New, locally-based Web site to shop
4:33 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2008
It's called coolproducts.com.
Tony Schmidt is the mastermind behind the Lawrence-based Web site.
He and his 15 employees have spent the last two years developing it.
The Web site claims to have the coolest, most unique gifts from 1,100 merchants across the country.
And the site allows users to control what's coolest.
"We don't want adequate products, we want very strong, exceptional, wow, best-of-class products," Schmidt said.
People can submit products to the site and eventually earn commissions if other shoppers vote them in as cool enough.
"It's so simple. I mean, you're just going through and saying yes, this is cool," site employee Susan Schutte said.
Schmidt and his workers say they're committed to finding the most unique gifts out there.
"It's basically like being on a scavenger hunt on the Internet for the coolest products I can find for specific people,"
Schmidt's invested a lot of money in the novel concept. The Web site launched at the first of the month.
Now, he just hopes all his hard work will pay off.
"This holiday season will be a good test. We're getting started a little later than I'd like to. But with the economy the way it is, I'm not sure people have been just roaring out to the malls," he said.
If you're looking to avoid the Christmas crowds, coolproducts.com might be a place to start.
The new business venture is supported by the Lawrence Regional Technology Center.
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