Innovative Internet Marketing Solutions has relocated from a building on Main Street in Yalesville to 900 Northrop Road and in the process doubled its size to 7,000 square feet. The futuristic-looking building, with its black reflective glass exterior, is a landmark commercial building on the east side of town.

The striking appearance of the building, however, was secondary to the opportunity it presented IIMS to expand its services and provide needed space for growth, said Steve Rinaldi, chief executive officer. He added that its location, near Exit 15 on Interstate 91, was also a key factor.

The new facility, which IIMS occupied this month, is owned by Wallingford Partners LLC represented by Midwood Management in Stratford. IIMS has a three-year lease with Midwood with two, one year extensions. Rinaldi and his partners were looking for sites for about a year.

"The new office will serve as the hub as we expand across New England. We expect to increase staffing by 75 to 100 percent to handle increasing demand," said Rinaldi, co-owner of the 5-year-old business with Jerry Sofocli and Eric Mudry.

"The new space will not only serve as home to additional staff, it will also allow IIMS to increase its service offerings. The larger space will enable us to significantly expand our staff to meet our customers' growing needs."

With about 225 clients, the company is rapidly growing at 50 to 60 clients a year, said Rinaldi, whose business focuses on redesigning under-performing first-generation Web sites and designing new ones. "We're at about 25 employees, and we hope to be close to 40 by the middle of next year."

The company's clients range from startup e-retailers and companies with business-to-business Web sites to financial giants such as Merchants Bank of New York.

The company also has made its mark in the entertainment industry, developing Web sites for such singers as Wynonna Judd, Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey.

"We're on a pace to do $2 million in revenue this year. Our other company, an off-shoot of our Internet business, focuses on the legal industry, and we project $1.5 million in revenue," said Rinaldi.

One of their clients is the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, which has been a customer since IIMS was established.

"We were one of their first customers. They did our first Web site," chamber president Robin Wilson said. "We were one of the first chambers in the state to have a Web site."

Wilson counts the company as a chamber member and is in the process of scheduling a chamber business after hours session there.

Record-Journal - Thursday, August 17, 2000, By Richard Lee, Business Editor