NEW WEB CATALOGS

Rhinestone Studio

Not many companies can pin their launch on a cherry festival, but that is precisely how Canton, MI-based Rhinestone Studio got started in July 2004. After making a rhinestone-studded T-shirt with “Big Sister” for her eldest daughter, Cathy Veri received so much attention that a store in Traverse City, MI, home of the National Cherry Festival, requested 150 shirts with a cherry design. She was asked to complete the order within a week — and she delivered.

From that haphazard start, Veri launched Rhinestone Studio in October, selling T-shirts for infants through adults. The shirts cost $15-$30 depending on the design and the number of rhinestones used. In addition to ready-made designs, the company will create customized apparel.

Veri admits that sales are not huge; she typically receives about four consumer orders a week and two or three custom orders a month. She plans to add design motifs and merchandise such as temporary tattoos, visors, and belts. A print catalog is also in the mix, although Veri says she will wait until the Website is more profitable.

URL: www.rhinestonestudio.com Product category: apparel Launched: October 2004 Target customer: women, especially mothers of young girls Phone: 734-394-1717 Competitors: Just Jen, Rhinestone Revival

Anchor Packaging Co.

Birmingham, AL-based Anchor Packaging is trying to tie a beautiful bow on its venture into e-commerce. The 45-year-old packaging supplies cataloger already had a loyal clientele among local retailers. But customer service manager Kristy Harrison says Anchor went online this past July largely to reach new customers in the North and the West.

The company sells gift boxes and bags, gift wrap, ribbons and bows, tissue paper, custom bags, and shipping materials. So far sales have been “a little slow,” says Harrison, with 10-20 people visiting the site each day. Of those, one or two convert to customers. These new buyers are primarily from New York, Pennsylvania, and California — areas Anchor had hoped to reach. Marketing for the site is currently limited to banners on other sites and organic search marketing.
— Heather Retzlaff

URL: www.anchorpackagingco.com Product category: packaging supplies Launched: July 2005 Target customer: retailers Phone: 800-339-7577 Competitors: Nashville Wraps, Bags & Bows