To: CIMA who wrote (376 ) 8/19/1999 2:51:00 PM From: David Michaud Respond to of 686
Kazz leads snowboard industry into factory direct Internet e-commerce Kazz Industries Inc KAZ Shares issued 8,160,966 1999-08-18 close $1.75 Thursday Aug 19 1999 John McGinnis reports Kazz Industries and its subsidiary Identity Snowboards Inc. are introducing a snowsports industry first strike. The Web addresses: identitysnowboards.com and kazzindustries.com will provide the industry with its first fully interactive Web sites between consumer and manufacturer. Under this new marketing strategy, the end user will be able to select the model, bindings, board size, composite materials and more importantly personalize the finished product using an array of colours and graphic options. Order fulfilment will be completed within a two-week production and shipping schedule. "We're like the Dell Computer of the snowboard industry," says John McGinnis, president and chief executive officer of Identity Snowboards Inc., a Kazz Industries subsidiary. Mr. McGinnis advises that: "This concept is similar to that of Dell Computer's direct distribution method, which shifted an industry marketing and sales paradigm when it was founded in 1984. We believe our positioning into the e-commerce arena is timely to capture the growth of the Internet phenomenon and will create brand recognition with this segment of our target audience." Kazz Industries pursued this technology and marketing strategy in order to reduce inventories, improve turnover, keep product innovative and improve profitability for the company's dealers. "This is a value-added sales tool for our retailers," advises Mr. McGinnis. "The customer can actually touch and feel the product and order at the store to their exact specifications. The retailers are more involved with their customers and can build product loyalty."