The Citizen, 2010-01-14, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010. PAGE 17. Local company supplies graphics to MicrosoftFrom a soft launch to world-widerecognition, a Brussels company hasbuilt itself over the past couple of
years into one of the largest clip art
sites in the world.
iCLIPART, the brainchild of
Charlie and Ali Hoy of Brussels,
supplies companies and individuals
with graphics, artwork and photos
for personal and business use
through on-line subscription.
With a loan from Huron Business
Development Corporation (HBDC),
to help them take a much needed
step in vastly expanding their
business, the company is now
considered a dominant player in the
world of clipart. Some of their art
appeared in the Warner Brothers
movie The Hangover, last year they
got the contract for the education
system in the state of Iowa and most
recently they launched a deal with
Microsoft.
Charlie, the technical director of
the company, said the selling point
with Microsoft was the quality of
iCLIPART’s work. “Our
competitor’s wasn’t good enough. If
someone is looking for somethingfrom Mexico, our art looks like itwas drawn by someone fromMexico. Our artists andphotographers are from all over theworld and we have some of the top
people internationally supplying us
with their work.”
Charlie sourced artists by visiting
ones they had worked with before in
their web design business. “But now
we don’t go looking,” he said.
“We have artists contacting us
almost daily,” adds company
president Ali.
The Microsoft deal was a big one
for iCLIPART said Ali. “Just the fact
that a little company like us got
partnered with someone like
Microsoft is exciting.”
With 80 per cent of their clients
from the United States, the Hoys
said succeeding in spite of the
difficult economic climate there
would have been worse if not for
HBDC. “The loan turned into
something that really helped us
weather the storm,” said Ali. “With
so many Americans hit so badly it
affected us.”
“HBDC had the faith to help us
along,” said Charlie. “It made the
hump a little easier, knowing theybelieved in us.”The arrival of high speed internetwas critical to the company as well,said Ali, adding that she finds itamazing that someone can run an
internet business out of Huron
County and affect the world.
Visitors to iCLIPART.com can
access over 7.8 million images, with
memberships beginning as low as
$12.95 up to $295, one geared
towards professionals.
Office manager Allyson Cardiff
said the site can benefit everyone,
from ‘Mom and Pop users’ to
entrepreneurs, and of course big
business. The graphics grace
everything from blogs, to
embroidery projects to invitations, to
posters, scrapbooking, schoolwork
and children’s books.
“And all of this coming from a
company based out of little old
Brussels,” said Cardiff.
Big deal in little Brussels
iCLIPART, based in Brussels has been garnering a good deal
of attention recently, from some fairly impressive sources. The
company which supplies on-line graphics created by an
international cache of artists and photographers recently
launched a deal with Microsoft and last year with the State of
Iowa’s education system. As well, their graphics were used in
the movie The Hangover. From left: Charlie Hoy, technical
director, Ali Hoy, company president and Allyson Cardiff, office
manager. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
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By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
A 62-year-old Burlington man is
dead after an early-morning
collision on Blyth Road east of
Walton on Jan. 5.
Frederick Phillips was
pronounced dead at the scene of the
crash after police say his westbound
commercial vehicle collided with an
eastbound salt truck.
The driver of the salt truck, a 47-
year-old Lakeside man was taken to
the Clinton Hospital for
precautionary reasons, but was
released unharmed.
Witnesses reported that one of the
vehicles partially crossed the centre
line, striking the oncoming vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing,
however, at this time, charges are
not being considered.
Crash victim from Burlington
Head.
Heart.
Hands.
Health.
Help Wanted.
Right now, 4-H needs volunteers to work with youth in
your area. We also need you to encourage neighbours
and co-workers to do the same. Join for the projects, for
the competitions, for everything that helped you get
where you are today.
4-H-Canada.ca/join_again