HomeLife Launches Web-based Sign Printing System from AccessVia

SEATTLE, June 20, 2001 - HomeLife, one of the nation's largest home furnishings retailers, will begin using AccessVia's Web dSignShop™ in an enterprise-wide rollout, launching the Web-based signage system in advance of a major sales event next month.

The Web dSignShop product delivers on-demand sign printing capabilities to retailers via the Web. Store personnel are able to use any Internet-connected PC to print product signs, shelf-edge labels, fact tags, and other kinds of promotional signage without the training and maintenance typically required with traditional client/server systems. Predesigned templates and access to real-time corporate data ensure sign accuracy and design consistency among an entire network of stores-features that make Web dSignShop a particularly attractive solution for enterprise retailers like HomeLife.

Representatives of HomeLife say they anticipate that all of their 128 stores will be using AccessVia's sign printing solution in time to outfit floor stock with merchandising signs for their July 4th sale. The project was initiated in April of this year, and the early-summer debut of Web dSignShop marks an unusually fast turnaround for such a sophisticated, large-scale deployment. All of the stores will go live with the system on the same day, another notable accomplishment given that enterprise-wide IT installations often require long development cycles and phased-in trials.

HomeLife Vice-President and CIO Christopher Smith expressed great satisfaction that the Web dSignShop solution measured up so impressively. "We had an information systems architecture we wanted to follow. We wanted all the information in one place and integrated with our existing systems. We were surprised that the solution AccessVia offered fit so perfectly. We didn't have to bend to do things their way. It already works the way a retailer would want it to work," said Smith.

Flexibility and up-to-the-minute accuracy were among the factors that drew HomeLife to Web dSignShop. Don Lively, HomeLife's Director of Product Promotion, said that using their previous sign printing method often resulted in a two-day lag between a decision to change price and the display of a new sign in the stores. Lively said, "Now we can change signing instantaneously."

Referring to the product's ability to tap existing data resources for full compatibility with back-end and point-of-sale IT systems, Smith went on to say, "It's completely centralized, which reduces our maintenance costs. It's not just a sign printing system. It's part of our POS and merchandising systems. We didn't have to put the data someplace else."

AccessVia President and CEO Dean A. Sleeper agreed that enterprise system integration and revolutionary implementation speed are key advantages, describing Web dSignShop as one piece of AccessVia's multichannel retailing solution. "The underlying technology is quite versatile," he said. "HomeLife can go on to deliver the same item information to their customers via in-store kiosks, their Web site, by e-mail or mobile devices-all without any data restructuring."

In keeping with that appraisal, HomeLife's Lively concluded, "The AccessVia package offered us more-not only for today, but also for future uses."

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AccessVia customers include Bed Bath and Beyond, Kroger, LCBO, Petco, Safeway, Staples, SUPERVALU, Target, Walgreens and Wal-Mart.

About AccessVia, Inc.
AccessVia takes retailers beyond price point to a place where they can truly connect with customers at the moment of choice. Smart consumers expect more than flashing lights and red type. The new consumer requires new messaging.

AccessVia Consumer Messaging Optimization Services help you to envision that future and make it happen. Seasoned retail professionals, armed with best practices, industry benchmarks and new ideas, work with your team to transform your consumer messaging effectiveness and efficiency. AccessVia Publishing Platform solutions provide the software tools to extend your retail brand promise to the Last Mile – where the customer chooses to browse or buy.

Create new business processes for the future then manage your publishing systems with software being used today by Global 500 companies in over 40,000 retail stores. Take your customers beyond price point with AccessVia.

For more information contact:
Gaylene C. Meyer
Public Relations Manager, AccessVia
206.285.4994 x150