Christmas At Pike Family Nurseries Gains Hi-Tech Boost From BellSouth.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 1999--

Shopping for Christmas Trees, Wreaths and Decorations Eased

by Faster Service, Immediate Access to Pike's 24-Store Inventory

Buying your Christmas decorations in Atlanta will be a breeze this year, as one of Atlanta's favorite shopping stops, Pike Family Nurseries, goes high-tech for the holidays with the help of BellSouth.

The nursery, which has served Atlanta for the past 40 years, recently purchased and implemented a BellSouth-managed, wide area network (WAN) for its 24 stores. The network electronically connects every store with frame relay technology, allowing the stores to share "real-time" information, purchase orders and inventory.

Pike's new technology translates into more selection, enhanced customer service and greater efficiency for harried holiday shoppers. Instead of waiting to learn whether a certain kind of pine wreath or Christmas tree is available from one of Pike's 24 stores, customers can ask a store manager and have an answer almost instantly via email. The new technology will also keep check-out lines moving and free store managers from burdensome back-office paperwork, allowing them to better focus on customers' needs. Previously, all communication was via fax, phone and drivers going between stores with large files of information. Inventory, purchasing and vendor communication was also handled manually.

"Businesses such as Pike Family Nurseries are seeking high-tech solutions to stay competitive in today's market," said Donna Scott, BellSouth director of managed router services. "BellSouth is enabling companies to take advantage of e-business solutions without the challenges of recruiting, training and retaining staff internally. We are proud to be a part of Pike's 'high-tech' Christmas."

Pike's business will benefit from the technology, too. "We needed a reputable company that could advise us on how to increase the speed and efficiency of all our systems," noted Tom Rouse, Pike's chief financial officer. "BellSouth brought us the latest technology and helped us plan for today, as well as the growth we anticipate in the future. Virtually every aspect of our business will benefit, giving us a competitive edge. In addition, the whole network is installed, managed and maintained by BellSouth, freeing us to concentrate on our customers."

And the computer network is just the tip of the high-tech iceberg. Pike Family Nurseries is planning a number of other initiatives in the next six months, including: an enhanced web site (www.pikenursery.com) with news and seasonal planting tips; an e-commerce site where customers can order plants directly from the Internet; an electronic procurement system that will consolidate inventory orders from all 30 stores; a wedding registry allowing friends to purchase gardening products for newly married couples...and much more.

For more information on this and other innovative business offers from BellSouth, companies should contact their account representative, or visit BellSouth's Internet Services Web site at www.biz.bellsouth.net.

BellSouth Business serves the needs of mid- to large-size businesses, institutions and organizations. BellSouth is a $25 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications, wireless communications, cable and digital TV, advertising and publishing, and Internet and data services to nearly 36 million customers in 19 countries worldwide. BellSouth's Web site is located at http://www.bellsouth.com.

BellSouth Business is a trade name of BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation licensed to and used to collectively identify BellSouth Business Systems, Inc., BellSouth Communication Systems, Inc. and BellSouth MNS, Inc.