WH Smith Increasing Customer Satisfaction and Business Profitability With Retek
Retek Inc. Press Release
£2.5 billion retailer selects Retek to build Merchandising and Supply Chain sophistication
Minneapolis, MN – October 9, 2001 - Retek Inc. (Nasdaq: RETK), the leading provider of software to help retailers create, manage, and fulfill consumer demand, today announced that WH Smith PLC, the UK’s largest magazine and book retailer, has chosen integrated solutions from Retek to drive inventory benefits. Following the retailer’s successful implementation of Retek Logistics solutions earlier this year, WH Smith now selects Retek Merchandising and Supply Chain solutions to drive inventory benefits through a common IT infrastructure. In addition to the inherent advantages of a common platform, WH Smith will also experience speed to benefit through a modular implementation approach.
Getting the Right Product, Price and Promotion Mix for Every Store
WH Smith will be using Retek’s Merchandising Solutions to manage its buying, planning and promotion processes. The solution will be used to tailor the customer facing product, price and promotion mix for every store. Managing a number of shop formats, from the high street store through to the smaller airport store, it is important for WH Smith to tailor its product mix by store location and format.
“WH Smith are committed to giving our customers the products they want in the places they want them. Retek Merchandising Solutions will give the business improved decision making capabilities to ensure we get the right product mix for every store location,” said Bob Broadbridge, WH Smith’s IT Director.
Supply Chain Sophistication - Less Stock and Higher Sales
WH Smith will be using Retek’s Supply Chain Solutions to improve stock availability while reducing the weighty costs associated with carrying unnecessary stock.
Broadbridge added, “the best supply chains are driven by accurate sales forecasts and trickling product through to stores as needed. With Retek Supply Chain Solutions we will reduce stock and improve availability through the best practice methods offered by the software.”
“We went through an extensive selection process and chose Retek because of the exceptional functionality offered by the solutions. Unlike other software vendors, only Retek can offer the scalability our business requires along with advanced retail capabilities.”
In March, WH Smith went live with Retek Logistics Solutions to improve processes at its two UK distribution centers. The logistics solution was selected to improve both inventory control and links with WH Smith’s many suppliers throughout Europe.
“Already established as the de facto choice for large retailers in the US like Gap and Kroger, Retek`s investment in our European operations has seen us achieving similar success over here. WH Smith is the latest in a line of large UK retailers to adopt Retek as the vehicle for delivering business value," said Gordon Masson Retek President EMEA.
About Retek Inc.
Retek Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions and services to the retail industry. Retek’s collaborative solutions help the retail industry create, manage and fulfill consumer demand. Many of the world’s leading retailers use Retek solutions, including A&P, Tesco, Best Buy, Family Dollar Stores, Eckerd Corp., Kohl’s Department Stores and The Home Shopping Network. For more information, visit http://www.retek.com, or call 1-888-61-RETEK. Retek can be contacted in Europe at +44 20 7563 4646
About WH Smith PLC
WH Smith PLC is the UK`s largest magazine and book retailer. About 530 high street retail stores (including renamed stores acquired from John Menzies) sell reading material, stationery, music, computer games, and videos. WHSmith also runs about 190 stores in European airports and train stations, more than 500 stores in US airports and hotels, and 20 airport stores in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. WHSmith sells online through its WHSmith.co.uk site, and operates the largest newspaper and magazine distributorship in the UK. It also owns Hodder Headline, a top UK trade publishing house.
Trademarks
Retek and retail.com are trademarks of Retek Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors are described from time to time in the company`s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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