CINCINNATI, Ohio - November 18, 2003 - Studio Vertu, (www.studiovertu.com) a leading giftware design and manufacturing company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio has launched a new Web site designed by Metaphor Studio, (www.metaphorstudio.com) an interactive agency in historic Over-the-Rhine, providing branding, interactive and advertising strategy to regional and national clients.

Metaphor Studio developed the Web site working closely with the Web team at Studio Vertu. "Studio Vertu's product is truly unique and incredibly beautiful," said Ran Mullins, CEO of Metaphor Studio. "The quality of their technique, their discriminating aesthetic, and their attention to detail completely differentiates them from their competitors in the giftware industry and makes their Web site a showpiece." The entire catalogue is now available online at StudioVertu.com including images, descriptions, and ordering information.

Mark Schmidt, Studio Vertu's Founder and President developed what is now their patented "Fresco Tile™". With this development, Studio Vertu began creating murals made with a Fresco look. One of their first clients was The NFL Headquarters in New York City. This mural consists of 396 tiles and is still their largest single mural project. The dream had begun to materialize.

Using their patented process, Studio Vertu prints images on tumbled Botticino marble or on their own Fresco Tile™ made of rigid urethane. The marble is available as a 4-inch or 8-inch tile. The 4-inch marble can be backed with cork and used as a coaster. The 8-inch marble is backed with masonite and is suitable for hanging or table top display in a metal easel. The lightweight Fresco Tile™ is a 12-inch square that creates an eye catching wall display or a stunning wall clock.

In the past eight years, Studio Vertu has grown from a very small company with two employees and only about 50 customers to a medium size company with 45 employees and 2300 active customers in 13 countries worldwide. The collection has expanded to over 125 different sets of coasters, clocks, a variety of framing options, journals, glass plates and more and more murals. They now license images from The Vatican Library Collection, Guy Buffet and Deborah Schenck.

Today, Studio Vertu is consistently working on the development of new and unique products to add to our lines. Our goal is to provide our customers with a high quality product and highly trained sales and support staff to service them. Studio Vertu, established in 1995, is proud to be the "Original" - all others are just an imitation!

You can find this press release here:
http://www.metaphorstudio.com/news/pr_111803.html