With Escalate Retail’s release of Ecometry Commerce Suite version 10.0.4 last December, customers now have PCI certified PA-DSS compliant payment application. This certification is extremely timely as starting July 2010; the PCI Council (comprised of the five largest credit card brands) will require retailers to use a PA-DSS compliant payment application. Multichannel and direct marketers that are looking for a compliant application to manage and fulfill orders across one or many channels can be assured that this latest Ecometry release is PA-DSS compliant.  In addition, this release also included:

• Advanced Non-Offer Promotional Capabilities
• New User-Based Fraud Monitoring
• Intelligent Promotional Insert Functionality

Brian elaborated on 2009 and stated that Escalate Retail had the best financial performance (both as a percent and in dollars) and the strongest end-of-year cash balance in the history of the company.

Brian went on to say that in the last quarter of 2009 Escalate Retail had the strongest new written sales quarter in over two years and they added several new “logos” in 2009; implementing 15 new customers on the open systems platform.

In addition Brian stated that he has heard from many of their customers that they were above plan for 2009 – and almost all are predicting modest growth in 2010.

Additionally, here are a few of Escalate Retail’s upcoming releases for 2010:

10.1.1 – April/May 2010

• Settlement file auditing
• Lexis/Nexus external fraud integration
• Improved package checking station management

11.0.1 – 3rd Qtr 2010

• COBOL.net  / phase I – which provides access to Microsoft tools and other advanced technology
• New Credit Card Reverse Authorization and Partial Authorization options (required by Visa/MasterCard)
• Enhanced Accounting Functionality around Three-Way Invoice Matching and Costing management

All in all Escalate Retail and most of their customers experienced a better 2009 than you would have thought possible.

Paul Sobota is vice president of F. Curtis Barry & Company, a multichannel operations and fulfillment consulting firm with expertise in multichannel systems, warehouse, call center, inventory, and benchmarking; Learn more online at: http://www.fcbco.com

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The inventory module and merchandising module are now ready for implementation and we are really excited.  The marketing module is being developed based on feedback and guidance from the industries best multi channel businesses and industry experts.  When complete we will have modules for inventory, merchandising, marketing, call center, fulfillment and finance – covering all sales channels including catalog, ecommerce, retail, wholesale, outbound telemarketing and more.

Check out our press release below and don’t hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about this unique product and or to learn more about Taurus Software and their capabilities.

Click below to read the Press Release for Manage Metrix

Manage Metrix: Inventory & Merchandising Modules Announcement

July 27th, 2009

NEW PRODUCT RELEASE

Executives gain actionable business intelligence with new Manage Metrix Inventory and Merchandising Modules from Taurus Software

Redwood City, Calif. – Multichannel executives and managers now have the business intelligence solution they need to identify business issues that impact the performance of their Inventory and Merchandising departments – and take action quickly and effectively. Taurus Software and F. Curtis Barry & Company announce the completion and availability of the Inventory and Merchandising modules of Manage Metrix - a robust business performance management solution. The anticipated modules allow executives to increase efficiency, decrease costs, and maximize profitability in the area that represents a company’s largest asset.

Manage Metrix: Inventory Module

Company leaders cannot improve that which they don’t measure. Through an executive dashboard of key performance indicators (kpis), Manage Metrix Inventory gives companies the ability to analyze inventory aging, inventory turns, fill rates, carrying costs, backorders, and GMROI (gross margin return on investment) in-detail. By measuring these metrics, companies can take actionable next steps such as reducing the number and cost of backorders and carrying the least amount of inventory possible while still satisfying demand. Manage Metrix allows inventory carrying costs and warehouse space reserved for excessive inventory to be reduced by providing the tools to support a liquidation strategy for active items that are not selling – as well as old, inactive and unprofitable inventory. In addition, executives and managers recognize when items can be returned to vendor, reducing money spent on unnecessary inventory.

Manage Metrix also provides industry best practices built by multichannel industry experts F. Curtis Barry & Company, enabling companies to monitor performance against goals and maximize efficiency over the long-term. The goal of the Inventory module revolves around optimal performance management: to help companies properly balance inventory levels while meeting customer service objectives and the financial plan – and giving them the tools to stay successful in the future.

Manage Metrix: Merchandising Module

Picking winners, replacing under-performing items, and building the brand from the product mix perspective – executing these crucial tasks effectively can be a demanding challenge for any Merchandising department. These tasks are complex because of obstacles which are present, including having data in different places, not knowing what the true profitability of an item is, and difficulty understanding which products are demand winners and which are profitability winners. The Manage Metrix Merchandising module gathers disparate data into a centralized environment, providing a single source of truth and highlighting problem areas. The Merchandising module analyzes each product’s net contribution to profit and allows you to view the net contribution by various attributes such as new vs. repeat, drop-ship vs. stock, etc. This module also enables executives to understand how item categories are contributing to profitability. In addition, users can analyze performance by buyer, by channel, and by stores and regions.

With a third or less of the products making money, a third or more breaking even and a third or more losing money – Manage Metrix helps executives and managers identify their best products, determine pricing for a liquidation strategy for certain items, and understand optimal price ranges for their products. In an evolving multichannel environment, Manage Metrix Merchandising provides executives with effective strategies and the business performance management that will help them make the right moves at the right time with their product mix.

Built by multichannel experts Taurus Software and F. Curtis Barry & Company, Manage Metrix Inventory and Manage Metrix Merchandising are two modules of the Manage Metrix business performance management solution. These modules are currently available for purchase. For more information, please contact Taurus Software: call 650.482.2022 x1 or email sales@taurus.com.

About Taurus Software

At Taurus Software, making data liquid means helping turn data into business intelligence, smart decisions, and competitive advantages – the lifeblood of your company. Taurus products include a variety of applications developed to help clients get more from their data by allowing them to Move, Map, Measure, and Manage data regardless of where it resides within business systems. Taurus is a member of the HP e3000 Transition Partners Program and has technology partnerships with Direct Tech, Quest Software, F. Curtis Barry & Company, Lund Performance Solutions, Managed Business Solutions, Escalate Retail, Orbit Software, Pathway Pacific, DST Health Solutions, and Acumium. To learn more about Taurus Software or products designed for other data platforms and applications, call 650-482-2022, ext. 1 or visit www.taurus.com.

About F. Curtis Barry & Company

F. Curtis Barry & Company is a consultancy specializing in multichannel operations and fulfillment for catalog, e-commerce, and retail businesses. F. Curtis Barry & Company offer clients expertise in direct commerce systems (order management, warehouse management, and inventory management systems); warehousing and distribution; call center; inventory management and forecasting; and strategic, financial, and operational planning for all business channels. To learn more about F. Curtis Barry & Company, visit our web site at www.fcbco.com.

For more information

Zaki Hussain, Taurus Software Media Contact

Phone: 650-482-2022, ext. 407 Fax: 650-482-2010

zaki@taurus.com

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– Company Ceasing External Sales –

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Systemax Inc. (NYSE: SYX) today announced that it is exiting the ProfitCenter Software (”PCS”) hosted software business. The Company is working on transition plans with its customers who are currently live, and the Company will not undertake any new hosting arrangements. As part of the consolidation, a majority of the PCS workforce will be leaving the Company and the remaining PCS workforce has been consolidated into the Company’s Port Washington, NY location.

These and other PCS-related actions are anticipated to result in incremental one-time pre-tax charges to earnings during the remainder of 2009 of approximately $4 to $5 million. Excluding these charges, the Company expects the consolidation will result in a reduction of its cost structure exceeding $10 million annually. During 2008, revenues from the PCS segment generated less than $500,000 of the Company’s total revenues of $3.0 billion.

Richard Leeds, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Systemax, commented, “While we had significantly narrowed the focus of our PCS business segment over the last several quarters in an effort to establish a sustainable business model, after careful evaluation we have concluded it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to reduce our investment in the software business in order to improve our profitability, strengthen our balance sheet, improve our operating cash flows and deploy capital in areas which are closer to the core of our direct marketing and retail businesses. We believe the PCS product is the best in class java, web-based order management and ecommerce system available, and it has been instrumental in helping us to manage our internal needs. However, we have been unable to profitably market, sell and implement the software on a hosted platform model. The current economic environment is very difficult to sell the product into, and we do not anticipate that changing in the near future. We will continue to use the proprietary software in-house and are currently evaluating our options to maximize value of the software and other assets that have been developed.”

About Systemax Inc.

Systemax Inc. (http://www.systemax.com), a Fortune 1000 company, sells personal computers, computer supplies, consumer electronics and industrial products through a system of branded ecommerce web sites, direct mail catalogs, relationship marketers and retail stores in North America and Europe. The primary brands are TigerDirect, CompUSA, Circuit City, Misco and Global Industrial. It also manufactures and sells computers and accessories under the Systemax and Ultra brands.

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Computers manufacturer/marketer Systemax announced yesterday it’s getting out of the ProfitCenter Software (PCS) hosted software business. The company is working on transition plans with current customers and not taking on any new hosting arrangements.

Founded 2002, PCS is a java, Web-based order management and e-commerce system. Systemax chairman/CEO Richard Leeds said in a release that the company has been unable to profitably market, sell and implement the software on a hosted platform model.

The PCS segment generated less than $500,000 of the Systemax’s total revenue of $3.0 billion for 2008.

With its SaaS approach, PCS certainly blazed a new trail, says Curt Barry, president of multichannel operations and fulfillment consultancy F. Curtis Barry & Co. “Every time a vendor or resource fails in our industry, to me it’s a tragedy,” he notes.

Barry’s company began receiving several calls from PCS clients about the shutdown last Friday. It’s now working with several PCS users to help them make transitions to new vendor platforms.

An orderly decision and transition realistically “needs to happen in the next six to eight months for companies,” Barry says, based on a recent discussion with PCS president John Marrah.

Barry says that Marrah assured him that Systemax will do everything it can to help the current PCS clients. He also says Systemax is actively looking for a buyer for the application and technology used in the PCS product.

As a result of the consolidation, most of the PCS workforce will be leaving the company, while the remaining PCS workforce has been consolidated into the Systemax’s Port Washington, NY, location.

These and other PCS-related actions are expected to result in incremental one-time pretax charges to earnings during the rest of this year of about $4 million to $5 million. Excluding these charges, Systemax expects the consolidation will save more than $10 million annually.

Systemax bought the CompUSA brand, trademarks, and e-commerce business in February 2008,  and late last month it won a bankruptcy auction for the e-commerce business and intellectual property of Circuit City Stores. The company also includes the Global and TigerDirect brands.

If you are a PCS user and need assistance with finding and installing a new system, contact us immediately at jbarry@fcbco.com or 804-740-8743.

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Retail Pro product sales have not in fact been declining over the past several years, nor have their annual maintenance renewals.  Further review of the of the documents filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware, reveals that Retail Pro revenues have in fact increased over the recent past.

Also disclosed in public filings the Retail Pro source code is owned by Intuit and is not released to any third party for development or maintenance of the product. Retail Pro continues to develop, support and maintain its products exclusively.

To elaborate on the SEC filing on September 5, 2008 the Settlement resolves the SEC investigation into the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, accounting policies and procedures, internal controls, and internal revenue recognition investigation relating to the timing of revenue recognition for certain transactions during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005. “The Company settled the Lawsuit by consenting to entry of a permanent injunction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against future violations of the antifraud, reporting, recordkeeping, and internal control provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Settlement”). The Company entered into the Settlement without admitting or denying the allegations, and was not required to pay any civil penalty, fine, or monetary damages as part of the Settlement.”

Additionally, an Asset Purchase Agreement was submitted to the courts at the time of filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, demonstrating that Retail Pro will regroup.  In these tough economic times we hope that Retail Pro’s restructuring under the protection of Chapter 11 will allow them to emerge stronger and better than ever.

Paul Sobota is vice president of F. Curtis Barry & Company, a multichannel operations and fulfillment consulting firm with expertise in multichannel systems, warehouse, call center, inventory, and benchmarking; Learn more online at www.fcbco.com

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Taurus Software highlighted its business intelligence solution, Manage Metrix, developed in collaboration with co-exhibitor F. Curtis Barry & Company to provide intelligence across an entire retail enterprise. “It is unique in that it not only consolidates all the information across the enterprise into a single repository where business users can access it to do analysis, but it goes a step further in providing proactive, key performance indicators,” said Taurus president Cailen Sherman. “So it’s actually searching through the data and producing recommended solutions to problems that it spots in the system.” To learn more about Taurus Software, visit www.taurus.com

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It has been a couple of months since our last industry general update. While the summer months are typically a slower time, this period has been anything but. The pace of change at the USPS continues to accelerate with numerous issues that affect cataloging moving one way then the other, requiring more effort than usual to track and affect issues of importance to catalogers.

IMB Requirements nearing finalization?

IMB continues to remain one of the most important initiatives for the USPS and a critical underpinning to postal infrastructure to drive future value in the mail. At last month’s Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) meetings, IMB and related concerns were featured predominately. It appears the mailing industry (ACMA joined forces with many others on this issue) has been successful in its request to slow the pace of “forced” compliance with IMB requirements. These were originally scheduled to go into effect May 2009. USPS now indicates industry will get another year to migrate to the IMB from POSTNET before losing automation discounts. There is still a great deal of discussion on “full service” versus “basic” IMB rates and services; this remains an active issue affecting all commercial mailers. The USPS says it is still on track to put in place all required infrastructure to support IMB by May 2009. While the additional “breathing room” before penalties are levied is welcome news indeed, our recommendation is that you continue your work to become IMB compliant at the earliest possible date. Note that automation rate flats must have delivery point routing codes effective May 2009.

USPS Announces $1 Billion Loss

The USPS released financial results for the third fiscal quarter and said it lost nearly a billion in this quarter alone, with most of the loss occurring in June. While the third quarter is traditionally a poor quarter for the USPS and the current economic conditions were expected to adversely affect the result, the magnitude of the loss was surprising. PMG Jack Potter continues to indicate they are not considering an exigent rate case, the “escape valve” mechanism baked into postal reform to allow the USPS to increase rates over and above the CPI. This is a positive signal. An exigent rate case would be a very messy and expensive process using the “old” rate setting procedure of full litigation before the PRC. It would result in higher postage across the board – but also carries with it the very real possibility of significant shifts in overhead costs between mailers that could result in massive increases for a particular group as catalogers experienced in the R2006-1 rate case.

Potter continues to stress the USPS is working aggressively on the cost side of their business. The USPS has taken a billion dollars out of their expense profile each year for the last five or six and so far this year they have removed twice this amount. However, given their labor and transportation expenses, the major drivers of their cost side are fuel and health care, both increasing at rates far greater than inflation so they are certainly hurting. However, USPS officials are mindful that simply raising postage is not in anyone’s best interest and appear to be working hard to curtail overtime, increase productivity and find other areas to improve efficiency.

A final thought on this: every manager knows that you cannot endlessly cut costs to restore profitability – you have to “grow the business.” There is an enormous amount to do to grow the business and the USPS has not yet come to understand what it takes to become proactive marketers to drive volume in the future (see related comments at the end of the reorganization section below).

ACMA Washington Forum a Resounding Success

Hopefully you have seen some of the extensive trade press news coverage on ACMA’s late June event. The participation and quality of dialog were gratifying. Post-Forum attendee surveys were very positive. ACMA staff and volunteers continue the follow up work resulting from the Forum. ACMA members who would like to receive detailed notes from the meetings are welcome to request them via email to croden@catalogmailers.org. The essential takeaways and actionable areas for follow up were in important areas:

Consumer preference requests and Do Not Mail
Postal rates for catalogers and cataloger use of the mail
How catalogers can affect postal policy in Washington
The value of the mail for marketing purposes
Non-members are welcome; look for future meetings coming up early next year. We certainly hope you will make plans to join us at a future event.

What to expect in postage rates

Next February, the USPS will signal its intentions regarding an annual rate increase that will go into effect in May 2009. Catalogers, on the other hand, are preparing budgets for 2009 right now. What should you budget for postage next year? While the dynamic situation on inflation (that ultimately drives the CPI-cap governing the maximum increase possible) makes it somewhat difficult to forecast this, our current recommendation is that you should budget something on the order of 5.5% to be safe. Note: this is a very preliminary estimate subject to change as further data becomes available. While the current moving average CPI-U through July is running at 4%, if we continue to see accelerating inflationary pressure in the remaining months before February, this average could climb sharply. ACMA will be working closely with pricing officials at the USPS to keep whatever increase if ultimately announced to a minimum but given the dramatic increases in fuel and other costs, we do not currently expect the increase will be insignificant (see item 2 above).

USPS Re-organizes at the top

PMG Jack Potter announced a major reorganization in July. The impact is still being sorted out and some of the changes at the top can be expected to cascade down the structure over the coming months and quarters. What we do know is the USPS has brought in some top level executives from industry and reassigned others. Bob Bernstock has been appointed to the newly created position of President, Shipping and Mailing Services. Bernstock brings experience from marketing or senior positions with General Foods, Campbell Soup, Vlasic, Dial and Scott’s Miracle Gro. Joining Bernstock in another newly created position of VP Sales is David Shoenfeld who was formerly SVP Worldwide Marketing for Federal Express. Longtime USPS executive Steve Kearney was named to the newly created position SVP Customer Services, a move that combines many of the customer facing functions. It currently appears that Kearney will support the revenue building activities of Bernstock/Shoenfeld with internal support groups while navigating the regulatory compliance issues.

Our view is that this is good news for mailers. Given the large number of career managers who have risen through the ranks, the USPS tends to be insular in its thinking and approach. With the many pressures on it, the pace of change must accelerate. Creativity, innovation and a “can do” attitude are required. While Potter has done a lot to bring cultural change to a massive organization, due to the size and complexity of the Postal Service, this is necessarily a long term endeavor. Bringing in high level outsiders, who have a completely different perspective, is also key. While we have not had the chance to work with the newly arrived execs, we look forward to seeing a fresh approach to resistant issues.

We all know becoming more market focused and market responsive is the way to grow. From the industry perspective, when compared to working with other vendors, the relationship the USPS has with its customers is completely backward. Today, customers are expected to work to understand USPS problems and find solutions it can offer its “vendor,” not the other way around as in the rest of the business world. If the USPS will take the time to segment the mailing community into customer segments of common need and characteristics then do a deep dive on each major segment to learn what it can do to create increase customer value, the USPS has a terrific opportunity to deepen relationships, become a valued vendor partner, and build its revenue and cost of switching to alternative media along the way. The real question is: will this happen? Only time will tell but the introduction of those who “get it” from an industry perspective is certainly a step in the right direction from our vantage point.

New Members joining ACMA since the last E-Newsletter

We are pleased to announce the following new members have joined ACMA since our last general update: Ability Commerce, Inc., Daedalus Books, King Arthur Flour, Krames/MediMedia, Lady Grace Intimate Apparel, Mail Optimization, National Wholesale, Orchard Brands, Peachtree Business Products and Thoma Bravo. A big welcome and thank you to our latest supporters!

What can you do to impact your postage costs and access?

We remain with fewer resources than we need to properly represent catalog interests in Washington and this will only change with your action. Please budget some money in your 2009 financial plan to support the only catalog-focused, catalog-controlled advocacy work that is critical for your future. We really need your support! Thank you.

Hamilton Davison

Executive Director

American Catalog Mailers Association

www.catalogmailers.org

Telephone: 1-800-509-9514

Email: hdavison@catalogmailers.org

Direct telephone: 1-401-529-8183

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The American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA) has been engaged in continuing important discussions on how we can address the current state of affairs in the catalog industry with the USPS, and has been making progress on a number of fronts. These will be covered at the National Catalog Advocacy & Strategy Forum in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 26 & Friday, June 27, 2008. The Forum will include the Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service, the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission and a number of key personnel from both of these important institutions. Non-ACMA members are invited to attend this first-of-its-kind event.

This top-to-top forum, only for catalogers and their key suppliers, is an opportunity to join in dialog with executives of the Postal Service and their Regulator, visit with members of Congress and their key staff members to communicate the value of cataloging and educate policymakers on the critical issues facing our industry, and discuss Do Not Mail and ACMA work on how preference requests are handled by catalogers. Members will also be able to participate in an ACMA annual meeting to vote for officers & directors and get up to date on ACMA’s Program of Work to improve the external environment for cataloging.

ACMA is putting together a “Who’s Who” in postal affairs for the event. “It is critical we have a strong showing from the industry of top executives, owners and thought leaders to make our voice heard,” says Hamilton Davison, Executive Director of ACMA. “Representation from ownership and C-level executives in ACMA’s membership will, in and of itself, speak volumes,” adds Davison, who urges everyone to “pull a colleague or two from another company to attend with you.” Explains Davison, “When a bunch of CEO types descend on our nation’s capital with the same agenda, it gets noticed. Your participation will show the USPS and PRC through your action that you are committed to keeping the mail open for your products. Your questions and comments will reinforce the points I have been making that this is now difficult and proposed changes threaten to make it harder. Your passion and intensity will convey that this industry has terrific growth potential if properly managed, even though the last two years has taken us in completely the wrong direction.”

Please also help generate catalog industry participation from other companies by spreading the word about this Advocacy Forum to your network. This is an important opportunity to do something to help control the external environment that impacts your company’s financial performance for the future!

For more information, visit www.catalogmailersforum.org or contact:

Executive Director: Hamilton Davison
hdavison@catalogmailers.org
Direct telephone: 401-529-8183

Assistant to the Executive Director: Cathy Roden
croden@catalogmailers.org

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Upcoming solution will bring together multiple data sources to analyze business performance, aid merchandise analysis, analyze productivity in call centers and fulfillment centers

Redwood City, CA, and Richmond, VA; April 2, 2008

For 20 years, Taurus Software has been “making data liquid” for over 700 companies world-wide, with over 80 clients being in the direct marketing business. Founded in 1984, F. Curtis Barry & Company is a nationally recognized operations, fulfillment and warehouse consulting firm serving the multichannel industry, developing solutions that combine proven industry best practices with the latest technology available. Now, in a joint venture, the two companies are developing a software product that provides:

• A management dashboard of key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Pro-active alerts that identify areas where you can improve your business and save hard dollars
• Ability for managers to easily “point, click and drag” for analysis and reports
• Online updates to these dashboards and analysis tools from the underlying databases
• Modifiable templates that can be tailored for each business
• Analytical modules including e-commerce, marketing, merchandising, inventory control, operations and finance
• Ability to import plans, budgets and history (e.g., calls, orders, shipments, etc.)

The combination of F. Curtis Barry’s unparalleled industry knowledge of what to look for to improve your business, and Taurus’ ability to draw together data from any source and provide dynamic analysis, provides an entirely new way to view your business. Instead of having to find what’s wrong, these metrics will point it out to you.

The joint venture’s first application module will concentrate on merchandising, with an analytical series for measuring product profitability using net contribution to profit, including fulfillment and overhead expenses to the SKU level. Analytical sequences include:

• Promotion, category, sub-category
• Page and depiction
• New versus repeat product
• Import versus domestic product
• Price range report

Consulting services will be provided by F. Curtis Barry & Company to interpret the KPIs and industry benchmarks, as well as to assist in planning strategies to improve their businesses.

Taurus’ President, Cailean Sherman, explains, “For the last five years we’ve been helping multichannel retail businesses gain ad hoc access to their data. But this has required that the users work through their data to uncover problems and inefficiencies. We knew that there must be a way to offer solutions, rather than just information. We knew that if we could gather all of the information necessary to answer a question how are my products really performing? including costs and budgets and overhead and sales that we could identify which products were truly making money, and which were losing money.
Adds Curt Barry, President of F. Curtis Barry & Company, Combining F. Curtis Barry’s experience and expertise with Taurus’ tools allows us to create a unique pro-active analytical package. It is platform and source system independent, which means any customer can take advantage of the metrics regardless of their application package.

About Taurus
Taurus Software has been making data liquid since 1987. Taurus offers an entire range of solutions that incorporate products such as DataBridger—a robust open platform data foundation creation tool, and application specific data models such as Ecomedate for Ecometry customers and Analysis Suite—a powerful analytical and reporting toolset. Taurus is a member of the HPe3000 Transition Partners Program and has technology partnerships with DirectTech, Quest Software, Lund Performance Solutions, Managed Business Solutions, Escalate Retail, Orbit Software, Pathway Pacific, DST Health Solutions and Acumium. To learn more about Taurus Software, visit www.taurus.com or call 650-482-2022 x1.

About F. Curtis Barry & Company
F. Curtis Barry & Company is a consultancy specializing in multichannel operations and fulfillment for catalog, e-commerce, and retail businesses. F. Curtis Barry & Company offer clients expertise in business process and order management systems, inventory management systems, warehouse management systems; warehousing and distribution; contact center services; inventory management and forecasting solutions; and strategic, financial, and operational planning for all business channels. To learn more about F. Curtis Barry & Company, visit www.fcbco.com or call 804-740-8743.

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Richmond, VA, & Philadelphia, PA, April 7, 2008 — F. Curtis Barry & Company, a leading consultancy to multichannel businesses, in partnership with Catalog Success, the leading publication serving the catalog/multichannel business, today jointly announced a co-branded two-day interactive workshop, “Evaluating, Selecting and Implementing Direct Commerce Systems.”

“The software marketplace for today’s multichannel direct commerce companies (catalog, e-commerce, direct response TV, etc.) is crowded, growing rapidly, and can be confusing,” said Curt Barry, president of F. Curtis Barry & Company. “With an ever-changing assortment of applications, vendors and acquisition options, there are now many classes of software that can be implemented for direct commerce: e-commerce, order management, catalog management, customer relationship management, warehouse management, enterprise resource planning and accounting systems. While all of these process direct orders, perform warehouse tasks, and provide merchandising and marketing information, certainly some classes of systems may be more effective for your business than others.”

Paul Miller, editor-in-chief of Catalog Success, pointed out, “The workshop will help catalog and e-commerce companies make the right decisions for their businesses. They’ll come away better able to identify their businesses’ key functionality, the appropriate class of software to choose from, and the right direct commerce vendors to consider, as well as a variety of acquisition business models.”

In this comprehensive, two-day interactive workshop scheduled for June 17-18, 2008, F. Curtis Barry & Company will provide in-depth information on:

 Identifying your company’s critical business requirements
 Understanding direct commerce software and vendors
 Appropriate systems acquisition strategies and return on investment
 Developing an appropriate multichannel systems strategy
 Selecting the right system
 Developing your implementation strategy and plan
 Key components to software contracts

“Evaluating, Selecting and Implementing Direct Commerce Systems” will be held June 16 and 17, 2008, in Richmond, VA. “By holding the workshop right in our home town,” Curt Barry noted, “we’ll be able to involve myself and four of our consultants, both to give more personal attention to the attendees and to draw on our range of consulting expertise with installing e-commerce, call center, warehouse management, marketing, merchandising and inventory systems.”

For more information and to register, visit F. Curtis Barry & Company’s Web site at http://www.fcbco.com/seminar/.

About F. Curtis Barry & Company
F. Curtis Barry & Company is one of America’s leading multichannel operations and fulfillment consulting firms, with expertise in multichannel systems, warehouse, call center, inventory and benchmarking. Learn more online at: www.fcbco.com or call Jeff Barry at (804) 740-8743.

About Catalog Success magazine
Catalog Success is the leading publication serving the catalog/multichannel business, providing its readers with bankable tips and ideas for greater sales and profitability. In addition to its flagship monthly magazine, Catalog Success produces the weekly Tactics & Tips and biweekly Corner View e-newsletters. For more information, visit www.CatalogSuccess.com or call Paul Miller, editor-in-chief, at (914) 669-8391 or Peggy Hatch, group president/publishing director, at 215-238-5091.

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