May 12, 2000 10:28
MBT International/AgriMall.com Announces Concept Change For
Broker Network; MBTI/AgriMall.com Brings Human Face to
Technology
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2000--MBTI/AgriMall.com (OTC pink sheets: MBTI) today
announced the beginning of a nine-month process to change, strengthen and increase its broker
network.
The process, according to the company's Chief Operating Officer, will be unique to the B2B concept of
doing business over the Internet.
Barry Laughren, Chief Operating Officer & Vice President, Sales, said the company is committed to
serving the multi-faceted needs of one of the world's most Internet-connected business areas - the farm,
ranch, suburban and rural communities - through a "strong and vibrant broker system."
AgriMall.com is the premier Internet website focused on B2B (eBusiness) for the agriculture, farm
equipment, livestock and horse industries. With more than 50 percent of North America's ranchers and
farmers now online, the agriculture industry is viewed as one of the top five eBusiness markets.
"Between now and the end of the year we plan to add approximately 80 brokers to our network," said
Laughren.
"The backbone of our business is the relationship that each farmer or rancher has with
MBTI/AgriMall.com. The integral component of that business equation is how our broker maintains and
solidifies the relationship with our customer."
"We are currently designing the broker infrastructure as part of meetings being held in Toronto with our
executive management group," said Laughren. "These sessions are designed to place
MBTI/AgriMall.com on a solid and aggressive path for the future. Additionally, we want to ensure that
every one of our nine person executive team has a full understanding of what is expected of them as a
group, and as individuals."
"The broker, because of that intermediary role between the company and the customer, is vital to our
success," continues Laughren. "Within the near future an announcement will be made that we have our
program in place and we will strengthen our network based on the work now being done in Toronto."
"Every customer survey we have carried out during the past year," says Laughren, "has come back with
the over-riding message that farming is a very human business. It is a sector where people like to get
together -- whether in large groups or two farmers spending 20 minutes talking at the end of a driveway.
They enjoy auctions where they can meet each other, and they enjoy sitting on the front porch once the
work has been done."
The Internet has tremendous and positive implications for the farming community ranging from
information exchange, to equipment purchasing, to facilitating the supply of feeds and chemicals. "What
it really hasn't yet provided," notes Laughren, "is a human connection between the technology and the
user. We believe that can be changed."
The Company's strategy is to combine all the positive aspects of the Internet, with a broker system
featuring an MBTI/AgriMall.com representative serving as liaison between the farmer and the net's
complex technology. The broker will be there to assist with the listing of products for sale, provide
guidance and knowledge about the net, and also to ensure a human interface with the Company. Any
questions or concerns about licensing, bonding or security issues the farmer may have, can be asked
directly to the broker.
"In many ways," concluded Laughren, "it is a human partnership between our people and the farming
community. This can only benefit both parties because it then allows for the greatest possible utilization
of both the broker's and the Internet's capabilities."
With recruitment for brokers beginning during the next three to five weeks, Laughren believes the network
should be fully operational by this year's fourth quarter.
About MBTI/AgriMall.com
MBTI/AgriMall.com is engaged in the development of industry-specific Internet portal sites, which
encompass auctions, broker-assisted buy and sell programs, searchable databases and graphic-intense
display of products. With more than 50 percent of North America's ranchers and farmers now online, the
agriculture industry is widely viewed as one of the top five eBusiness markets. The company currently
has more than 400,000 users. MBTI, along with its full ownership of AgriMall.com (www.agrimall.com), is
also the parent company of HorseNet.com (www.horsenet.com), BookStable.com
(www.bookstable.com), and LifeatHome.com (www.lifeathome.com), a vertical portal targeted at the
home improvement and real estate markets.
MBTI/AgriMall.com has formed an alliance with Navidec (NASDAQ:NVDC), a leading provider of
eBusiness solutions and services. Navidec is developing a cutting edge eBusiness solution for
AgriMall.com. MBTI/AgriMall.com has an agreement to work with EchoStar Communications Corporation
(NASDAQ:DISH), North America's fastest growing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider with more
than 4 million customers. The alliance will entail the programming and online purchasing capabilities of
MBTI/AgriMall.com being offered over a high-speed interactive channel. The company also has an
agreement with Triplus, a Trimac Company, to handle the freight component of certain sales
transactions.
MBTI, which began operations in 1995, is in the process of transferring head office operations for its
wholly owned subsidiary, AgriMall.com, from Langley, B.C. to Toronto.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. The Company may experience significant fluctuations in future operating
results due to a number of economic, competitive and other factors, including among other things, the
size and timing of customer contracts, new or increased competition, changes in market demand, and
seasonality of purchases of the Company's products and services. These factors and others could cause
operating results to vary significantly from those in prior periods, and those projected in forward-looking
statements.
CONTACT: Phoenix Alliance
Phil Huss, 970/259-7241
phoenixalliance@frontier.net |
