American Eagle Outfitters Selects MerchantWired as Infrastructure Platform and Long-Term, Scalable Technology Solution.Business Editors INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000 MerchantWired (www.merchantwired.com), a full-service network that is setting the standard for the retail industry, today announced that American Eagle Outfitters (Nasdaq: AEOS AEOS American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (stock symbol) AEOS Advanced Electro-Optical System (3.67 meter adaptive optical telescope on Maui) AEOS Advanced Electro Optical Sensor ) has selected MerchantWired as its broadband infrastructure provider for the national chain of American Eagle Outfitters stores. MerchantWired will connect American Eagle's network of over 538 stores in 46 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). . "After reviewing several networking options, MerchantWired was the only provider with the reliability and scalability American Eagle Outfitters needs to meet our network demands. MerchantWired is the only infrastructure service that can support future leading-edge, high-bandwidth applications that we will develop for our stores," said Ken Watts, V.P. / CIO CIO: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. (Chief Information Officer) The executive officer in charge of information processing in an organization. of American Eagle Outfitters. "MerchantWired's high speed and reliable network allows us to meet our business goals of better servicing our customers and improving our bottom line." MerchantWired is dedicated to establishing the standard for retail networks, providing complete packaged solutions shaping the future of the retail industry. The broadband infrastructure that MerchantWired is providing American Eagle Outfitters is only the first of a suite of value added services to be offered to the retail industry. A core set of initial offerings for retailers include: internet provider in mall network, secure managed network services, secure access to the Internet, voice over IP infrastructure in the store, and redundant WAN infrastructure connecting retailers with their home offices, business partners, and customers. "We are excited that American Eagle Outfitters has selected MerchantWired as its network service provider, allowing American Eagle Outfitters to implement next-generation technologies in its stores and business," said Jim Giuliano, III, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of MerchantWired. "This agreement is a significant step in achieving MerchantWired's vision of shaping the future of retailing by providing retailers with real technology solutions through a reliable coast-to-coast network." "The AE technology direction is to implement and design retail solutions that merge information technology with high speed communication links carrying data, sound and video to all corporate and store locations, " said Watts. "MerchantWired's network gives us the ability of timely access to corporate information and the ability to have a strong foundation that allows us to increase bandwidth on demand which will keep us flexible enough to implement competitive changes in equal pace with our industry." About MerchantWired MerchantWired is an extranet network that is specifically designed in conjunction with a coalition of the country's leading property owners and infrastructure companies to meet the specific needs of retailers as they integrate their online and offline assets. MerchantWired was founded in 1999 by retail industry experts who understand the specific infrastructure needs of retailers. Providing unparalleled customer service and a unique technology infrastructure, MerchantWired is creating the technology platform that will revolutionize the retail industry. Working with a coalition of property owners including The Macerich Company (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : MAC), The Rouse Company (NYSE: RSE RSE Relative Standard Error RSE Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (Spanish) RSE Royal Society of Edinburgh (UK; also seen as TRSE) RSE Rear Seat Entertainment (Volvo) ), Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), also known as SIMON, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest developer of shopping malls in the United States. Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG SPG - System Program Generator. A compiler-writing language. ["A System Program Generator", D. Morris et al, Computer J 13(3) (1970)]. ), Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO (1) (Total Cost of Ownership) The cost of using a computer. It includes the cost of the hardware, software and upgrades as well as the cost of the inhouse staff and/or consultants that provide training and technical support. See ROI. ), Urban Shopping Centers, Inc. (NYSE: URB URB USB (Universal Serial Bus) Request Block URB Urbanización (district; postcode use, Puerto Rico) URB University Radio Bath (UK) URB Upright Bass ), and Westfield America, Inc. (NYSE: WEA WEA Weather WEA World Evangelical Alliance WEA Washington Education Association WEA Wilderness Education Association WEA Workers' Education Association WEA WebSphere Everyplace Access (IBM) WEA Wisconsin Education Association ), MerchantWired is defining the retail infrastructure standard for the industry. MerchantWired also has strategic alliances with infrastructure partners like Cisco Systems, Inc., IBM, and Intermedia Intermedia - A hypertext system developed by a research group at IRIS (Brown University). Communications. For more information visit www.merchantwired.com. About American Eagle American Eagle Outfitters (NASDAQ: AEOS) reported sales for fiscal 1999 of $832 million. Six month year-to-date July 2000 sales increased 19% to $387 million. Since 1996, sales have grown at an average annual compound rate of 37%. Founded in 1977, the Company designs, markets, and sells its own brand of relaxed, clean, and versatile clothing for 16- to 34-year-olds, providing high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. AE's lifestyle collection offers casual basics like cargos complemented by fashion looks in stretch, denim, and other modern fabrications. American Eagle Outfitters currently operates via its Internet business, ae.com, as well as 538 stores in 46 states and the District of Columbia, with plans to have 556 stores by year end 2000. |
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