Gift-Ties

For a new twist on an old gift idea, buyers can now surf to Gift-Ties. “We saw a need in the online world for a place where a woman could get a gift for a man,” says Gift-Ties president Peter Urbain.

Gift-Ties, which launched in October, caters to upscale women gift-givers and male professionals, going so far as to offer tips on matching ties with suits. Each tie is boxed separately, wrapped in silver ribbon and tissue, and accompanied by a note handwritten in silver ink. Prices range from $30 to $110, with $100 being the average order size. Response has exceeded expections, Urbain says.

Backorders aren’t a problem, according to Urbain. “As soon as we sell out of a tie, it doesn’t appear on the site,” he explains. “And once we receive a tie in stock, it takes only two days for us to post it online.” In the future, he hopes to sell other men’s accessories in addition to ties.