ebizmix.com and Convergys Join Forces to Provide Customer Service to Independent Specialty Retailers

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2000

Business Editors

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2000

ebizmix.com, the industry's premier online marketplace, and Convergys Corporation, the world's largest provider of integrated customer-care solutions, have teamed up to provide customer support for independent specialty retailers.

As one in a series of planned customer service and site enhancements, this unique relationship with Convergys makes it even easier for specialty retailers in the gift, garden, and home decorative accessories industries to conduct business online through ebizmix.com.

Convergys' customer-care team is on call to familiarize specialty retailers with ebizmix.com and to educate users on how to take full advantage of the site. Convergys also will work hand-in-hand with ebizmix.com technical support representatives to quickly resolve any retailer inquiries on how to navigate the site, purchase products and services from suppliers, and capitalize on the site's benefits.

"Partnering with Convergys exemplifies our commitment to create a retailer-friendly site that provides immediate assistance for retailers moving into the world of online buying," said Debra Janssen, chief executive officer, MIX, Inc., which operates ebizmix.com. "With the capabilities Convergys provides to our company, independent specialty retailers gain a reliable bridge across the digital divide."

Retailers can contact the customer-care team by dialing 1-877-YOUR-MIX, or via e-mail at cstmr.care@ebizmix.com. Telephone inquiries will be handled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. E-mail requests also will be processed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, and retailers typically will receive a response within 24 hours.

"Since 1991, Convergys has supported Hallmark, the founding company of ebizmix.com, and we are delighted to work with ebizmix.com," said Randy Mysliviec, Convergys senior vice president, marketing. "ebizmix.com understands the challenges that the independent specialty retailers face as they shift to online buying, and recognizes the expertise and experience Convergys brings to this new business model. In addition, Convergys' integrated customer contact centers also will provide a forum for proactive marketing to cross-sell and up-sell additional products or services for ebizmix.com."

"Convergys is the industry leader in customer service," said Janssen. "Their dot-com expertise and ability to handle ebizmix.com's growth make this a great relationship that will help us empower the independent retailer by making our services easier to use."

About ebizmix.com

ebizmix.com, the premier B2B online marketplace for independent specialty retailers in the gift, garden, and home decorative accessories industries, is owned and operated by MIX, Inc. Hallmark Cards, Inc. formed the company in April 2000. ebizmix.com is the only online marketplace that provides independent retailers with access to the finest suppliers, and offers a customized approach to serving different retail communities with targeted industry data and services. For more information, visit www.ebizmix.com, or call customer care at 1-877-YOUR-MIX.

About Hallmark

Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards, Inc. is known throughout the world for its greeting cards and related personal expression products, and television's most honored and enduring dramatic series, the Hallmark Hall of Fame.

The company invented the concept of the card specialty outlet in the 1950s, and has remained committed to serving the unique needs of the independent retailer. Today, Hallmark distributes more than 40,000 products domestically through a variety of retail outlets, including 7,500 specialty shops. The company, which has wholly owned subsidiaries in 12 countries, reported consolidated net revenues of $4.2 billion in 1999. Visit Hallmark on the Internet at www.hallmark.com.

About Convergys

Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a member of the S&P 500, is the global leader in providing outsourced, integrated, billing, and customer care services, bringing together world-class resources and expertise to help clients transform customer relationships into a competitive advantage.

Convergys software produces more than one million bills each day, and Convergys contact centers handle more than one million customer interactions each day.

Convergys(SM) provides billing, customer care, and employee care services to the top companies in a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, Internet, cable and broadband services, technology, and financial services.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Convergys employs over 43,000 people in its 43 customer contact centers and in its data centers and other offices in the United States, Canada, Israel, and Europe. Convergys is on the Internet at www.convergys.com.

(Convergys is pronounced: kun VER jis. Convergys and the Convergys logo are service marks of Convergys Corporation.)