When Launched: June 2000
Owners/Founders: Ben Johns is creator and CEO, and Eric M. Dean is president and COO.
How Funded: In November 2000, Dallas Market Center, DMG world media, George Little Management LLC, Western Exhibitors LLC and their affiliates invested $21 million in Whereoware.com.
Mission Statement:“To provide a
powerful new opportunity to help members of the gift and home industry become more efficient and successful by providing retailers the ability to place orders easily and accurately, allow sales representatives access to more customers, and establish a fluid exchange of information and data among retailers, suppliers and sales representatives.”
How Promoted: extensive advertising, public relations and search engine placement
Size of Staff: 45
Participation Details: Retailers, sales representatives, and suppliers can join the Whereoware community either by stopping by the Whereoware Marketplace at partner trade shows or by visiting the Whereoware Web site. There is no charge for retailers to use Whereoware.

The site displays artists’ work through supplier sites that cost the supplier $200 per month plus a transaction fee based on the size of the order (maximum transaction cost per order is $20). Whereoware does not work directly with artists. Artists’ work must be licensed through a supplier/manufacturer to be included on Whereoware. “Artists who would like to be involved with Whereoware.com have to be interested in introducing their work to a mass market,” says Barbara Gionti, vice president of operations. Some artists who have large production operations have signed on as suppliers, while other artists license their work to suppliers, who can then sell through Whereoware.
Contact: (877) 521-7448; www.whereoware.com.