Retail Store Systems Implements New Electronic Gift Card Program for Bob's Stores Inc

Business Wire, July 10, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

Retail Store Systems (RSS) helped Bob's Stores implement an electronic gift card payment system for its casual clothing retail stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

Before transitioning from the paper-based gift certificate system, RSS helped Bob's evaluate a number of possible solutions for its new electronic gift card program.

According to Nancy Anderson, store systems manager at Bob's Stores Inc., "We selected the EGC Payment System from Retail Store Systems because of the flexibility of the application and the integration options available for the existing IBM point of sale system in our stores."

Bob's electronic gift card system runs on the IBM eServer pSeries, and communicates with the IBM POS 4694 in each of Bob's 37 stores. The IBM POS 4694 sends requests to the pSeries in order to sell, redeem, and inquire about electronic gift certificate accounts.

The pSeries software routes the requests from the point of sale terminal to a third party authorization service. The electronic gift payment provides a point of sale interface for IBM General Sales Application point of sale solution.

Another added benefit of the new system is that Bob's customers can now purchase gift cards in denominations of $10, $25 and $50, with an added promotional discount card available. Electronic Gift Cards are available online and in all of Bob's Stores locations. Discounted gift cards are available during special promotions.

Retail Store Systems, with headquarters in Cumberland, focuses on delivering enterprise wide solutions, including Store Systems, Supply-Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management and Business Intelligence to clients in the retail and distribution industry. RSS offers project management, software development, system analysis, implementation planning, application selection and systems installation services.

RSS' expertise is its ability to bring state-of-the-art technology to retailers by utilizing partnerships with IBM, Lotus, Symbol Technologies, 360Commerce, Monarch Systems, CommercialWare, Clear Technologies, Logility, New Generation Software, and other "best of breed" technology providers. For more information about RSS visit www.rss.com.