Founded by Klemm's parents in 1978, the Bay City, Mich. company wholesales 10, 000 items to professional upholsterers.

FORBES: Net Losses

Founded by Klemm's parents in 1978, the Bay City, Michigan, company wholesales 10, 000 items to professional upholsterers.

FORBES: Net losses

Klemm, who co-owns and operates Great Lakes Fabrics with his two sisters.

FORBES: Net Losses

"We've fallen off the face of the AltaVista world, " sighs Klemm.

FORBES: Net losses

So he hired a freelancer--who didn't pay much attention to detail and frequently misspelled "upholstery" on the site, and who billed 300 hours before Klemm pulled the plug.

FORBES: Net Losses

Taking over the Web project himself, Klemm devoted five hours to it each day, battling for top billing on search engines so that people looking for fabrics are steered to Great Lakes' site.

FORBES: Net losses

Taking over the Web project himself, Klemm has been devoting five hours to it each day, battling for top billing on search engines so people looking for fabrics are steered to Great Lakes' site.

FORBES: Net Losses