CVS SVP/CIO Receives Career Achievement Award At Retail Systems 2002/VICS Collaborative Commerce; CVS, D'Agostino Supermarkets, Land's End, and Modelo.com also Recognized.

Business Editors

The Fourth Annual Retail Systems 2002 Achievement Awards were presented Monday, June 24 during an invitation only ceremony held in conjunction with Retail Systems 2002/VICS Collaborative Commerce Conference & Exposition, America's Leading Retail IT and Supply Chain Event. Award recipients were also announced during the opening day ceremonies of the event, held June 24-27 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

The Retail Systems 2002 Achievement Awards, sponsored by i2 Technologies, Inc., honor outstanding examples of systems and interactive applications that have resulted in more effective customer service and improved business processes. They recognize individuals and companies whose efforts and company-wide dedication to information technology have raised standards throughout the industry. Award winners were selected by members of the Retail Systems Alert(SM) Advisory Board.

RETAIL SYSTEMS ALERT(SM) CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

HOWARD EDELS, SVP/CIO, CVS CORPORATION

This award was presented to Howard Edels for his outstanding work in the retail IT industry. Named SVP/CIO of CVS in 1992, Howard has moved CVS from a mainframe environment to a leading-edge, browser-based, Web-centric pharmacy. He has also worked to improve the analytical capabilities of the data warehouse, and to launch one of the first reward card CRM programs by a US pharmacy retailer. CVS now has 28 million customers enrolled in its Extra Care Card program.

From 1982 to 1991, while CIO for Charming Shoppes, Howard integrated the retailer's mainframe-based supply chain system, allowing employees to have a real-time view of the entire supply chain, from overseas product development to the shelf. Under his IT leadership, Charming Shoppes was the first US retailer to implement the Arthur merchandising solution and automate its POS systems. In 1991, Howard joined the Melville Company and worked with CIO John Mitchell to develop merchandise planning and other merchandising initiatives in different divisions, including CVS.

BEST IN CUSTOMER TOUCHPOINT SYSTEMS -- CVS CORPORATION

This award was presented to CVS Corporation for a barcode-based loyalty card pilot. By utilizing the existing technology infrastructure, the retailer was able to implement a loyalty program without POS changes from a hardware perspective and without major cost or capital expenditure. Planning and preparing for volumes almost twice that of its original estimate, the retailer has been able to handle card utilization significantly higher than was expected. CVS observed that shoppers who utilize the chain-wide loyalty program are both buying more, and are more loyal customers.

BEST IN CORPORATE SYSTEMS -- D'AGOSTINO SUPERMARKETS

This award was presented to D'Agostino Supermarkets for its deployment of a Demand Based Management (DBM) solution. DBM, a rapidly emerging enterprise software category, allows retailers to make better, more informed merchandising decisions. By setting prices and promotions that match unique local demand, D'Agostino's can maximize profit and consumer satisfaction item by item, store by store. DBM offers balanced merchandising strategies that will improve long-term consumer loyalty and at the same time dramatically improve retailer profitability. During the initial 8-week trial, D'Agostino's increased net profits from 1 percent to 3.5 percent.

BEST IN E-COMMERCE INNOVATION -- LANDS' END 

This award was presented to Lands' End for its Web ordering system that has raised online service levels to include the customer personalization envisioned by users as ideal. Lands' End customers can now request a specific item such as "short-sleeved shirt." The system connects to the back end, ensuring that only available, in-stock items are displayed. In addition, images can be sorted so that promoted goods are shown first.

BEST IN E-COMMERCE INTEGRATION -- MODELO.COM 

This award was presented to online grocer Modelo.com who launched a Web retail channel in 2001 with Continente Online. This integrated Web storefront holds information for all physical stores, and associates each online customer with the local store for product purchase and delivery. Modelo.com's integration system includes: a central database; integration of price lists from all stores; a daily-updated replenishment system; integration of sales reporting; and information delivery for invoicing. The system also monitors its own processes and reports process failures, taking some automated steps, and recommending others.

"These awards are important because they recognize the role technology plays in reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies in the retail industry. We look forward to this event annually because we get to see some of the world's leading retailers compete for recognition based on the innovative ways in which they use technology to better serve their customers. i2 is committed to serving the retail industry and is a proud sponsor of this important event." Terry Turner, Senior Vice President, i2 Retail.

i2 is the leading provider of value chain management solutions. i2's value chain management solutions help companies plan and execute all of the activities involved in managing supply and demand. These solutions span the entire scope of value chain interactions, including supplier relationship management, supply chain management, and demand chain management. Established in 1988, i2 is the only software solutions provider that measures, audits, and reports total value provided to its customers, with a mission to deliver $75 billion in value by 2005. Learn more at www.i2.com.

The Retail Systems 2002 Achievement Awards are organized by MoonWatch Media Inc., a leading technology publishing and events company that has followed the advancements of technology applications within the retail, e-commerce, and supply chain industries for more than 10 years. The group provides analysis and insight about a broad spectrum of issues and trends through publications, conferences and expositions, Internet services, special reports, and customized research. MoonWatch Media is also the organizer of Retail Systems 2002/VICS Collaborative Commerce.