Boscov's reports substantial savings with automated labor scheduling; department store chain saved over $200,000 in Q1/1996 with Campbell Software's StaffWorks.

EVANSTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 9, 1996--Boscov's Department Stores says it has seen dramatic reductions in payroll costs -- and significant improvements in customer service and sales -- since implementing Campbell Software's StaffWorks automated labor scheduler.

"With StaffWorks, we've seen our payroll costs shrink in 10 consecutive quarters," said Boscov's senior vice president of Stores Joe Fabrizio. "In fact, during the first quarter of 1996 we saved more than $200,000. I attribute that savings directly to StaffWorks -- thanks to increased sales and more efficient use of our current staff.

"StaffWorks has improved our coverage so dramatically, we've seen sales increases of 2 to 4%," Fabrizio said.

Boscov's, the nation's largest privately owned department store chain with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, implemented Campbell StaffWorks in Spring 1994.

Fabrizio said the key for Boscov's is that StaffWorks has made the scheduling process more strategic. He explained that the software's "mathematician" considers a wide range of customized scheduling factors -- such as sales-per-hour opportunities, POS data, overtime and holiday restrictions, payroll percent objectives, traffic counter data, employee availabilities and preferences, and more. Then, after considering every conceivable combination of these variables, StaffWorks calculates an optimum labor schedule. As a result, Fabrizio said, Boscov's staffs the right employees in the right places to serve customers at the right times.

Campbell Software founder and President Mike Campbell said StaffWorks' Intelligent Optimization(TM) "engine" considers literally millions of scheduling variables. On average, StaffWorks users report 80% reductions in overstaffing, a 50% decrease in understaffing, and 2-10% savings in payroll costs.

The bottom line for Boscov's, Fabrizio said, is that StaffWorks paid for itself in less than one year. "And that includes hardware, software, training our people, everything. We're extremely pleased with those results. Campbell's system certainly has exceeded our expectations."

Boscov's, America's 11th-largest independent department store corporation, is also one of the Northeast's fastest growing chains. Boscov's revenues have more than quadrupled during the past 10 years, and store sales average more than $275 per square foot (one of the nation's highest averages). The Reading, Pa.-based chain operates 30 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

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Since 1989, Campbell Software has provided Intelligent Workforce Management(TM) solutions for multi-site retailers. Campbell's StaffWorks(R) computerized labor scheduler has helped reduce payrolls (typically without staff cuts) while increasing customer service efficiency for companies like NIKE, The Gap, Staples and Starbucks at more than 10,000 retail sites worldwide.

StaffWorks automatically considers millions and millions of labor scheduling variables, and then strategically creates the optimum workplace schedule. In 1996, Campbell Software earned its second consecutive spot in the Soft-letter 100 (an annual ranking of the nation's 100 largest software companies) after experiencing 87% growth in 1995. Illinois-based Campbell Software has offices in Europe, Australia and South Africa.

-0- Partial List of Retailers Using Campbell StaffWorks

Barnes & Noble            Starbucks
Eddie Bauer               Staples
The Gap                   Warner Bros. Studio Stores
NIKE                      Western Auto
Hills Dept. Stores        Builders Square
Payless Cashways          Hastings Books, Music & Video
Boscov's                  Old Navy
Abercrombie & Fitch       Modell's Sporting Goods
Banana Republic           Best Products
PETsMART                  Gap Kids

CONTACT: Campbell Software Inc.

Robin Rammien, 800/457-8463

or

Hodgson/Meyers Advertising

Wayne Barringer, 206/827-2506