New United Kingdom Agreement Launches European Service for buy.com
BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, the world's largest wholesale provider of technology products and services, today announced Ingram Micro Europe will become the logistics engine for leading Internet superstore buy.com (NASDAQ:BUYX)
. Ingram Micro launched service for buy.com in Europe this week with its debut in the United Kingdom, providing fulfillment, logistics and inventory management services for buy.com.
"This agreement will reinforce our intention to be viewed as the preferred backroom logistics engine for leading Internet retailers such as buy.com," said Greg Spierkel, executive vice president, Ingram Micro Inc. and president, Ingram Micro Europe. "buy.com will capitalize on our core skills and our logistical expertise to ensure that they play an important and effective role in servicing their customers in the UK."
Ingram Micro UK will administer the fulfillment and logistics services provided to buy.com Ltd., a joint venture between U.S.-based Internet retailer buy.com Inc. and UK-based eVentures Ltd. Services will include order management, logistics administration and the delivery of all orders placed by buy.com customers for computers and computer-related products. The agreement allows buy.com to offer its customers a virtual inventory of wide-ranging, innovative and market-leading technology products.
"As we launch our operation in the UK, we are pleased to also extend our partnership with Ingram Micro," said Murray Hennessy, chief executive officer, buy.com Ltd. "Reliably fulfilling our customers' needs is our first priority, and it is reassuring to know that we have the UK's largest wholesale technology provider working with us to achieve this."
The launch of the UK partnership between the two companies follows a recent announcement that Ingram Micro's consistent order management, logistics and delivery performance resulted in renewal of its U.S. contract to provide backroom fulfillment services for buy.com.
As part of its fulfillment services for Internet companies, Ingram Micro deploys a direct e-commerce connection for real-time order management. This seamless communication enables immediate access to Ingram Micro distribution centers, providing a proven and reliable resource for order fulfillment and delivery, thereby more quickly integrating fulfillment with the sales process.
"By offering 99 percent accuracy for shipment of stocked products within 24 hours of the end user's purchase on the buy.com Web site, Ingram Micro UK is ideally positioned to offer an effective and efficient order fulfillment system," said Meinie Oldersma, managing director, Ingram Micro UK. "Our business hinges on providing a solid performance of accuracy and speed for orders and this track record will be vital in our relationships with Internet partners such as buy.com. I am delighted that the UK relationship is to act as the springboard for a developing pan-European relationship with buy.com, and I look forward to continued success on their behalf."
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Operating in 34 countries, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
is the world's largest wholesale provider of technology products and services, with sales exceeding $28 billion in 1999. Ingram Micro's key business units deliver fulfillment and distribution, product acquisition and selection, supply-chain automation and programs, as well as eProcurement to more than 175,000 technology solution providers, manufacturers and businesses located in more than 100 countries. Ingram Micro is driving the evolution of wholesale distribution for the information technology industry and is the operations engine behind leading global e-businesses today. Ingram Micro can be found at www.ingrammicro.com
About buy.com Ltd.
buy.com Ltd. is a joint venture between buy.com US and eVentures. Individuals and businesses can shop at buy.com Ltd. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as track packages online and have access to customer service representatives on a daily basis (from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week) at its Web site, http://www.buy.com/. buy.com Ltd. offers some of the lowest prices on computer software, hardware and peripheral products.
About buy.com Inc.
buy.com Inc., (NASDAQ:BUYX)
a leading Internet superstore and low price leader, was established in the US in 1997 and currently has 2.3 million customers buying products ranging from computers and electronics to travel, books, videos, games, music and golf. Product reviews in our technology categories, easy search functionality across all categories, product recommendations, best sellers, and music clips are among some of the features that help customers make better buying decisions. The company's virtual operating model allows for better efficiency and scalability into new categories quickly, helping provide the best customer experience with one-stop shopping, broad selection and a low price guarantee. buy.com was ranked by Forbes magazine as the "Best of the Web" in Computer and Electronics Category in the Spring 2000 issue and can be found at www.buy.com.
About eVentures Ltd.
eVentures Ltd. is a joint venture between SOFTBANK of the U.S., and epartners of the UK, the e-commerce venture capital firm established by News Corporation. One of the UK's leading Internet accelerators, eVentures partners with successful Internet companies and ensures rapid entry into the UK through its dedicated resources and local market expertise. Unlike incubators and venture capital firms, eVentures Ltd. works with proven business models which are then adapted to be highly successful in the UK. The team at eVentures Ltd. provides technology, marketing and financial support to the launch company, and recruits the highest calibre executives from leading UK companies to create sustainable online market leaders.
Source: Ingram Micro Inc.
Contact: Jennifer Marchetta, ext. 224,
jennifer_marchetta@benjamingroup.com, or Lisa Landry, ext. 225,
lisa_landry@benjamingroup.com, both of Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide,
714-245-7500, for Ingram Micro; or Eline Jongerius, Director of PR of Ingram
Micro Europe, 31 30 246 4001 ext. 4400,
eline.jongerius@ingrammicro-europe.com
Website: http://www.buy.com/
Website: http://www.ingrammicro.com/