Claritas Renews Agreement With Lowe's to Provide Site and Competitive Analysis Support; Nation's Number Two Leading Home Improvement Retailer To Utilize iXPRESS, Business Facts Data

Business Wire, Dec 4, 2001

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2001

Claritas Inc., the premier provider of intelligent marketing information and target marketing services, today announced it has extended its existing agreement with home improvement giant Lowe's Companies Inc. for three years to provide site and competitive analysis data for its critical site selection process.

Through the iXPRESS and Business Facts(R) products, Claritas data is used daily by Lowe's in support of a variety of departmental processes of which the most extensive is real estate site location research, said Susan Tilley, Senior Manager, GIS for Lowe's.

"In short, Claritas' broad range of well integrated databases help provide Lowe's with valuable insights into our existing and potential markets," added Tilley.

Claritas Senior Vice President of Sales Matt O'Grady said Lowe's is continuing to use high level planning tools to identify and classify new store location opportunities in the United States.

"Claritas is committed to providing Lowe's with the most accurate and comprehensive site and market level data and is very pleased to expand our partnership," commented O'Grady

iXPRESS combines powerful analytical tools with a simple, easy-to-use interface designed to provide fast access to information. This comprehensive software platform provides geographic analysis, business analysis and consumer segmentation and analysis, explained O'Grady.

With Business Facts(R), which is renowned in the business-to-business industry for accuracy, coverage, deliverability, and depth of information, clients have access to 11.7 million U.S. businesses. Business-Facts(R) is developed using the infoUSA(TM) data file as its base source, he said. O'Grady added that the infoUSA(TM) base data is mined from over 5,000 yellow page directories published by Regional Bell Operating Companies and independent phone companies.

infoUSA(TM) also compiles records from business "white pages," regular white pages, federal, state and municipal government blue pages, annual reports (publicly-held companies) industrial and regional business journals.

About Lowe's

With 2000 sales of $18.8 billion, Lowe's Companies Inc. is the world's second largest home improvement retailer. With headquarters in Wilkesboro, N.C., Lowe's is the 14th largest retailer in the U.S. as well as the 34th largest retailer worldwide. Lowe's and its 100,000 employees are Improving Home Improvement for nearly five million do-it-yourself retail and commercial business customers each week at more than 740 stores in 42 states.

About Claritas

Based in San Diego, Claritas Inc. is regarded as the premier worldwide provider of precision marketing solutions, developed, in part, through intricate customer segmentation systems and other such marketing tools. Along with MicroVision, its PRIZM system, introduced in 1974, is widely acclaimed for identifying, locating and targeting customers and best prospects. Claritas is a division of VNU Marketing Information Inc. (VNU MI Inc.), an established leader in providing a wide variety of industries with innovative precision-marketing solutions including geodemographic information and qualitative audience research. VNU MI Inc. is a subsidiary of VNU Inc., which also includes Nielsen Media Research, Bill Communications, BPI Communications, SRDS, VNU eMedia, and VNU Expositions. To learn more about Claritas' products and services visit its Web site at www.claritas.com.