REI Moves E-Business to IBM WebSphere Platform
Outdoor Gear and Clothing Retailer Shows Strong Commitment to Online Service
SEATTLE, Oct. 17 -- Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retailer of quality outdoor gear and clothing, has standardized its e-commerce applications with IBM`s WebSphere platform, providing a faster and better performing online store for REI.com`s nationwide customers, the company announced today.
The move to IBM`s WebSphere dramatically improves core shopping process times. It also has set a foundation for new features that will more closely integrate REI`s sales channels, creating a seamless customer experience between stores and e-commerce.
"REI`s leadership and innovation in e-commerce and multi-channel retailing are driven by a complete focus on providing great customer service and a consistent customer experience whether in the store, online or by phone," said Joan Broughton, vice president of direct sales for REI. "This is a significant project that demonstrates REI`s long-term commitment to serving customers on the Internet."
REI plans to implement extensive new customer features utilizing the platform`s capabilities in 2003. Customers can expect to find more personalized service and information as well as more convenience and choice both online and in the stores as new features are rolled-out.
"REI is well known as a pioneer in using technology to create integrated multi-channel retailing," said David Petiford, vice president, Global Retail Industry, IBM. "If you ask virtually anyone in the retail industry who the leader in integrated multi-channel retailing is, the answer invariably is REI. Now they have a technology foundation to take it to the next level."
The REI web site offers a similar experience to that of visiting an REI store where trained staff provides personalized assistance in choosing the right outdoor gear. The site includes 45,000 pages of extensive product information, comparison charts and "how-to" articles on everything from how to bunny-hop a mountain bike to preparing for a backpacking trip.
Multiple kiosks with access to REI.com are installed in all of REI`s 61 retail stores. Each provides in-store shoppers with the ability to research and order any of the outdoor retailer`s 40,000 products and have them delivered to their homes or to their local stores.
"Few retailers have a better understanding than REI of how to integrate online and off-line operations in a seamless approach," said Robert Spector, author of the book Anytime, Anywhere: How the best bricks and clicks businesses deliver seamless service to their customers. "REI.com is enhancing REI`s other sales channels in addition to being a success story on its own."
Prior to implementing the WebSphere platform, REI`s e-business infrastructure was a mixture of software applications written in-house and from a variety of different technology vendors. A team from REI and IBM, working with IBM`s development laboratory worked together for the past year to implement the new technology.
This new solution spans IBM hardware, software and services and includes WebSphere Application Server, WebSphere Commerce, WebSphere MQ Software and IBM eServer pSeries.
About REI
REI was founded in Seattle by a group of mountaineers in 1938 as a consumer cooperative. REI has more than two million members and currently operates 61 retail stores in 24 states; two online stores, REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com; and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. While anyone may shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and receive a share in the company`s profits through an annual patronage refund based on their purchases. A portion of REI`s profit is set aside each year for support of conservation and recreation causes. REI has given more than $8 million since 1976 to such efforts around the nation.
About IBM
IBM, the world`s largest information technology company, provides the Retail Industry with a full range of e-business solutions, including: point-of-sale systems, other hardware and software technology, consulting focused on business transformation, IT strategy and planning, store operations improvement, and supply chain optimization, and with services, such as outsourcing, managed operations, systems integration, and application development and design. IBM has been the leader in retail point-of-sale systems for more than 20 years. For more information on IBM Retail Solutions, please visit www.ibm.com/solutions/retail.
CONTACT:
For Recreational Equipment Inc.
Melissa Ransdell
The Silver Company
+1-206-624-0388
cell, +1-206-369-1618
melissa@thesilvercompany.com
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