Jeff Brunings, USWeb/CKS, 408/986-6721 or
[email protected]
Dick's Sporting Goods Experiencing Early E-Commerce Success
USWeb/CKS Helps Site Exceed Initial Goals, Receives High Marks On 180-Day Report Card
SAN FRANCISCO - August 25, 1999 - USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB), a leading Internet professional services firm, announced today results for the 180-day performance analysis of www.DSGsports.com, an e-commerce initiative by national retailer, Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG).
The Coraopolis, Penn.-based sporting goods retailer's site, which launched January 31, 1999 (Super Bowl Sunday), has exceeded initial expectations regarding performance, consumer receptiveness, revenue generation, and its ability to support established retail channels. DSGsports.com has also benefited from a co-branded relationship with CNNSI.com.
"The success of DSGsports.com is enabling Dick's Sporting Goods to strengthen our brand, our leadership, and our relationships with customers, " said Bill Colombo, president, DSGsports.com. "In the past 180 days, DSGsports.com has increased product availability to include more than 34,000 items, and has filled online orders received from all 50 states."
Reflecting the Internet's ability to extend customer reach to new markets, the highest revenues for online sales stem from states not represented by Dick's Sporting Goods' physical store locations. Currently, DSG supports 76 retail locations in more than 13 East Coast states.
"We are elated with the success of the site and continue to make the commitment necessary to become the leading sporting goods retailer on the Web," Colombo said. "We are in the process of committing capital to ensure the success of this endeavor. Unlike other retailers who build a site as a sideline to their primary operation, DSGsports.com has been an integral part of our overall business since the project's inception."
The USWeb/CKS-designed site extends the shopping experience that has made DSG popular for more than 50 years by catering to the specific interests of each online customer. Like DSG's physical stores, DSGsports.com is divided into specialty shops each having a unique look and feel. The site provides product information and search capabilities based on sport, brand and price. Since the site's launch, the number of online specialty stores has increased from 8 to 27 and features products ranging from traditional sports equipment, footwear and apparel to camping, water sports equipment and sports-related books and videos.
The site pioneers the capability to ship to multiple addresses -- a feature that allows a customer to simultaneously shop for numerous people by inputting information in the shopping cart's address book and designating an address for each product. Considerable attention was also given to developing a scaleable shipping and processing system that helps ensure efficient delivery of product. Providing free shipping and delivery tracking, dsgsports.com guarantees same day processing for orders placed before 4 p.m. (EDT) and next day processing for orders after 4 p.m. (EDT).
"We have received tremendous reviews from our online customers who tell us the site is among the easiest they have purchased from," said Colombo. "Our traditional customers have also expressed satisfaction with the ability to purchase from home, or at one of the retail stores. They like the convenience of researching prices, product information and selection online."
Recognized for its technical design and functionality, DSG's online channel was designed to withstand heavy traffic, increase productivity, and capitalize on DSG's existing legacy systems. Utilizing Microsoft SQL 6.5, USWeb/CKS provided integration between DSG's physical point-of-sale data and online transactions to effectively support and manage inventory, tracking and marketing. In addition, USWeb/CKS equipped DSG with online administrative tools for managing content, sale prices, and upsells.
About Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods has been redefining sports and fitness retailing for more than 50 years. DSG's passion for sports is reflected in its superior service, selection of high-quality brands, product information and technological innovations online and at 76 stores throughout the United States. The company was founded in 1948 by an 18-year-old entrepreneur named Dick Stack. With encouragement and $300 from his grandmother, Dick left a sales job at an Army Navy store to open his own bait and tackle shop in Binghamton, NY. Less than a decade later, Dick, at the request of his customers, expanded his product line to include most of what the company offers today. DSG lead by CEO Edward Stack, whose vision transformed the retailer into its leadership position. Working with Stack is a team of leading retail professionals with extensive backgrounds in big box and specialty retailing. The company is privately held and supported by investors representing international and big box retailing, and technology.
About USWeb/CKS
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) transforms businesses in the digital economy and creates sustainable market leadership for its clients. As a leading Internet professional services firm, USWeb/CKS has created a new standard for success in the digital economy -- Time-to-Value. Time-to-value means USWeb/CKS applies its insight, experience and scale to deliver breakthrough results quickly. The Company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with more than 3,000 professionals in over 50 locations worldwide. Additional information about USWeb/CKS is available by calling 415/284-7070.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (as defined under securities law) regarding USWeb/CKS' work with Dick's Sporting Goods. There can be no assurance that this project will be successful or that it will contribute positively to the company's results of operations. Further, this project does not necessarily indicate that the company will be able to secure additional similar projects. For additional information about factors that could affect the business of USWeb/CKS, see the documents filed by the company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.