Visual and Quantitative Assortment Planning Applications Drive Partnership and Profits

KSA & 7thOnline Study reveals results that prove win-win for both retailers and vendors

New York, NY, January 12, 2006 - In a survey conducted by Kurt Salmon Associates and 7thOnline, Inc. in the fall of 2005, both retailers and vendors identified quantifiable benefits from implementing 7thOnline's assortment planning applications.  7thOnline, Inc. is the premier provider of merchandise and assortment planning solutions to the apparel, footwear, and accessories community.  Kurt Salmon Associates is the leading consulting firm to the retail and consumer products industries.

"Many multi-door fashion retailers and their vendors are challenged to find a system that can effectively manage the vast amount of product, location, performance and demand/supply information involved in assortment planning," explained John Stiehler from KSA.  "7thOnline addresses these challenges by providing a visibility platform to access and analyze all information related to the assortment planning process in real-time."

Highlights of benefits revealed in the study include:

• Realized additional sales opportunities of up to 25%.
• Reduced end-of-season excess inventory by up to 50%.
• Reduced time spent on administrative work by 40 - 95%.
• Shortened cycle times by up to 4 weeks.
• Reduced error rates by 50 - 80%.
• Enabled efficient buyer/seller collaboration and better management decision-making.

For a complete report of the survey results Click Here

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted jointly by KSA and 7thOnline through person-to-person interviews and email surveys.  Respondent experience with the system ranged from one to five years.  Aggregate responses have been reported to maintain confidentiality.

About KSA -- Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA) is the premier global solutions provider focused exclusively on the retail, consumer products, and health care industries. Celebrating 70 years of excellence, KSA helps clients achieve significant gains through strategic growth initiatives, superior product performance, and comprehensive enabling technologies.  From concept to consumer, KSA's portfolio of services helps clients in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific achieve lasting, meaningful improvements that create true distinction in the marketplace.

About 7thOnline -- 7thOnline is the premier provider of top-down and bottom-up assortment planning solutions specifically targeted to the unique planning, buying and ordering processes of the global apparel, footwear, and accessories community.  7thOnline's web-centric solution suite encompasses visual and quantitative merchandising and assortment planning tools, powerful analytical and optimization engines, and automatic order transmission capabilities in multiple formats.  7thOnline's retailer and vendor community includes Belk, Dillard's, Federated Department Stores, Jones Apparel Group, Kellwood Company, Kohl's Corporation, Liz Claiborne, Saks Inc., and many others.