata’s patented and patent-pending business methods and technology. Mercata’s online retail store (http://www.mercata.com) allows individual customers to purchase high-quality, brand-name merchandise in a group buying format. PowerBuy group purchases and the We-Commerce Network are powered by Mercata’s proprietary business methods and technology. Founded in September 1998, Mercata™ is a privately held company with funding from Vulcan Ventures Inc., Highland Capital Partners, Global Retail Partners, Europ@web, Amerindo and other investors.

“Mercata,” “We-Commerce” and “PowerBuy” are trademarks of Mercata, Inc. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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