Unicru Signs $22.7 Million in New Contracts to Drive Record Revenues and Fourth Consecutive Profitable Quarter
Contacts:
Suzame Tong
Unicru, Inc.
503–596–3257
stong@unicru.com
Jack Hardy
Ant Hill Marketing
503–236–3192
pr@unicru.com
Grant Kimball
Ant Hill Marketing
503–236–3192
pr@unicru.com
New contracts with Rock Bottom Restaurants, seven grocery chains and contract renewals with Hollywood Entertainment and Blockbuster Video underscore growth in restaurant, grocery and retail chains
PORTLAND, Ore. – July 31‚ 2002 – Unicru‚ Inc. the nation`s leading provider of hiring management systems for the recruiting and retention of hourly workers, today announced it reached a sales milestone with $22.7 million in new contracts signed in the second quarter of 2002. Some of the major retailers added to its client roster include seven grocery chains, Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. one of the fastest growing casual dining groups in the U.S.; Garden Ridge, Inc. a premier home décor and craft marketplace chain; and supermarket and discount drugstore retailer Spartan Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPTN). Blockbuster Video (NYSE: BBI) and Hollywood Entertainment (Nasdaq: HLYW), the nation`s two largest video rental companies also renewed contracts.
"We attribute this record sales growth to two things—retailers have proven they can improve their bottom line by using a hiring management system and an aggressive management team that has transformed the business in the last 12 months," said Chris Marsh, president and chief executive officer of Unicru. "We now have nearly two years revenue at our current run rate in our backlog, guaranteeing the company`s financial strength and providing a secure foundation for growth."
Unicru has been able to continue to grow in a challenging economic environment because it is one of the few technology investments companies can make today that both immediately cuts expenses while improving business performance. The retailers have implemented Unicru`s Hiring Management System to improve the quality of their workforce, reduce employee turnover, increase productivity, reduce recruiting costs, and provide operating managers with more time to focus on their business. Companies using Unicru`s system typically reduce employee turnover by 10–30 percent and cut hiring time by more than half. Applicants benefit from a much faster application process and a more complete understanding of the job responsibilities. As a result, employees are more knowledgeable, more productive, and are able to offer a higher level of customer service and satisfaction.
"In an aggressive restaurant business where the quality of employee service is what makes us stand out, we believe Unicru`s service will give us a competitive edge by hiring better employees," said Ted Williams, senior vice president of operations at Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc., which has 87 locations and employs 6,500 hourly workers. "We chose Unicru because of how well it measurably reduces employee turnover and how efficiently the system screens all job applicants for tax credit eligibility."
With the Unicru solution job candidates simply complete an electronic, paperless application including tailored assessment questions using an on–site computer or screen phone to apply for a position. Upon completion, each applicant`s response is immediately transmitted to Unicru`s secure database where the information is processed and evaluated against criteria derived from previous successful employees. Almost immediately, the hiring manager uses a Web desktop to review pre–hire summaries and all relevant hiring reports, which include both an easy–to–read application and a candidate report that recommends follow–up interview questions. Applicants benefit from a much faster, more objective application process and assurance that their background, personalities and skills are well suited to their new job. As a result, employees are likely to be more satisfied in their jobs and be able to offer a higher level of job productivity and customer service.
About Unicru
Unicru, Inc. is the leading provider of hiring management systems for employers of more than 80 percent of the American workforce — hourly workers. The Unicru system is deployed via on–site application centers, the Web, and through back–office processing of employers` job applications, hiring, and terminations. With more than 13,000 on–site application centers and Web–based solutions, large retailers, call centers, and hospitality businesses use Unicru`s services nationwide. Unicru has processed more than 10 million job applications and evaluates approximately one application per second during the average U.S. workday. Clients include Universal Studios, Blockbuster Entertainment, Metro One, Target, and Bennigan`s. On average, Unicru customers decrease employee turnover by 10–30 percent and reduce hiring time by more than half. For more information visit the company`s Web site at www.unicru.com.
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