USWeb/CKS Creates Scalable Platform for Williams-Sonoma E-Commerce; Launch of
Online Wedding and Gift Registry Gains Momentum
biz.yahoo.com
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. 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
at www.uswebcks.com or 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.
SOURCE USWeb/CKS
-0- 06/21/99
/CONTACT: Jessica McNulty of USWeb/CKS, 408-987-3296,
jmcnulty@uswebcks.com; or Amy Burke of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., 415-616-7975,
aburke@wsgc.com/
/Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 120663/
/Web site: wswedding.com
/Web site: williamssonomainc.com
/Web site: uswebcks.com
(USWB WSM)
CO: USWeb/CKS; Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; Prophet Brand Strategy
ST: California
IN: CPR MLM REA
SU: JVN PDT
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