ChannelNet Gives More Powerful Local, Web Site Customization Features to Hunter Douglas Dealers as Internet Leads Are Increasing.

MILL VALLEY, Calif. -- Building on the success of Hunter Douglas' multichannel sales program, ChannelNet (www.channelnet.com) launched today the next generation of Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer Web sites. The new offering includes fresh creative and more local customization features for dealers as they are seeing an increase in customer leads coming from the Internet compared to other traditional lead generators such as the Yellow Pages.

"We've been tracking where our business comes from since 1992," says Diane Winsby, Drapes & More Interiors, Santa Rosa, California. "We know that 19 percent of our business is now coming from people who found us on the Internet. This is up from less than five percent a couple of years ago, an amazing increase. And the number of consumers who find us in the printed yellow pages is correspondingly decreasing. As of today, repeat and referral is our biggest source of business, followed by the Internet.

"We're also finding that consumers who find us online are high caliber buyers, often moving into the area with no familiarity about where to buy. Instead of cruising the yellow pages, now they surf the Internet to find us," Diane added.

"We recognize that the Internet is becoming a more integral part of our dealers' business," said Jeff Janke, Vice President, Retail Alliance Programs, Hunter Douglas. "Since the launch of our multichannel sales program in 2003, we've worked closely with our top performing dealers to provide an online research to offline sales capability that matches the needs of their customers. This new program incorporates the features our dealers told us were most important in assisting them to attract customer leads and close sales."

Key features include:

--Fifteen new Web site layouts, color schemes, and creative combinations for dealers to choose from, including customizable flash elements

--An event and promotion library for easy content re-use

--A much more extensive product and services Web site section

--A robust image library

--Before and after customer testimonials

--An improved staff Web page

--Additional Web pages, such as a community page

--A redesign of the program's Extranet and Dealer Admin Center, where non-technical dealer staff can get access to and manage all of their local sales and marketing tools, such as Web site management, training classes, performance reports and advertising

--The ability for businesses with more than one Gallery location to link together the Web sites for all of their stores

In 2003, Hunter Douglas began working with ChannelNet to build an Internet-based sales and marketing program to support their highest volume and most prestigious Gallery Dealers. In July 2005, the program was expanded to include more than 2,000 Showcase Priority Dealers. One of the key features of the program is an individual customer-facing Web site for participating dealers. Each Dealer also has permission-based access to an extensive Extranet that features reports, an online catalog for store merchandise, a discussion board, click-through tracking for online ads, and lead and Web site management tools. The Extranet also provides access to online training classes and other third-party tools, such as the ability to create print ads. As users login and are recognized, content is tailored for specific audiences, which include Gallery and Showcase Priority Dealers, fabricators, company employees, service providers, and partners.

In addition to the dealer Web sites and company Extranet, ChannelNet developed an online "eBank" to manage fabricator incentive credits and online order forms used to provide Showcase Priority dealers with display packages and merchandising materials. Information includes price calculations, incentives and discounts, as well as estimated freight costs by state. Online orders trigger email notifications to all involved Hunter Douglas divisions with custom information for each recipient.

"I took a seminar last fall to learn how to use ChannelNet SiteBuilder," Sally Alexander of Sally's Alley says. "I'm not much of a computer person, but now I can use the business management tools in SiteBuilder's Admin Center to get the leads that come in through the main Hunter Douglas Web site. I can also make ads there, change photos, put in some of my own copy, and change some of the headlines. And there's a bulletin board to find out what other retailers are doing.

"The world is Web-oriented; you can get anything online, especially in this business. I want to be available online, even though people also want the personal contact in the store. I need to give them both," added Sally.

"We're pleased to work closely with Hunter Douglas in creating the leading Web-enabled window fashions business in the industry," said ChannelNet SVP, Sales and Marketing, Pam Passaretti. "With the majority of U.S. online customers researching products online and then purchasing them offline, it is imperative for businesses selling complex products to provide customers with the online tools they need to make smart buying decisions and a seamless hand-off to the dealer to complete the sale."

About Hunter Douglas

For over half a century, Hunter Douglas has created innovative and beautiful window coverings. From the first flexible aluminum blind and the first honeycomb shade, to the revolutionary Silhouette(R) window shadings and Luminette Privacy Sheers(R), Hunter Douglas has combined the best features of blinds, shades and draperies. Hunter Douglas is part of the Hunter Douglas Group, the world leader in window coverings and a major manufacturer of architectural products.

About ChannelNet

ChannelNet creates multichannel sales solutions that allow customers to conduct research online and complete transactions either online, in store or with a call center. In the past 20 years, the company has created thousands of solutions for hundreds of companies worldwide including Hunter Douglas, Saks, La-Z-Boy, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company. Each solution is developed with the company's patent-pending software product, ChannelNet SiteBuilder, which significantly reduces the costs and development time of custom solutions, while putting management tools in the hands of non-technical business users. As a full-service company, ChannelNet also offers expert professional services for everything from multichannel sales strategies and best practices to dedicated solution support. The privately-held company is based outside San Francisco in Mill Valley, California, with offices in Detroit, Michigan. To learn more about ChannelNet, visit www.channelnet.com.

Editor's note: A screenshot of a new Hunter Douglas dealer Web site is available upon request.