Centric Software - News & Events

CAMPBELL, Calif.—May 29, 2009 Apparel Magazine has named INTERSPORT France, product lifecycle management (PLM) customer of Centric Software, Inc., a "Top Innovator" for 2009.

INTERSPORT is receiving the recognition for its innovative work in implementing and leveraging the Centric 8 suite to lead the company’s effort in doubling turnover of its exclusive brands (private-label) business in the next four years.

Apparel Magazine profiles INTERSPORT France in its May issue as a "truly innovative" organization in the apparel industry, according to the publication. Apparel's Top Innovators are selected for having "demonstrated exceptionality through an IT-related implementation, product launch or some other outstanding business strategy."

Operating in a challenging worldwide market, Nicolas Thibault, exclusive brands business unit manager at INTERSPORT France, understood the need to capitalize on increasing demand for high-quality, high-margin, private-label apparel. Thibault led the initiative in researching, acquiring and implementing the PLM and sourcing solutions to gain the efficiencies the company needed to achieve growth and financial targets without increasing headcount.

Within months of initial implementation of the Centric 8 PLM system, the company's innovative approach for exclusive brand development began paying off with significant results. "In the areas of the company using Centric 8," says Thibault, "sample accuracy has improved dramatically." Product managers have realized a 20 percent improvement in the efficiency of their sample development process, and the company has reduced its private-label product development cycle time.

"Centric has allowed INTERSPORT France to move forward assertively and innovatively," says Thibault, "working as a partner more than just a system provider." And by completing an on-time, on-scope PLM implementation, INTERSPORT France has gained critical, timely visibility into product status throughout the lifecycle because it now works with a centralized information source.

"INTERSPORT France shrewdly realized that not all PLM systems are created equal," adds Chris Groves, president and CEO of Centric Software. "Mr. Thibault had prior experience with PDM tools, knew he needed a solution that would provide the desired benefit, and chose Centric 8 to achieve his goals. We are proud to be associated with such an innovative company and congratulate Nicolas and the entire organization on this recognition in the industry."

About INTERSPORT International Corporation (www.intersport.fr)
INTERSPORT International Corporation is the purchasing and management company of the INTERSPORT Group. With more than 5000 stores in 35 countries, INTERSPORT has the worldwide leading position in the sporting goods retail market. The members of the INTERSPORT Group operate stores under the INTERSPORT, Sport Expert, Halle aux sports, Sport Leader and Shooz brands.

About Centric Software, Inc. (www.centricsoftware.com)
Centric Software is a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions for makers of hard-lines, soft-lines, or both in the fashion and consumer goods industries. Centric 8 delivers easy-to-use functionality to manage critical, inseparable business processes - product development, sourcing, and line planning and profitability management - all through a modularized system that implements and delivers value rapidly. With Centric 8, companies cut costs and inefficiency, speed new products to market, drive margin improvement, and improve global collaboration and compliance. Global enterprises including INTERSPORT France, The Coleman Companies, KlimUSA, BassPro Shops, Bravo Sports, and United Stationers use Centric solutions to achieve revenue growth, reduce costs, and deliver trend-right products to their customers.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software . All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.