New Balance EMEA, in partnership with CenterStone Technologies, the
international provider of Web-based ordering solutions for manufacturers
of apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories, has selected CenterStone’s
iVendix B2B e-Commerce application.
iVendix will provide New Balance’s sales force
and more than 4,000 dealers with a 24/7 on-line ordering solution
in EMEA. New Balance dealers and sales reps now will be able to view
automated catalogues, check on the availability of product, place
orders, and track and monitor the status of those orders using iVendix.
“When looking for a B2B solution the choice
was very easy. CenterStone has a tremendous track record in providing a
fast and easy solution, which is a perfect fit for us," said Maurice
Oomen, New Balance’s IT Manager EMEA.
"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with CenterStone on the
launch of our B2B platform. The combined strength of their technology
and our replenishment program through our EU manufacturing capabilities
positions New Balance to deliver value to our customers like no else
can," said Jonathan Ram, New Balance’s
Managing Director for the EMEA Region. He continued, "We are continually
striving to improve our service levels and the 24/7 order entry, order
management and inventory availability access will assist our retail
partners in maintaining optimal New Balance footwear and apparel
inventory levels, maximize their inventory turns, reduce mark-downs and
ultimately be more profitable. The CenterStone B2B deployment is
critical to our goal of double our revenue by 2012."
New Balance has joined a growing list of companies that understand the
urgency of modernizing the way of conducting business with retailers
through more efficient processes, real time information, and better
customer service.
“We’re delighted
that a leading corporation such as New Balance has recognized the
potential of iVendix. Sales reps and customer service assistants will be
able to maximize the satisfaction of their clients by making the
ordering process faster and more efficient. EMEA dealers will be able to
conduct business at their convenience and thus, better serve consumers
at the point of sale. A competitive advantage that will certainly
contribute to stimulate New Balance global sales in the next 3-5 years
and reinforce the attractiveness of the brand,”
said Christophe DeLussac, general manager for CenterStone Technologies’
European operations in Paris.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, Mass., has the following mission:
Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that
athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and
communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4,000
people around the globe, and in 2007 reported worldwide sales of $1.63
billion. For more information, please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
About CenterStone Technologies
CenterStone Technologies provides B2B e-Commerce solutions in six
languages and local currencies in North America and Europe with
widespread adoption by specialty retailers and sales reps. CenterStone’s
e-Commerce solutions processed more than $1.2 billion dollars in
wholesale transactions in 2007. CenterStone makes suppliers more
competitive by driving revenue growth, providing increased inventory
turns at retail, reduced customer service costs, and greater speed to
market, thus improving relationships with their customers –
retail dealers.
Brands that currently use CenterStone’s
solutions include: The North Face, JanSport, Vans, Reef and VF
Imagewear, part of VF Corporation (NYSE:VFC); Pearl Izumi; Marmot
Mountain, Ex Officio and Marker Apparel, brands of Jarden Corporation
(NYSE:JAH); Under Armour (NYSE:UA); Helly Hansen; Perry Ellis Intl.
(NASDAQ:PERY); Geneva Watch Group; Cleveland Golf; SmartWool, a division
of Timberland (NYSE:TBL); Rip Curl; Billabong; Sport Obermeyer; Smith
Optics; KHS Bicycles; Dale of Norway; O’Neill
Clothing; Hot Chillys; Petzl; Icebreaker; Four Star Distribution
(C1RCA); Fresh Produce Sportswear; Yakima Products; Patagonia Europe;
180s; Oxbow; Ober Jeans; Hurley Europe; The Orvis Company; Life is good®;
The Quiksilver Rossignol Group and others. For more information please
visit www.centerstone-europe.com
or www.centerstonetech.com.
Editor’s Note: Product and company names
mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
For New Balance EMEA
Jack Gordon, +44 (0)20 7402 4813
Mobile:
07968 105592
jack@silver-hammer.co.uk
Grace
Thornton, +44 (0)20 7402 4813
Mobile: 07840 504840
grace@silver-hammer.co.uk
Fax:
+44 (0)20 7402 4061
or
For CenterStone Technologies USA:
OnTarget
Public Relations
Patricia Smith, +1-303-333-1516
Mobile:
+1-303-807-7086
pat@ontargetpr.net
or
CenterStone
Technologies France:
Christophe de Lussac, +33 (0) 1 55 28 91 17
Mobile:
+33 (0) 6 85 72 39 20
cdelussac@centerstonetech.com