The company will launch its research business model by the year-end, offering for sale its database of customer profiles and preferences to companies. It uses several methods to collate that database, incentivising consumers to give details of their preferences, and purchases made, by offering loyalty programmes in the shape of redeemable points.

The USP of the offering: it will be on-going research, critical to companies to strategise their marketing plans. Currently, commissioned research faces the problem of time limitations. With up-to-date research available online, the slightest shift in consumer preferences can be monitored closely.

Beginning with apparel, at a later stage- probably by the year-end- more categories would be added, like consumer electronics and white goods. This would provide a broader platform for consumer studies, giving a profile of consumer tastes in apparel, durables, shoes etc. It is already in talks with the 32 apparel brands on its site and their response ``has been very encouraging.''The portal so far gets minimal revenue from advertising. Its main revenue stream will, however, be from its ASP and B2B services by the second quarter of 2001. It is looking at entering into revenue sharing tie-ups with other corporate Websites, besides portals like shopperstop.com once the retail outlet begins online transactions. ``We will target any business that sells through multiple locations,'' says Mr Siddhaarth Jalan, CEO and one of the partners in Webrands.com Ltd, adding, ``We operate on the rationale of offering information inputs to the consumer, the brand and the retailer and adding value to each of them.''. Netacross, which has incubated the portal, holds a 30 per cent equity stake.