NEW WEB CATALOGS

UpperCut Images Miles Gerstein, founder/CEO of Madison, WI-based UpperCut Images, put up his dukes in July when he decided that stock photography needed better representation. With Ellen Boughn, vice president of UpperCut Images, he formed the stock photo agency, which licenses rights-protected images — photos licensed for a specific use and for which clients are charged per use.

UpperCut offers nearly 20,000 images, almost all of which are commissioned, original works by top photographers such as Chase Jarvis, Darryl Estrine, and Paul Aresu. Gerstein says 80% of the work is designed to fill the most requested image types. “We want art buyers to be able to find exactly what they're looking for and for them to find something even better” than anticipated.

Sales have at least met expectations, says Gerstein, due in part to marketing e-mails to clients of sister Website PunchStock, which sells royalty-free images. An UpperCut catalog mailed in early September to 40,000 graphic designers, art buyers, and art directors, and a PunchStock catalog mailed around the same time to 120,000 designers.

URL: www.uppercutimages.com Product: stock photography Launched: July 2005 Target customer: graphic designers, art directors Competitors: Corbis, Getty Images, PictureQuest Phone: 800-390-0461

Svoboda A size 18, Jessica Svoboda found it tough to find plus-size clothes that were fashion-forward rather than frumpy. That's why she launched her own line of stylish plus-size apparel.

The line launched in January 2004 with a Website that sold only to distributors and retailers. A site targeting consumers, SvobodaStyle.com, debuted this past August. The line is also available in more than 35 boutiques in 12 states and three countries.

Average order size is $300-$330 and consists of about three items. The site has a conversion rate of 10%-15%. Svoboda launched a Google AdWords campaign, an affiliate marketing program, and an eBay storefront in December. She plans to launch a loyalty program in January. — Heather Retzlaff

URL: www.svobodastyle.com Product: plus-size clothing Launched: August 2005 Target customer: fashion-conscious plus-size women Competitors: Silhouettes, Lane Bryant, Avenue, Junonia Phone: 310-621-7382