Minted.com offers a dizzying array of designs from independent artists. Designers enter their work in competitions the site holds a few times a month and visitors select the winner. The winning artist gets a cash prize, as well as a commission of around 6% of each sale. Minted learned quickly the value in bringing card designs to life. The site offers a tool that lets shoppers place and manipulate text and photos in a template and turn a static design into something personal, says Melissa Kim, cofounder and chief revenue officer. For instance, a Find it Fast tool lets shoppers upload a photo and see how it would look in many cards at once. The site even has a bunting banner configurator. Users can create a message and see how it will look strung across, say, a table at a bridal shower.

• Date Launched:2008
• Unique Visitors:850000
• Web-based Sales:Order the Hot 100 issue