SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- HomeRuns.com here has kept an extremely low profile since its acquisition by the Cypress Group, a New York-based private equity firm, was completed in February.
rrently employs 400 people and offers 7,500 items for sale through its 136,000-square-foot-fulfillment center here.
In February, Robert J. Tarr Jr. was named HomeRuns chairman and chief executive officer. Tarr is the former CEO of Harcourt General, the Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based publisher, and Neiman Marcus Group, the Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based upscale retailer that Harcourt owns 10% of.
HomeRuns has announced plans to open a new corporate headquarters in Burlington, Mass., in June.
HomeRuns.com
Web address: www.homeruns.com
Areas served: Boston
Delivery options: Next-day delivery on first-come first-served basis. Deliveries more than $60 free, less than $60 cost $10, $30 minimum order.
Expansion plans: 20 additional New England communities in the next three years.
Major investors: Cypress Group.
Key executives: Robert J. Tarr Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.
Schnuck Holds Web Site Close to the Vest
ST. LOUIS -- Schnuck Markets here has had a system in place -- called Schnuck's Express, which is also the name of a new small-store format the company is introducing -- for a while to take orders for home delivery or pickup through the Internet, but the privately held, 90-store chain is none to eager to speak about it.
The company declined to be interviewed for this story.
Ken Teague, retail consultant, Reach Marketing, Westport, Conn., is one of the few outsiders who has much to say about Schnuck's Internet operation, not surprising since few equity analysts follow developments at such closely held companies.
Teague said, "Schnucks Express seems to be doing pretty well. There were reports that they more than made their goals for last year."
Schnuck Markets
Web address: www.schnucks.com
Headquarters: St. Louis
Areas served: St. Louis and vicinity; Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Urbana and Bloomington, Ill.
Delivery options: Next day fee, $10.95; same day fee, $13.95; pickup, $5.95; all options not available in all areas.
Expansion plans: Columbia, Mo.; Evansville, Ind.; Decatur and Springfield, Ill., by the end of 2000.
Key executives: Scott Schnuck, president and chief operating officer; Bob Drury, senior vice president, logistics, manufacturing and information technology.
IGA Keys on Member Web Access
CHICAGO -- IGA here is a voluntary network of independently owned supermarkets, not a chain, and so its Web efforts are aimed essentially at helping its members gain access to the Internet, rather than creating an on-line shopping experience.
Since February, each IGA store has a Web page, linked to IGA's main page, that provides basic information about the store, including a map, a list of events and news about national IGA promotions.
"One of the reasons we did that was to re-inforce our brand," said Valerie Wold, IGA net solutions manager. "We created a similar look and feel throughout our Web site and throughout each independent retailer's Web site."
Wold explained IGA currently has two promotions running on its Web site, both of which can only be entered via the Internet. "Explore the Net" offers customers the chance to win a computer, while "IGA Country Jam" gives them the chance to win a pair of tickets to an IGA-sponsored concert.
Shannan Blagg, IGA director of public relations, said, "We're going to have a Net promotion for every national in-store promotion. We're using the Web to try to drive traffic through the stores."
IGA
Web address: www.igainc.com
headquarters: Chicago
Delivery options: Next-day delivery on first-come first-served basis. Deliveries more than $60 free, less than $60 cost $10, $30 minimum order.
Key executives: Thomas S. Haggai, chairman and chief executive officer; Duane Martin, senior vice president
