Deals

Who Says Money Can't Buy Hipness?

Small sites are fetching lofty prices as Big Media chases their young followers

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

February 27, 2006 at 5:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

DailyCandy, the popular Web site of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle trends, was founded in 2000 at the height of the last Internet bubble. Now it looks as if DailyCandy Inc. could wind up heralding the arrival of Bubble 2.0. A Wall Street Journal report on Feb. 15 that former AOL Time Warner Inc. executive Robert W. Pittman, whose private investment firm Pilot Group LP is DailyCandy's majority owner, was putting the site on the block fueled speculation that it could garner offers of $100 million or more.

DailyCandy, which breathlessly describes itself as "the ultimate insider guide to what's new, hot, and undiscovered," is the brainchild of Dany Levy, a 33-year-old onetime New York magazine editor. It has 11 daily city editions and a vibrant e-mail newsletter, and its trend-setting editors have steady gigs on the Today show to talk about the next hot sneaker or spa service. DailyCandy's Levy declined to comment; Pittman couldn't be reached.