Triangle Dot-Coms Continue To Surf Their Way To Success

People at the two-day Upside Southeast Technologyconference networked and heard a lot aboutnetworked enterprises. There was a dire prediction for e-commercecompanies that are not leading the market andmaking money.

"I think hundreds and hundreds of thesecompanies will go out of business in the comingyear," says Thomas Siebel, chairman of Siebel Systems.

New products come along, but Siebel saysestablished e-commerce companies that are doingbusiness the right way can survive.

"Companies that have leading market sharepositions, companies that have high levels ofcustomer satisfaction will consolidate theirpositions and become stronger companies," he says.

Companies likeAllwallin Raleigh are simplebusinesses. They sell millions of posters and fine artprints online.

"We are essentially an e-commerce dot-com. Wesell products over the Internet. The Internet is our catalog," saysco-founder Joshua Chodniewicz.

Allwall succeeds by not spending big money onadvertising schemes.

"They're these elaborate schemes from these big portalsthat look great, but 99 out of 100 times, we'resaying no," Chodniewicz says.

Allwall has been profitable for 10 months and hopes to growusing their profits. The company is looking for additional money andsince it is making money, it will likely get it.

After its planned move this fall, Allwallexpects to add up to 100 new employees.