Sharper Image Selects Empirix to Test Its Web Applications in Prepration for 2005 Online Holiday Shopping Season; Based on a successful 2004 engagement, specialty retailer selects Empirix service for second time.BEDFORD, Mass. -- Empirix(R) Inc., the leader in helping organizations strengthen customer loyalty through assured Web and voice application performance, announced today specialty retailer Sharper Image has again selected Empirix's hosted load testing Load testing is the process of creating demand on a system or device and measuring its response. In mechanical systems it refers to the testing of a system to certify it under the appropriate regulations (LOLER in the UK - Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment service, eLoadExpert(SM), to prepare for the 2005 online holiday shopping season. eLoadExpert allows Sharper Image to ensure that its customers have the best possible online experience by generating high volumes of virtual customer transactions against its Web applications, measuring how the applications respond, and then identifying areas that can be tuned for optimal performance. The Internet is Sharper Image's fastest growing sales channel, generating approximately 15 percent of the company's overall sales in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2005. On an average day, over 37,000 people visit the main Sharper Image Web site to purchase its array of exciting items, such as its Ionic i·on·ic adj. Of, containing, or involving an ion or ions. ionic pertaining to an ion or ions. ionic medication iontophoresis. Breeze air purifiers An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from air. Whilst marketed as being of particularly beneficit to allergy sufferers and asthmatics and to reduce second-hand tobacco smoke. , massage chairs
Massage chairs come in 2 main types. Traditional massage chairs Ergonomically designed chairs for positioning a person who will be receiving a massage, similar in function to a massage table. and more. That number increases by five to six times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. To ensure that its Web site is prepared for this level of a traffic surge, the company conducts a load test prior to the holiday season. Sharper Image originally selected Empirix's eLoadExpert service in 2004 due to the depth of experience provided by Empirix's test consultants and to its flexible approach and methodology for hosted load tests, called Rapid Bottleneck A lessening of throughput. It often refers to networks that are overloaded, which is caused by the inability of the hardware and transmission lines to support the traffic. It can also refer to a mismatch inside the computer where slower-speed peripheral buses and devices prevent the CPU Identification(TM) (RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in ). The RBI methodology begins with assessing a client's unique requirements, followed by designing and executing load tests, uncovering bottlenecks, and providing performance tuning Performance tuning is the improvement of system performance. This is typically a computer application, but the same methods can be applied to economic markets, bureaucracies or other complex systems. recommendations. "Empirix asked what our goals were and how our customers typically traverse the site, and then designed a series of testing scenarios that would exercise all the critical elements," said Greg Alexander, Senior Vice President of IT for Sharper Image. "They offered a customized methodology and process, versus the generic approach we had seen from other vendors. We were so pleased with Empirix's service in 2004 that we have elected to use them again for the 2005 season." Alexander reports that during the 2004 tests, the Sharper Image site performed quite well. Empirix made suggestions to help Sharper Image improve page-load times in production. In addition, data from the tests were used to perform tuning that boosted Web application performance to an even higher level in several areas. "We worked diligently dil·i·gent adj. Marked by persevering, painstaking effort. See Synonyms at busy. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin d throughout 2004 to prepare for our busy season," said Alexander. "The Empirix tests and subsequent tuning gave us tremendous confidence that we had done everything possible to accommodate our peak holiday sales volume, and to ensure a great experience for the Sharper Image customer. Empirix will help us continue to be prepared for 2005." Dan Potter Dan Potter is an American businessman. He started Cryptic Allusion around 1995 for the purposes of web design consulting. Since that area of the business world began to take off on its own and become crowded, the purpose of the group has been redefined several times over the , Vice President of Marketing for Empirix, credits Sharper Image for its proactive approach to managing quality of experience for its customers. "Clearly this is a company that recognizes the high value of customer relationships and ensuring a positive customer experience," said Potter. "We are looking forward to working with Sharper Image for a second year, and proud to have them as a customer." Download a case study on the Sharper Image testing project For more detail on the Sharper Image testing project, visit http://www.empirix.com/default.asp?action=category&ID=64 to download the case study. For more detail on Empirix's eLoadExpert service and other testing and management solutions, visit http://www.empirix.com, call 1-866-EMPIRIX or send email to info@empirix.com. About The Sharper Image The Sharper Image is a specialty retailer that is nationally and internationally renowned as a leading source of new, innovative, high-quality products that make life better and more enjoyable. A significant portion of sales are from proprietary products created by the Company's product development group, Sharper Image Design. The Company's principal selling channels include 185 Sharper Image specialty stores Noun 1. specialty store - a store that sells only one kind of merchandise shop, store - a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services; "he bought it at a shop on Cape Cod" throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ; the award-winning Sharper Image monthly catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. with annual circulation in excess of 98 million; and its primary Website, http://www.sharperimage.com. The Company also sells its products through its own online auction Website and an online Outlet store An outlet store or factory outlet is a retail store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public through their own branded stores. The stores can be can be brick and mortar or online. to help manage refurbished and close-out inventory; both sites are accessed from the home page of sharperimage.com. The Company also has business-to-business sales teams for marketing its exclusive and proprietary products for corporate incentive and reward programs and wholesale to selected U.S. and international retailers. About Empirix Empirix Inc. helps organizations strengthen customer loyalty through assured Web and voice application performance. Based on patented technologies, Empirix solutions are known for providing the deepest, most accurate insight into what customers actually experience, and enabling organizations to be proactive about identifying and addressing potential technology problems before customers are impacted. Empirix has thousands of customers around the world, with operations throughout North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Europe and Asia. To learn more, visit www.empirix.com or call 1-866-EMPIRIX. Empirix, e-TEST suite, eLoadExpert, Rapid Bottleneck Identification and OneSight are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Empirix Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. |
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