Sharper Image Selects Empirix to Test its Web Applications in Preparation for 2005 Online Holiday Shopping Season
Based on a successful 2004 engagement, specialty retailer selects Empirix service for second time
BEDFORD, Mass. – July 25, 2005 – Empirix® Inc., the leader in helping organizations strengthen customer loyalty through assured Web and voice application performance, announced today specialty retailer Sharper Image has again selected Empirix’s hosted load testing service, eLoadExpertSM, to prepare for the 2005 online holiday shopping season. eLoadExpert allows Sharper Image to ensure that its customers have the best possible online experience by generating high volumes of virtual customer transactions against its Web applications, measuring how the applications respond, and then identifying areas that can be tuned for optimal performance.
The Internet is Sharper Image’s fastest growing sales channel, generating approximately 15 percent of the company’s overall sales in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2005. On an average day, over 37,000 people visit the main Sharper Image Web site to purchase its array of exciting items, such as its Ionic Breeze air purifiers, massage chairs and more. That number increases by five to six times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. To ensure that its Web site is prepared for this level of a traffic surge, the company conducts a load test prior to the holiday season.
Sharper Image originally selected Empirix’s eLoadExpert service in 2004 due to the depth of experience provided by Empirix’s test consultants and to its flexible approach and methodology for hosted load tests, called Rapid Bottleneck Identification™ (RBI). The RBI methodology begins with assessing a client’s unique requirements, followed by designing and executing load tests, uncovering bottlenecks, and providing performance tuning recommendations. “Empirix asked what our goals were and how our customers typically traverse the site, and then designed a series of testing scenarios that would exercise all the critical elements,” said Greg Alexander, Senior Vice President of IT for Sharper Image. “They offered a customized methodology and process, versus the generic approach we had seen from other vendors. We were so pleased with Empirix’s service in 2004 that we have elected to use them again for the 2005 season.”
Alexander reports that during the 2004 tests, the Sharper Image site performed quite well. Empirix made suggestions to help Sharper Image improve page-load times in production. In addition, data from the tests were used to perform tuning that boosted Web application performance to an even higher level in several areas.
“We worked diligently throughout 2004 to prepare for our busy season,” said Alexander. “The Empirix tests and subsequent tuning gave us tremendous confidence that we had done everything possible to accommodate our peak holiday sales volume, and to ensure a great experience for the Sharper Image customer. Empirix will help us continue to be prepared for 2005.”
Dan Potter, Vice President of Marketing for Empirix, credits Sharper Image for its proactive approach to managing quality of experience for its customers. “Clearly this is a company that recognizes the high value of customer relationships and ensuring a positive customer experience,” said Potter. “We are looking forward to working with Sharper Image for a second year, and proud to have them as a customer.”
Download a case study on the Sharper Image testing project
For more detail on the Sharper Image testing project, visit default.asp?action=category&ID=64 to download the case study. For more detail on Empirix’s eLoadExpert service and other testing and management solutions, visit http://www.empirix.com, call 1-866-EMPIRIX or send email to info@empirix.com.
About The Sharper Image
The Sharper Image is a specialty retailer that is nationally and internationally renowned as a leading source of new, innovative, high-quality products that make life better and more enjoyable. A significant portion of sales are from proprietary products created by the Company’s product development group, Sharper Image Design. The Company’s principal selling channels include 185 Sharper Image specialty stores throughout the United States; the award-winning Sharper Image monthly catalog with annual circulation in excess of 98 million; and its primary Website, http://www.sharperimage.com. The Company also sells its products through its own online auction Website and an online Outlet store to help manage refurbished and close-out inventory; both sites are accessed from the home page of sharperimage.com. The Company also has business-to-business sales teams for marketing its exclusive and proprietary products for corporate incentive and reward programs and wholesale to selected U.S. and international retailers.
About Empirix
Empirix Inc. helps organizations strengthen customer loyalty through assured Web and voice application performance. Based on patented technologies, Empirix solutions are known for providing the deepest, most accurate insight into what customers actually experience, and enabling organizations to be proactive about identifying and addressing potential technology problems before customers are impacted. Empirix has thousands of customers around the world, with operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. To learn more, visit www.empirix.com or call 1-866-EMPIRIX.
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