NARMS Slates Conference and Internet Database
keland, Fla.-based Advanced Retail Merchandising will be the chairman of the fall conference and exhibition of National Association for Retail Merchandising Services, October 21 to 23 in St. Augustine, Fla. The conference will focus on issues facing merchandising service firms. Nine workshops that emphasize planogramming and category management are being planned.
The 160-member NARMS organization has also created a searchable member database at its Internet Web site (www.narms.com) for locating professional merchandising service firms. "These new services arose out of an increasing number of requests for member companies with specific services," said Gary Ebben, NARMS executive director.
Manufacturers and retailers seeking merchandising services can search by: types of professional retail merchandising services offered; geographic regions of the country covered; types of retailers serviced; and types of merchandise handled at retail.
Rayovac, Nestle to Use Source E-Business
ST. LOUIS -- Source Information Management here has signed Rayovac and Nestle USA to use its e-business solution, Interactive Communications Network, to communicate timely sales and marketing data to retailers throughout North America.
Source is currently negotiating with other marketers of general merchandise, magazine publishers as well as confectionery products, to use Source's ICN program, said Source Chairman Leslie Flegel.
Through the ICN system, nonfood suppliers are able to communicate with retailers on-line through ICN's retail directory. They can check the status and anticipated renewal dates of checkout fixture programs and obtain detailed sales reports, updates and other store-level information.
Delayed Shipments Hurt Lifetime Hoan's First Quarter
WESTBURY, N.Y. -- Net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 1999 declined at Lifetime Hoan here to $257,000 on earnings of 2 cents a share. This compares to $1.9 million and 15 cents a share from the same quarter last year.
The marketer of cutlery, kitchenware, cutting boards and bakeware had reported significant problems that arose out of the installation of a new warehouse management system. The situation "caused delays in our ability to ship customer orders. As a consequence, net sales during the quarter fell sharply to $17.8 million as compared to $21.9 million in the corresponding quarter in the prior year," explained Milton Cohen, chairman, president and chief executive officer.
"Ironically, we chose to migrate to a new warehouse management system in order to increase Lifetime Hoan's service level, as well as to ensure year 2000 compliance. We believe we have solved substantially all of the significant problems and are determined to get caught up with shipments as quickly as possible." stated the housewares vendor.
