For the fifth consecutive year, CenterStone Technologies reported record numbers for transactions processed through its iVendix and Escape B2B ecommerce applications in 2009. The company predicts that adoption of Web-based B2B wholesale ordering will continue to grow in 2010 as companies realize the competitive advantage that opening up their brands for business 24/7 provides them.
The company’s solutions have widespread adoption among specialty retailers and sales reps and help to expand the marketplace for vendors by enabling retail dealers and sales reps to view online catalogs, check inventory availability, create sales proposals and place both preseason orders and reorders more effectively and efficiently with their vendors.
“Our numbers are up dramatically again this year,” reported Tom Detmer, CEO of CenterStone Technologies. “As you’d expect given the economy, dollars through the system grew at a slower pace than in past years, but we were thrilled to see that the number of iVendix users (31% increase), logins (28% increase) and individual orders (27% increase) continued on their meteoric rise. As well, for the first time in our company’s history, wholesale dollars processed through our iVendix B2B platform, on behalf of our customers, surpassed $1 Billion US dollars.”
“We believe these numbers demonstrate the acceptance of our solution by sales reps and the specialty retail community,” commented Dave Mathias, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, “and we couldn’t be more excited as we move into 2010.”
Greater Level of Service
“These challenging economic times dictate that all manufacturing companies look for ways to improve the efficiency and execution of their business,” continued Detmer. “The specialty retailing community faces similar challenges, and vendors need to look for new ways to foster the continued viability of this important channel. CenterStone helps its clients collaborate with their specialty retail channel by allowing buyers to get the very latest information on current and future availability, as well as product and price. Specialty retail orders through iVendix increased 45% last year continuing a trend towards more frequent restocking orders and demonstrating the specialty retail community’s concern over excess inventory. Clearly, B2B is gaining adoption rapidly and learning one system for multiple vendors is what retailers tell us makes it easiest on them. Having a well branded, but easy to use B2B e-commerce solution, is now an absolute necessity for those brands that want to stay competitive.”
Increased ROI with B2B e-commerce solutions
CenterStone said it has witnessed an enormous ground swell of interest in B2B technology as manufacturers have come to understand the value of B2B in driving down the cost of sales as well as its importance in helping to grow top-line sales. Research shows compelling evidence that those manufacturers with B2B solutions who are therefore easier for specialty retailers to do business with receive a larger share of retailers’ dollars.
Brands currently using CenterStone’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and making the company’s solutions available to retail customers and sales reps include: The North Face, Vans, Reef and VF Imagewear, part of VF Corporation; Pearl Izumi, Marmot Mountain, Ex Officio and Marker Apparel, brands of Jarden Corporation; Under Armour; Helly Hansen; Merrell, CAT, and Sebago (Europe) part of Wolverine Worldwide; SmartWool, part of Timberland (NYSE: TBL); RipCurl (Europe); Hurley; Canada Goose; Icebreaker; Fresh Produce Sportswear; Yakima Products; Billabong; Patagonia Europe; Life is good; New Balance (Europe); The Orvis Company and others.
