GERS Retail Systems to Host Retail World 2001 August 6-9 in San Diego

SAN DIEGO--July 30, 2001--GERS Retail Systems, a leading provider of software solutions for the retail industry, will host Retail World 2001, August 6-9, 2001, at the Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif. The theme of the 19th annual user conference "Business Without Boundaries," represents a focus on solutions that will enable retailers to break through traditional barriers and achieve success in a changing retail universe. Keynote speakers Jim Henderson, president and CEO of GERS, along with Rich Harmatiuk, vice president of product management, will kick off Retail World 2001 on Tuesday, August 7, with a look at key business drivers in an evolving retail marketplace. The session will include video clips from GERS customers Z Gallerie, Hot Topic and Bernie`s describing how they have overcome business challenges to emerge as industry leaders. Henderson and Harmatiuk will also explore the new retailing imperative and discuss how the next generation of technology will set new standards for customer service. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, co-owner of Gallery Furniture in Houston, will wrap up the opening session with a presentation on the secrets of creating customer loyalty. Mack will describe how he was able to transform his business into one of the most successful furniture stores in the United States by using technology to deliver world-class customer service. Jeff Blackman, international speaker, author, broadcast personality and lawyer, will present his keynote address, "Results: The Name of the Game," on Wednesday, August 8. As a "business growth" specialist, Blackman will share how to develop breakthrough thinking to generate results. Breakout sessions will be presented by industry experts and GERS customers describing core retailing issues. Tracks include merchandising, distribution, point-of-service/channel management, technology and FurnishNet. To launch the event`s merchandising track, GERS has announced a special luncheon presentation, "Snapshots of Critical Factors in the Retail Industry Today." The session will feature discussions from well-known industry analysts, including Charlie McCarthy, director of business intelligence, answerthink; Bill Luckert, vice president, LakeWest Group; and John Stiehler of Kurt Salmon Associates. Other keynote session speakers include Terry Donofrio, president of Retail Systems and Services, and Charles Poirier, partner, Computer Sciences Corp. Repeating last year`s popular addition to conference, Retail World 2001 will include a fourth full day of mini-labs taught at GERS` corporate headquarters in San Diego. These interactive, hands-on workshops will provide retailers with an opportunity to learn firsthand how specific software solutions can be used to streamline an organization. Scheduled mini-labs include: Exploring RetailAnalyst, Productive Planning with PLANalyst and Going Thin-Thin Client and Citrix Setup and Administration. Retail World 2001 will also feature special events providing attendees an opportunity to enjoy the best of San Diego. The conference begins with the GERS Golf Tournament on Monday, August 6, at Carmel Mountain Ranch, followed by the Welcome Cocktail Reception. Tuesday night`s annual dinner begins with a reception on the terrace, followed by a seated dinner inside the Hilton`s Grande Ballroom. After dessert, attendees are invited to have a ball with the best of low-tech arcade and carnival games, and interactive fun with a high-tech surf simulator and a chip-on golfing challenge. During Wednesday night`s event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, attendees are invited to relax and enjoy an evening of food, art, sculpture gardens and views of the magnificent La Jolla shoreline. To learn more about Retail World 2001, or to register online, visit www.gers.com. About GERS Retail Systems With over 27 years of experience and 300 installations worldwide, GERS Retail Systems is a leading supplier of software solutions for the retail marketplace. The GERS Electronic Retail Enterprise includes mission-critical transaction management applications for multi-channel retailing, and provides fully integrated corporate office applications for merchandise replenishment and allocation, distribution center management, and financial control. Integral to the GERS solution set are Business Intelligence applications for predictive modeling and decision support, Merchandise Planning and Allocation for increasing returns on inventory investments, and Workflow Automation applications for maximizing productivity across the enterprise. For more information, please visit www.gers.com. CONTACT: GERS Retail Systems, San Diego Megan Leer, 800/854-2263 mleer@gers.com

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