The Web

Asianvendors.com, a "brick-and-click" Internet portal for Asian manufacturers of consumer goods, launched recently. The first step of the venture features mostly Indian manufacturers, but rollouts are underway for Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The site serves mainly as an online catalog with transactions taking place between buyer and vendor offline. Vendors pay between $1,500 and $2,000 annually to showcase up to ten products. Currently, of the 3,000 vendors, some 400 offer gift-related product. "The site is not for spot buying," said William A. Lundquist, president and CFO of AsianVendors Inc. "Our intention is for buyers and vendors to establish long-term relationships. Both have got to make a profit." Importers and distributors are likely to find the site most useful, according to Lundquist. The founders of Asianvendors.com are the Gupta family of India, who head a 77-year-old publishing company that produces the largest Yellow Pages directory in India.

Biz2Biz.com and Big Picture Technologies Inc. signed a strategic partnership agreement to promote one another's services. Big Picture provides Web-based e-commerce products specifically aimed at small businesses, while Biz2Biz.com resells network applications that help businesses interact with customers, suppliers, and partners. Big Picture offers three e-commerce products: eMerchant proT helps retailers build an online storefront; eClerkT provides real-time customer service and sales support, and eMarketing maxT helps merchants target potential clients online. In turn, Big Picture will promote Biz2Biz.com's Marketplace and Press services to its small and medium-sized business users.

Bizfinity, an e-business solutions company, signed an agreement with AllBusiness, a small business services company, to market Bizfinity's e-business suite on the AllBusiness Web site. Bizfinity will become a Preferred Provider on AllBusiness. Bizfinity's six integrated, Web-based modules — Web Stores Creator, Web Store Manager, Credit Card Manager, Order Manager, Sales Manager, and Accounting Manager — will be offered to AllBusiness' 2 million small business affiliates. Users can choose one or more modules as needed, beginning at $15/month. The two companies are also collaborating on a four-week course called Champions of Small Business in the AllBusiness Small Business Administration's Internet training program. Visit www.bizfinity.com or www.allbusiness.com.

The Boyds Collection Ltd., Gettysburg, PA, launched its business-to-business Web site, www.BoydsBiz.com. The password-protected site offers retailers the entire Boyds' product line, new launches, information on dealership status, links to permanent showrooms, collectors club information, and frequently asked questions, as well as merchandising tips.

Department 56, Eden Prairie, MN, launched its Web Information Network, a password-protected site for retailers offering customized account information, ordering, company news, merchandising ideas, shipment tracking, and more. For more information, visit www.d56WIN.com.

K & M International now provides business-to-business e-commerce on its Web site, www.kmtoys.com. The Wild Republic line of plush is now available online, as well as displays and signage, and the entire K&M catalog will be available online soon, in several languages and currencies.

The Mill Pond Press Companies launched its new informational Web site, www.millpond.com, at the beginning of March. The site showcases new releases, artist and gallery show information, and product information.

Havoc Publishing, a supplier of books, journals, frames, boxes, calendars, stationery and more, now offers its complete product catalog on its newly designed and upgraded Web site, www.havocpub.com.

Pioneer Balloon Company, maker of Qualatex baloons, added a new Wedding Ideas Shop to its Web site, www.Qualatex.com. The shop offers design ideas for everything from small centerpieces to full-scale dance floor decor.

Star*Tex Marketing, a sales representative firm located in the Dallas Market Center, launched its Wholesale Web Mall, www.startexmarketing.com, with links to vendors and suppliers. There are new additions weekly.

The Display Index Project Marketplace, www.displayindex.com, offers store fixtures and point-of-purchase displays. Display buyers post projects online and qualified suppliers submit bids. The company charges suppliers a monthly access fee, not a commission. Services are free to buyers.

Lohmann Associates Business Development Consultants, specializing in interim/temporary marketing, product, and sales management staffing solutions for the toy, gift, and collectible industries, launched its new corporate Web site., www.lohmannassociates.com.

Sweet Survival, a gift and gourmet industry consulting firm, added a new Retail Store Members section to its Web site, GiftBasketBusiness.com. The section hosts rotating features on creating all-occasion baskets, low-cost marketing strategies, how to combine existing and new products, interviews with retailers, and trend reports.

ClearStore 2.0 virtual mall e-commerce software lets customers see and price products, add or delete products from their shopping carts, and know the total value of their selections without leaving the page they're shopping. E-commerce features include complete browser-based store administration, shopping basket, automatic shipping, tax calculation, inventory control, credit card payment. Retailers can access their catalogs and make real-time changes from any Internet connection. An enhanced version, ClearStore Plus, also offers added storefront features such as unlimited product subcategories, accessory item tagging, outline view, coupons, promotional code discounting, and high-end reporting. For more information, visit www.clarityware.com.