

FurnishNet Signs Leading Retailers
Company targets $1 billion in electronic
bedding transactions within one year
September 25, 2001
SAN
DIEGO - FurnishNet today announced that Sleepy's and
Slumberland, both ranked among the nation's Top 100
Retailers by Furniture/Today, have selected FurnishNet
to handle electronic transaction exchange with their
suppliers. With combined sales of more than $475 million
last year, the retailers will use FurnishNet to electronically
transmit purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgements,
advance ship notices, and invoices. The agreement
signals FurnishNet's advance into the retail bedding
market, and supports the company as it targets $1
billion in electronic transactions for bedding products
within the next 12 months.
Sleepy's, a specialty retailer with more than 250
locations throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
and Pennsylvania, chose FurnishNet to get fast, accurate
information from its vendors.
"We
were looking for a way to share data with our manufacturers,
but EDI used old technology, cost too much money,
and required too much human interaction to keep it
running," said Don Rowley, CIO of Sleepy's. "FurnishNet
offers us a very efficient, seamless way to manage
transactions without any staff needed to manage the
process."
Chris
Reff, IT Manager for Slumberland, agrees that FurnishNet's
technology will provide a more cost-effective alternative
to traditional EDI solutions.
"With
FurnishNet, we can bring manufacturers online faster
and more efficiently than if we staffed it ourselves,"
he said. "The best part about FurnishNet is that it
allows manufacturers from any technology platform
to trade with us."
Opened
in 1967 as a specialty mattress retailer, Slumberland
now operates as a full line furniture retailer with
71 stores throughout the Midwest.
FurnishNet
is focused on all segments of the home furnishings
industry, and currently handles more than 9,000 transactions
each week for its retail partners and more than 130
connected manufacturers. With the signing of Sleepy's
and Slumberland, FurnishNet now has close to 10 percent
of the $4 billion specialty bedding market.
"By
adding Sleepy's and Slumberland to our growing list
of retail partners, we have validated our ability
to deliver significant value to the bedding industry,"
said Ron Sellers, FurnishNet's Vice President of Sales.
"We believe that in the next 12 months, FurnishNet
will reach the $1 billion transaction mark for bedding
products. We look forward to working with retailers
and vendors of all categories as we enable the industry
to process transactions more quickly, accurately,
and effectively to increase turns and positively impact
the bottom line."
FurnishNet's
solution for Transaction Management speeds the accurate
transmission of purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgements,
advance ship notices, and invoices. By integrating
electronic data interchange (EDI), email, and faxed-based
processes into a unique "Any-to-Any" exchange, FurnishNet
translates the information into the appropriate format
for the immediate electronic flow of information between
business partners, significantly reducing the costs
associated with traditional EDI solutions.
To
learn more about Transaction Management solutions
now available through FurnishNet, contact Ron Sellers
at (800) 854-2263, ext. 2525 or visit www.furnishnet.com.
About
FurnishNet
FurnishNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of GERS, provides
Internet-based supply chain solutions for retailers,
manufacturers, and suppliers in the home furnishings
industry. FurnishNet offerings include solutions for
transaction management that streamline processes,
eliminate waste, enhance operations, and improve consumer
satisfaction. Leveraging GERS Retail Systems' 27 years
of experience in the home furnishings industry, FurnishNet
is well positioned to offer solutions tailored to
the business needs of the trade. For more information,
visit www.furnishnet.com.
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