PRESS RELEASES
Leading Canadian B2B Supplier Grand & Toy Deploys Mercado on its new eCommerce Site
Mercado delivers the right products, services, and information – to the right audience at the right time
Pleasanton, CA, November 7, 2007 - Mercado Software, Mercado Software, the leading provider of eCommerce search and merchandising solutions, today announced that Grand & Toy (www.grandandtoy.com), Canada's largest office products company and an OfficeMax company, has deployed the Mercado search and merchandising solution for its English and French language eCommerce Websites.
Grand & Toy services over 200,000 customers in Canada through its more than 45 store network and its eCommerce site, which processes more than 140,000 online transactions monthly. Grand & Toy operates an innovative eCommerce site that is easy to use and maximizes B2B purchasing efficiencies. With over $750 million in annual sales, Grand & Toy's online business is responsible for about 62% of its total revenue.
"We're proud to be one of the top five eCommerce businesses in Canada. We've gotten there by responding to the customer's needs and by offering a first-class transactional Website," said Garry Wood, President of Grand & Toy.
As the company celebrates 125 years of success, it launched a recent re-branding and new business-to-business model involving strategic supply sourcing for client companies.
Mercado has provided Grand & Toy with robust search combined with sorting capabilities to enable easy product selection. If a customer is looking for whiteboards, Mercado enables grandandtoy.com to show its complete selection, which can be further refined by brand or price. In addition, the site shows customers an article on essential items to stock in boardrooms.
"We're offering more than office supplies. We want to be measured not only on the price of the pen, but also on the value of the service rendered," adds Wood. "The same holds true online; if a product has been discontinued we'll suggest an alternative options. If people are looking for color copy paper, we will not only help them choose the right paper for their color copier but we will also feature an article about choosing the right paper for their specific equipment. That's providing value to our customers."
Grand & Toy selected Mercado because it provides the ability to present relevant products, services and information to the customers exactly when they need it. "For example, after lunch we can promote tea – or at the end of the day, ergonomically friendly chairs," said Valerie Jones, Grand & Toy's General Manager of eCommerce. "Mercado also offers a straightforward management tool that allows our eCommerce team to manage online merchandising updates with just a few clicks of a mouse. We can now add new promotions within minutes."
"Grand & Toy is a great example of an online B2B supplier taking a leadership role by leveraging state-of-the-art eCommerce technologies to market both services and products," said Corey Leibow, President and CEO of Mercado. "Mercado's strong merchandising features enhance the overall buying experience and enable customers to quickly find what they are looking for. As a result, Mercado is helping Grand & Toy position itself as the go-to place for business products and solutions."
About Mercado Software
Mercado Software is the leading eCommerce search & merchandising solution provider for Internet & multi-channel retailers and B2B eCommerce sites. By enabling a superior buying experience and equipping business managers with a powerful platform on which to execute merchandising strategies, online businesses can aggressively grow revenue and foster customer loyalty. Sears Holdings Corp., GUESS?, Inc., Overstock.com, Williams-Sonoma Inc., OfficeMax, Macy's, ShopNBC, Delightful Deliveries, and Organize.com are some of the companies benefiting from Mercado's solutions. For more information about Mercado Software, please call at 925-401-9300 or on our Website at www.mercado.com.
About Grand & Toy
Founded in 1882, Grand & Toy has evolved from Canada's leading supplier of office products to the nation's number one source for complete business solutions. From office supplies, interiors, technology and imaging, to a host of essential professional services, Grand & Toy is enhancing office performance by providing the tools and solutions needed to stay competitive in today's fast-paced marketplace. Offering more than 10,000 products available through an award-winning Web site, detailed catalogue and over 40 retail locations across Canada, Grand & Toy offers the resources, experience and insight to help Canadian businesses realize their full potential. For more information, visit www.grandandtoy.com.
Media Contact:
Mark Shapiro
858-573-0736
mshapiro@davismarrin.com
###
