TradeStone Software

News Facts:

• TradeStone Software, recognized by analysts for delivering top-rated Merchandise Lifecycle Management (MLM) solutions that unify the design, sourcing, ordering and delivery of private label and branded goods and First Insight, a leader in consumer insights, today announced a strategic partnership to bring consumer influence through social media into the retail design cycle.
• This represents the first-ever use of advanced, consumer-focused, social media “gaming” technology and techniques in the retail supply chain.
• The two software companies are working together on a ground-breaking PLM initiative that will give designers real-time data on trends, product attributes and demand through various online networks, including social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
• Retailers will be able to gain valuable intelligence from consumers during the design and planning stages by integrating First Insight’s SaaS with TradeStone’s Merchandise Lifecycle Management solution platform.
• TradeStone’s retail customers will gain the use of First Insight’s patented predictive analytics for an early view of perceived customer value, sentiment and pricing options, giving them reliable guidance to make decisions related to item selection, trend identification, category management, targeted pricing and regional merchandising.
• As a result of the partnership, retailers will be able to collect customer feedback in as little as 48 hours, providing a unique ability to guide decisions on what products, designs and attributes to source and produce.

Supporting Quotes:

• “We strive to help designers and merchants focus on what they do best, bring innovative products to market as quickly as possible,” said Sue Welch, CEO, TradeStone Software. “The groundbreaking work with First Insight is a strategic move that enables designers and merchants to publish ideas, concepts, materials, color palettes, etc. out to their customer communities for feedback and collaboration. This will provide unprecedented information about customer preferences early in the design cycle, helping reduce cycle times and maximize the number of on-trend items our retailers put on store shelves.”
• “In order to maximize profitability, it is crucial for retailers and manufacturers to listen to their customers before costly design and buying decisions are made,” said Greg Petro, CEO and founder of First Insight. “We are excited to incorporate First Insight’s unique customer feedback-driven technology, into TradeStone’s equally market-leading Merchandise Lifecycle Management solution suite. This partnership provides a first-ever way for retailers to access critical customer input quickly, which can greatly impact the bottom line.”

About First Insight, Inc.

First Insight is reinventing the retail business in a consumer-driven market. The Pittsburgh based company has created a solution to generate early insight on trends, attributes and product demand by tapping into the current insights of consumers at a speed that is unprecedented in the industry. Implementing First Insight’s solution gives retailers and manufacturers guidance for product design, buying, assortment planning, pricing and marketing decisions, dramatically increasing sales and gross margin. First Insight is currently working with some of the leaders and largest retailers in the industry. More information is available at www.firstinsight.com.

About TradeStone Software, Inc.

TradeStone Software helps retailers, brand manufacturers and suppliers increase market share and improve margins through the use of Merchandise Lifecycle Management solutions that unify the design, sourcing, ordering and delivery of their private label and branded goods. Organizations including American Eagle Outfitters, Belk, Boots, Guitar Center, Kohl's, Le Chateau, Macy's, NBrown Catalog Company, Pacific Sunwear, Shoprite, The Children's Place, Urban Outfitters and Wilkinson use TradeStone’s solutions to help them bring innovative and highly profitable products to market at record speeds.

TradeStone Software is headquartered in Gloucester, Mass., with offices in Atlanta, New York City, Bangalore, Hong Kong and London. For more information visit can be found on the Web at www.tradestonesoftware.com.