Jessica McNulty, USWeb/CKS, 408/987-3296 or
[email protected]
Amy Burke, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. 415/616-7975 or
[email protected]
USWeb/CKS Creates Scalable Platform for Williams-Sonoma E-Commerce
Launch of online wedding and gift registry gains momentum
SANTA CLARA, CA. - June 21, 1999 - USWeb/CKS (NASDAQ: USWB), the leading Internet and marketing communications firm, today announced the impact of its recent work with Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM), the leading home-centered specialty retailer for quality and design-conscious consumers. http://www.Wswedding.com/ , the online wedding and gift registry launched last week, marked Williams-Sonoma's first use of the Internet as an integrated channel for offering products and services, strengthening customer relationships and building brand equity. Today the site, created by USWeb/CKS, Prophet Brand Strategy and Williams-Sonoma, is successfully processing thousands of orders per week and is generating more sales than the largest Williams-Sonoma store.
As the technology partner, USWeb/CKS built a scalable e-commerce platform designed to support the initial success of wswedding.com as well as Williams-Sonoma's future e-commerce offerings. USWeb/CKS developed a robust e-commerce infrastructure that leverages Williams-Sonoma's back-end systems - an order management system, a retail registry system and a distribution center system. Following a detailed analysis of William-Sonoma's existing business systems and processes, USWeb/CKS created a tightly integrated and highly scalable technical platform to support both Williams-Sonoma's online wedding and gift registry and future e-commerce initiatives.
"USWeb/CKS understands how to apply Internet technology to create a superior online experience," said Pat Connolly, executive vice president and general manager of Williams-Sonoma catalog division. "By integrating William-Sonoma's online channel with our existing infrastructure and business processes, online consumers receive a quality level of service and responsiveness that they've come to expect when using our retail and catalog channels."
Wswedding.com is Williams-Sonoma's debut of an e-commerce enabled web presence and one of the most comprehensive bridal registries available. The site is unique because it is totally integrated with Williams Sonoma's retail and catalog channels. Status of the bride's registry is instantaneously updated across all three channels and gift purchasers are accurately informed online of item availability.
Currently representing 45,000 registries, wswedding.com allows guests to view and purchase over 1,500 William-Sonoma products. Features and functionality designed and developed by USWeb/CKS include guest shopping, order processing, e-mail messaging, reporting, usage tracking and online registration editing.
"Williams-Sonoma recognized their opportunity to use the Internet to transform its business," said Robert Shaw, CEO, USWeb/CKS. "The momentum of wswedding.com demonstrates the power of the Internet to leverage a strong brand and reach customers while complimenting existing channels. It will be exciting to see the success of their future e-commerce offerings."
About USWeb/CKS
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) is a professional services firm that works with companies to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses by combining the expertise of strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital and improve business efficiency in the digital economy. With more than 2,800 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as traditional IT and Internet systems - everything from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Additional information about USWeb/CKS is available by calling 408/987-3200.
About Williams-Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the leading home-centered specialty retailer in the United States. Its professional quality and distinctive products for all rooms of the home are marketed through more than 300 retail stores, five mail order catalogs (Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Hold Everything and Chambers) and www.wswedding.com, a bridal registry website. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information log-on to www.williamssonomainc.com.