"A lot of people have heard of eBay, but don't realize it has become such a vibrant market," says Levisay, senior manager of eBay's Business Office and Industrial Category.

The world's largest Internet auction company also wants to become the planet's pre-eminent gateway for small-business acquisitions and sales, a cyber-community for both clients and retailers.

To spread the word, eBay has dispatched Levisay on an ambitious

schedule of appearances this year, ranging from major trade shows to seminars

for smaller groups of community business leaders. (He holds a 9 a.m. Thursday

seminar at Salt Lake City Public Library. For more information call 801-364-3631,

or visit the Web site http://www.saltlakechamber.org).

"The whole idea is to raise awareness and understanding about eBay as an extremely valuable tool for small businesses," Levisay said in a pre-seminar interview.

Indeed, eBay is focusing its energy on the small-business sector, noting that is where most Americans are employed.

"These are businesses wanting to sell excess inventory as well as new products and capital assets that may have reached the end of their useful life for their particular needs," Levisay said.

One particular sector finding eBay a ready resource for both cost-saving acquisitions and an instant market that overcomes geographical limitations is the restaurant industry.

"Statistics show 70 to 80 percent of restaurants fail in the first year, often because they are investing so much in new equipment," Levisay said.

Now, though, savvy restaurateurs are finding less expensive, but still usable, second-hand equipment on the Internet.

"We are also seeing this trend at eBay with construction and other businesses," Levisay says. "There is a cascade of equipment moving from big to medium companies and then to small or individually-owned companies."

Randy Will, who bought Sandy's Nevoles Pizzeria at 11400 South and 51 East five years ago, says he is a perfect example of that. It began when he bought a number of used, solid oak church pews, cut them in half and incorporated them into booths able to seat 70.

"I spent $870; pennies on the dollar," he says. "I've bought a lot since from eBay, looking for stuff to outfit the business."

EBay has proven to be something of a warehouse for Will. Among his winning online bids have been a pizza dough mixer, a stove range top, ice machine, shelving and signs.

bmims@sltrib.com