Barbeques Galore Signs License Pact With JDA Software

JDA Software Group Inc announced that Barbeques Galore LTD, a leading chain of specialty retail stores devoted to the sale of barbecues, fireside products and related accessories, signed a license agreement for Retail IDEAS data warehouse.

A JDA Merchandise Management System (MMS) and Distributed Store System client since 1995, Barbeques Galore selected Retail IDEAS in second quarter 2000 to better manage its specialized business.

"Because our business is seasonal and our customer's preferences for products vary by region, we must have the ability to analyze and monitor our merchandising, marketing and accounting activities at a granular level," explained Todd Budde, Barbeques Galore IT director.

"Having the easy-to-use and action support capabilities of Retail IDEAS, our users will be able to proactively make informed decisions and take actions needed to improve sales and margins, increase inventory turns, optimize inventory investments and reduce operating costs and capital expenses -- all without having to expand their teams or rely on our IS staff to generate paperbased reports."

Budde said that Retail IDEAS' closed-loop integration with MMS will enable Barbeques Galore to:

• Analyze merchandise performance by region.
• Effectively manage product throughout its multi-channel operations including click and mortar stores as well as at its warehouse center.
• Fine-tune target marketing program by better analyzing promotions.
• Better manage forecasts including costs of goods sold.
• Improve management of imported merchandise.

"Barbeques Galore's impressive information management objectives are attainable with JDA's integrated solution," commented JDA's Hamish Brewer, senior vice president, global sales.

"By empowering their users with Retail IDEAS' analytic and decision support capabilities, Barbeques Galore will be able to more strategically manage its business, while focusing on the customer, achieving operational goals and realizing significant cost savings in both their physical and virtual stores."

Retail IDEAS to Cultivate Cost Savings

Budde also pointed out cost savings that Barbeques Galore plans to recognize by implementing Retail IDEAS. "With relatively little development costs, we'll be able to expedite the implementation of Retail IDEAS because it's fully integrated with JDA's MMS software that we are currently running."

"Plus, having seen how JDA continuously enhances its merchandising and instore system products with the most advanced technology and functionality, we are confident that JDA will be equally committed to ensuring that Retail IDEAS will address our specialized retail needs for years to come."

Barbeques Galore will run Retail IDEAS on an IBM Netfinity 5000 with dual processors. It will run the Retail IDEAS database on the Microsoft SQLServer 7.0 under a Windows NT operating system. Barbeques Galore also upgraded its IBM AS/400 to a model 720 to improve transaction processing times.

About JDA Software Group Inc

JDA Software Group Inc is a leading global provider of integrated software products and professional services with more than 4,100 retail and manufacturing clients in over 50 countries.

Designed for multi-channel companies with physical, virtual and catalog operations, JDA's e-retail solutions include merchandising, planning, space management, allocation and decision support systems; warehouse management and logistics systems; point-of-sale and back-office in-store systems; and such dynamic B2C and B2B applications as Internet Portals and the industry's first integrated commercial e-commerce solution.

Founded in 1985, JDA employs approximately 1,100 associates operating from 26 offices worldwide. With headquarters in Scottsdale, the company has offices in major cities throughout the United States as well as internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. For more information, refer to JDA's Web site at www.jda.com.

Contact JDA Software Group Inc, Michelle Kershner, 480-308-3294, michelle.kershner@jda.com