Artists' exchange.CORPHQ CREATED AN INTERNET MATCHMAKING Matchmaking Matricide (See MURDER.) Kecal marriage broker whose plans are foiled by a pair of lovers. [Czech Opera: Smetana The Bartered Bride in Osborne Opera, 32] Levi, Dolly SERVICE THAT LINKS UP GRAPHIC DESIGNERS WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS - AND EACH OTHER Steve Crane and Art Aviles had a simple but untested idea when they launched CorpHQ in 1991 by putting out a help-wanted ad in the Orange County Register. The two partners were looking to tap into the pool of thousands of local freelance graphic artists and mobilize mo·bi·lize v. 1. To make mobile or capable of movement. 2. To restore the power of motion to a joint. 3. To release into the body, as glycogen from the liver. them into virtual "teams," which could come together for specific projects and then disband dis·band v. dis·band·ed, dis·band·ing, dis·bands v.tr. To dissolve the organization of (a corporation, for example). v.intr. 1. . They couldn't have anticipated the response. "We got 450 calls on the first day and 250 on the second," said Aviles. Aviles and Crane put off their launch plans and developed a computer system to handle the huge business volume they foresaw. The result of their two years' work was VMOS VMOS Vertical Metal Oxide Semiconductor VMOS Vascular Malformation Osseous VMOS Vertical Mos VMOS Virtual Mos VMOS V-Groove Metal Oxide Semiconductor - a Virtual Management and Operating System operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. that allows CorpHQ to manage thousands of independent artists through the Internet. After a year of testing in 1994 and another year and a half of refining the system from 1996 through mid-1997, Crane and Aviles now hope to revolutionize rev·o·lu·tion·ize tr.v. rev·o·lu·tion·ized, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·ing, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·es 1. To bring about a radical change in: Television has revolutionized news coverage. 2. the way thousands of independent graphic artists, designers and other home-based production artists do business. "We saw that independents and entrepreneurs were getting reamed when trying to build their businesses," Aviles said, explaining that most independents lack the resources for such basic business functions as marketing and financing. To address those problems, CorpHQ has brought together some 400 independent contractors A person who contracts to do work for another person according to his or her own processes and methods; the contractor is not subject to another's control except for what is specified in a mutually binding agreement for a specific job. under its virtual roof in Long Beach, with each contractor working out of his or her own home or office and interfacing through CorpHQ's World Wide Web site (at http://www.hqonline.com). For an annual fee of $95, each independent can set up a virtual "office" on the Web, which includes an introductory page describing the artist's company or services. Members can also buy phone service, insurance and Internet service at bulk rates. Central to CorpHQ's Web is a spot where the independents can look for work - or post jobs for other independents. Up to now, companies producing, say, a brochure would hire an agency that could manage the project - from copywriting Copywriting is the process of writing the words that promote a person, business, opinion, or idea. It may be used as plain text, as a radio or television advertisement, or in a variety of other media. to photography to design and layout. Hiring independents to perform all the various functions is often cheaper, but typically is more time-consuming and requires someone inside the client company to manage an ad-hoc team of contractors. Using CorpHQ, an independent contractor offers not only his services but those of other independent contractors by bringing together and supervising a team through CorpHQ's Web site. "It seemed like a good idea, and I saw some of the work they did and decided to hook up with them," said Bruce Birch, an independent video and film producer who runs his own company, Serious Fun Productions, in Torrance. In his two years as a member, Birch has brought between 10 and 15 jobs to other CorpHQ members and found two or three jobs from other members. CorpHQ has thus enabled him to offer his clients print services (performed by other contractors) along with his usual video service, he said. The company will generate an estimated $500,000 in revenues this year - up from $320,000 in 1996, when it temporarily put the brakes on any new business midway through the year for fear of overwhelming its limited resources. Its revenues were $478,000 in 1995. Crane said revenues have been flat so far because CorpHQ was testing its system with limited usage to iron out any kinks. But the company hopes to sign 24,000 members nationwide in its first year of full-scale business. To achieve those numbers, CorpHQ is trying to raise up to $5 million in financing. It already has a $1 million commitment from a venture capital firm in Orange County and is talking with investors and brokerages in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Houston about additional funds, Crane said. "There are many companies looking at how to create an Internet community from a technology standpoint," said Crane. "But we feel we have a substantial head start on any company looking at this marketplace." Both natives of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , Crane and Aviles met in 1991 in the course of doing business together. Crane was an investment banker Investment Banker A person representing a financial institution that is in the business of raising capital for corporations and municipalities. Notes: An investment banker may not accept deposits or make commercial loans. at the time, while Aviles ran his own advertising agency. The pair had frequent contact with independent contractors in the course of their work and came up with the idea of mobilizing mobilizing, v 1. freeing or making loose and able to move. 2. observing any ongoing movements in a client's body, whether small or large, assisted or not, that identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as the client's physical and that segment of the work force into an element that could compete with major agencies. "We figured by joining our forces, we could help the entrepreneur a little bit," Aviles said. Spotlight CorpHQ Year founded: 1991 Core business: Managing independent contractors Toll executive: Steve Crane, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Revenues in 1995: $478,000 Revenues in 1996: $320,000 Revenues in 1997 [estimated]: $500,000 Employees in 1991: 2 Employees in 1997: 5 Goal: To mobilize independent contractors into ad-hoc teams capable of competing with major agencies Driving force: A unique idea in an otherwise unexploited niche |
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