DELAWARE, OH.- Leading national auction house, Garth's Auctioneers and Appraisers, has rolled out a new Facebook application that allows users to send and receive virtual gifts of art, antiques and collectibles. beGifted by Garth's was the brainchild of company President, Amelia Jeffers. "Not everyone can afford a $30,000 antique cupboard, a $4,000 autographed Babe Ruth baseball, or even a $470 bouquet of vintage glass tulips. That kind of purchase can be intimidating - or even unrealistic - for many folks. By providing a virtual inventory of these and other unique objects, we are giving anyone who is interested a way to explore the world of collecting," Jeffers explained.

Graphic design and brand creation for the app was completed in-house, by Garth's Marketing Director, Kellie Seltzer. Program functionality was developed by Brent Halsey, a Columbus-area database specialist, on nights and weekends. "Brent and Kellie made a great team," says Jeffers. "I had a simple idea. Their combined efforts took it to a level I could not have imagined."

Growth for the app in the first two weeks has been completely organic. With almost 150 users and nearly 300 gifts sent, Garth's team has focused on cleaning up bugs and improving usability before embarking on a large ad campaign. "This isn't about being the most heavily trafficked app on Facebook. Not even close. We are simply looking for more ways to engage an audience with the Garth's brand on every level,” Jeffers commented. Intended to serve both as a recreational outlet for devotees of antiques and auctions, as well as an entertaining introduction for newbies, the app allows users to send antiques, art, jewelry, and collectibles at a variety of point values with either their own comment or a pre-written tag line. Each gift also links back the Garth’s website allowing interested parties to learn more about the item sent or received. The application is free and points are earned simply by joining, visiting daily to send gifts, or via special bonus days accessible by “liking” the application.

“Since Garth’s was founded almost 60 years ago, all three families of owners have made a dedicated commitment to introduce younger generations to the fun and history of antiques and more modern collectibles,” stated Amelia Jeffers, Garth’s President and auctioneer. Along with husband and CEO, Jeff, Amelia was courted by previous owners with gifts of tickets to antique shows, books on antiques, and subscriptions to trade publications in order to peak the couple’s interest in the antiques and the business. “It worked and now we own an auction house! It is our hope, this application will perform the same task in a more current and hip way. At Garth’s, we continuously explore ways to give back to the community that we serve and to establish connections with new audiences. We believe the Facebook application, beGifted by Garth’s, achieves both goals and will be one more tool in an arsenal designed to attract a younger and wider audience to the antiques world."