Lafuma Group USA has selected the CenterStone Technologies, Inc.'s iVendix cloud computing application for its Lafuma, Millet, Eider, Killy and Oxbow brands. When the iVendix B2B solution goes “live” later this spring, these brands will provide a business-to-business (B2B) on-line ordering solution for their retail accounts and sales reps. Retail accounts and sales reps will be able to view automated catalogs, check product availability, place orders, and track and monitor the status of those orders using iVendix because it is accessible 24/7 via the Web.
“The Lafuma Group understands the importance of being easy to do business with, and especially in these challenging economic times, having a B2B e-commerce solution for our dealers and sales reps is a must-have innovation for the efficiency of our operations,” commented Guillaume Linossier, general manager of Lafuma Group USA. “In order to continue to provide a superior level of customer service, we felt that five of the Lafuma Group brands needed a proven B2B solution that would be quickly adopted by our retailers.
“CenterStones iVendix B2B solution has a proven track record of adoption in our industry. We were looking for the best B2B e-commerce platform available and a vendor with a history of helping clients showcase their brands within the specialty retail community,” he continued. “iVendix is an industry standard with a history of being the most widely accepted B2B e-commerce solution. CenterStone will open up the Lafuma, Millet, Eider, Killy and Oxbow brands for business 24/7 by allowing our dealers to place orders at their convenience, any time of day or night. The Lafuma Group is committed to its retail partners, and our new B2B solution will insure that we are also the easiest company for specialty retailers to purchase from, which will further differentiate our brands and provide additional value to our dealers added Linossier.”
CenterStone CEO Tom Detmer remarked, “Through our many clients we have observed the specialty retail market changing dramatically over the last 6 to 9 months, and manufacturing companies need to align their cost structures to improve the efficiency and execution of their businesses. There is no denying these are stressful economic times, but they are also the best time aggressive companies can take market share from their peers by placing their customers first in terms of service.
“As more and more pressure is put on independent specialty retailers, they need business partners who can be responsive to them 24 hours a day, every day of the week with the most up to date information,” he continued. “Clearly, it is a reflection of the times we live in; if you are aggressive and put your customers first, you are likely to succeed, and if you are complacent, it is likely youll be left behind.”
Brands currently using CenterStones Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform and making the companys solutions available to retail customers and sales reps include: The North Face, JanSport, 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; Perry Ellis Intl.; Geneva Watch Group; Cleveland Golf; SmartWool, part of Timberland; RipCurl; 180s; Sport Obermeyer; Rossignol; Dale of Norway; ONeill Clothing; Hot Chillys; Petzl; Icebreaker; Four Star Distribution; Fresh Produce Sportswear; Yakima Products; Billabong; Patagonia Europe; Life is good; New Balance; The Orvis Company and others.
