The Container Store Selects RedPrairie's Labor Management Solution to Support Business Growth

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2005

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Storage and Organization Retailer, One of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For," Will Leverage RedPrairie's Productivity Management Solution to Improve Labor Productivity

RedPrairie Corporation, a global leader in supply chain technology solutions that enable business process transformation, today announced that The Container Store(R), the nation's leading retailer of storage and organization products, has selected RedPrairie's labor management software to support the company's annual 20 to 25 percent growth rate. The company plans to manage this growth by leveraging RedPrairie's labor management software to optimize labor productivity among its 230-plus employees in its distribution operations.

Based on 40 years of experience in the retail industry, RedPrairie's solution is comprised of functionally rich software, professionally engineered standards and change management consulting for a powerful, comprehensive solution that delivers significant annual savings. This provides companies the opportunity to improve employee performance based on accurate information and fair labor standards, as each individual is measured against goal times that are specific to the nature of the work they perform.

For the past six years, The Container Store has consistently ranked at the top of FORTUNE magazine's annual list of "100 Best Companies to Work For." Maintaining an environment where employees can thrive is critical to the company's success and was a key factor as they considered productivity management solutions.

"We're committed to providing our employees with the tools they need to be successful and productive in their jobs," says Bill Baron, Senior Logistics Director. "RedPrairie's labor management software is a perfect fit for our employee-centric culture as it offers us an important opportunity to further improve productivity based on fair labor standards and to provide valuable feedback to our employees."

Productivity Management consists of engineered labor standards, productivity management software and change management consulting. By teaching employees how to properly do the tasks associated with their jobs, companies often achieve significant gains in productivity. RedPrairie's industrial engineering expertise, especially as it relates to retail distribution environments, enables them to maximize operational efficiencies. The software's main focus is to provide real time monitoring of activities that enables a facility's management team to proactively uncover roadblocks to productivity.

RedPrairie Company Leader John Jazwiec comments, "Most retailers by nature have extremely labor-intensive operations. They need to optimize their workforce to remain competitive, or in the case of The Container Store, manage business growth. RedPrairie's productivity management solution enables retailers to drive operational efficiencies and achieve productivity gains of 15-30 percent, as well as rapid return on investment."

RedPrairie's solution will be rolled out to The Container Store's Coppell, TX 575,000 square-foot centralized distribution center this spring.

About The Container Store

The Container Store currently has 33 locations including: Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Southlake, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta; Denver; Chicago, Northbrook, Oakbrook, and Schaumburg, Ill.; Rockville, Md.; Arlington and the Tysons Corner area of Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.; White Plains and New York City, N.Y.; Paramus, N.J.; Columbus, Ohio, Miami, Fla., Chestnut Hill, Ma. and in San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Corte Madera, Costa Mesa, Pasadena, San Jose and San Diego, Calif. Three additional stores will open in 2005 - Natick, Ma. (April 9), Portland, Ore. (Aug.) and Seattle (Nov.). Additionally, the retailer's Customer Solutions Department (800-786-7315) offers expert product solutions and free space planning for customers' storage and organization challenges via the phone, Web site (www.containerstore.com), fax and mail. The Container Store was selected #15 on FORTUNE magazine's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" in 2005 and #3 in 2004, #2 in 2003 and 2002. The company held the #1 spot on the list in 2000 and 2001. Sales for 2005 are projected at $425 million. The Container Store is privately held.

About RedPrairie Corporation

RedPrairie is a global leader in technology solutions that enable the transformation and optimization of supply chain networks, driving out costs, improving customer service and creating competitive advantage. The solutions are fully integrated with process management components for real-time visibility, event management, trading partner integration, quality control, and performance measurement. Coupled with RedPrairie's tactical planning and inventory optimization solutions, RedPrairie provides a true single source platform for supply chain management.

RedPrairie provides industry-tailored solutions for diverse markets, including consumer goods, direct to consumer and traditional retail, food and beverage, high tech / electronics, third party logistics, industrial / wholesale, automotive and service parts, and pharmaceuticals.