www.visualize.com
What it's good for: Specific information on how businesses should buy art. "Great for the corporate user," one of the panelists said. "It's like having your own corporate interior designer." There is, in fact, a specific area of the site devoted to the corporate user.
Don't waste your time if: You want something by someone famous. Like NextMonet.com, Visualize showcases its own troupe of artists.
What our CEOs had to say: The site is presented very effectively and offers great information. It's not too flashy but is clearly navigable and easy to understand.
What you ought to know: Visualize has a rental program; monthly rates range from $25 to $60 for a piece of artwork.
The Bottom Line
Receiving the most laurels were Art.com and Visualize, each of which scored well in every category. However, the three CEOs who reviewed both sites liked Visualize a little better, singling out portions of the site that catered specifically to business buyers. NextMonet.com and ArtSource Online rated about the same, but the former generally received more enthusiastic comments. Fine Art Lease brought up the rear, despite its seemingly business-friendly leasing options. The CEOs didn't burn with desire for the site's crÈme de la crÈme collection, and they found the art too expensive even as a rental.
Ilan Mochari is a reporter at Inc.
The savvy entrepreneur's guide to the art Web
|
Would our CEOs go back? |
What is the site good for? |
CEOs' quick take |
| www.art.com |
"Yes, for specific personal art." |
"Prints from known artists and genres." |
"Quick, easy, enjoyable." |
| www.artsourceonline.com |
"Maybe." |
"To browse posters." |
"Not possible to browse and buy in a single session." |
| www.fineartlease.com |
"No." |
"To lease a piece of nice and expensive art." |
"Not my style -- can't imagine leasing a $200K painting." |
| www.nextmonet.com |
"Just out of curiosity." |
"Possible discovery of new artists." |
"I didn't find the framing options." |
| www.visualize.com |
"You bet." |
"Corporate programs and options." |
"Very good; I like it." |
Grading the Sites
|
Ease of navigation |
Inventory |
Content |
Reliability |
Framing/
ancillary services |
Pricing |
Something you'd pay for? |
Average grade |
| art.com |
B+ |
B |
B |
B+ |
A- |
A- |
B+ |
B+ |
| artsourceonline.com |
B |
B- |
B- |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C- |
B- |
| fineartlease.com |
B- |
C |
C+ |
B |
C+ |
C- |
D+ |
C |
| nextmonet.com |
B |
B- |
C+ |
B+ |
C |
B |
C- |
B- |
| visualize.com |
B |
B |
A- |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B+ |
B+ |
Our Panelists
Terry Benish, president and CEO, Purple Solutions
Jeffrey S. Davis, CEO and chairman, Mage
Bryan Desloge, CEO, TMC Medical
Don Epperson, president, HookMedia
Julio Gomez, CEO, Gomez Advisors
Sam Goodner, founder, Catapult Systems
Pamela Hawken, president and CEO, Gardenside
Samuel B. Kellett Jr., founder, president, and CEO, eAttorney.com
Brent M. Kleinheksel, CEO and founder, PlanetPortal
Jack Littman-Quinn, CEO, OneCore
Michelle Lubow, CEO, Design One
Bret McElfish, CEO, McElfish + Co.
Spencer Newman, CEO, AdventurousTraveler.com
Bill Oxford, CEO, The Oxford Group
Gary G. Pan, CEO and founder, Panacea Consulting
Claude Pope, president and CEO, Office Supply Solutions
Dennis Scheyer, president and creative director, Scheyer/SF
Steve Warren, owner, Katzinger's Deli
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