Monday January 15, 2:00 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Compaq Computer Corporation
Leading Internet Retailer Poised to Give Health and Beauty Industry Technology Makeover; EBeauty to Market Compaq iPAQ Desktop Computers to More Than 250,000 Spas and Salons
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, during The Salon Association's (TSA) fifth annual business symposium, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) and EBeauty, the leading B2B e-commerce site for the $150 billion international health and beauty industry, announced that EBeauty will use its website to market Compaq's iPAQ Desktop computers to the health and beauty industry -- comprised of more than 250,000 spas and salons. Complementing promotion of the iPAQ Desktops on EBeauty.com, approximately 25,000 direct mail pieces will be distributed in January and February in major U.S. markets including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York City, Miami and other metropolitan areas.
(Photo: newscom.com )
The agreement follows EBeauty's selection of Compaq as its technology- solutions partner supplying the Internet retailer a scalable, available and robust Web site and digital infrastructure. In conjunction with the initial agreement, EBeauty benefits from Compaq's Frontline Partnership. This strategic partnership combines the market leadership of Microsoft and Compaq in software, technology, platforms and services into solutions across all market segments -- enterprise, small/medium business, and consumer.
``Our partnership with Compaq has allowed us to build our business on a secure and well managed infrastructure,'' said Julie Khalifeh, who with Carolyn Callahan is co-CEO of EBeauty. ``With Compaq and its strategic technology partners like Microsoft managing the scalability and infrastructure, we can focus on delivering the best possible service to salons and spas which will ultimately lead to improving our customers' satisfaction.''
According to a Dun & Bradstreet survey of 1,500 salon owners for Modern Salon Magazine, there is low technology penetration in the health and beauty industry. According to the survey, only 30 percent of the respondents use a computer for business; less than 20 percent have access to the Internet at work and barely one in 10 use the Internet for business purposes at work. ``Our partnership with EBeauty reflects a wonderful opportunity to help spa and salon managers experience the efficiency and improved client satisfaction that can be realized through using the Internet,'' said Jack Novia, vice president, Enterprise Sales for Compaq's Northeast region. ``The iPAQ Desktop computers offer managers simplified business computing in the Internet Age.'' Further inspiring the use of technology in the health and beauty industry, The Salon Association has planned special sessions designed to expose students attending the symposium to the business side of salon and spa ownership.
``We are pleased that Compaq chose TSA's symposium as the venue to announce their commitment to the professional salon industry. The symposium has truly grown in stature as an important event for organizations to showcase business solutions. TSA is pleased to provide these opportunities for all of our symposium participants for the betterment of our industry and our salon owner members,'' said Jill Kohler, managing director, The Salon Association.
About Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company headquartered in Houston, TX, is the largest supplier of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs.
Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to businesses and consumers through Compaq's e-commerce web site at www.compaq.com. Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers from the business, home, government and education sectors. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products and services are available at www.compaq.com.
About EBeauty
EBeauty, based in New York, is the leading business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce site for the health and beauty industry. The company reaches more than 250,000 spas and salons worldwide, consolidates the needs of the spa and salon industry, and assists in large volume-distribution of beauty products and supplies. EBeauty also provides a unique assortment of e-commerce, customer service and Internet business applications such as online recruiting, reverse auctions and educations seminars. This single-source e-marketplace was built and designed to the health and beauty industry by facilitating the conduct of e-commerce between spas and salons, medical professionals, and manufacturers. For more information visit www.ebeauty.com.
About The Salon Association
The Salon Association (TSA), based in Scottsdale, AZ, is a non-profit business association with more than 2,200 members and is focused on the business of owning and operating salons with employees. Focused exclusively on providing salon owner members with group economic benefits, industry information, government representation and business education, TSA is an award-winning association with members throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. TSA exists for the purpose of sharing knowledge and building community and serves its purpose through a mission of ``members sourcing and sharing business solutions.'' For more information, visit www.salons.org.
Compaq is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, component shortages, slow acceptance for new form factors, employee retention, disruptions related to restructuring actions, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, and emerging market political or economic instability. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: Compaq Computer Corporation |
