Business Services Industry

Kirkland's Inc. Solves Complex Site Selection Problems with Help from Prediction Analytics; Prediction Analytics leverages artificial intelligence and Experian data assets to assist Kirkland's in opening new stores nationwide

Business Wire, Feb 14, 2006

IRVING, Texas -- Kirkland's Inc. (NASDAQ/NM: KIRK), a leading retailer of home decor in the United States, has teamed with Prediction Analytics, an Experian Company, to make highly accurate site-selection decisions in markets throughout the country. Kirkland's, which specializes in providing customers with decorative household accessories, gifts and holiday items, was founded in 1966 and operates 347 stores in 37 states. Like Prediction Analytics, Kirkland's believes that stronger new-store performance can be achieved by avoiding location mistakes, so it is leveraging Prediction's site evaluation and sales forecasting solution to execute its expansion strategy.

"We've been using Prediction's system for the last year, and its forecast accuracy has far exceeded my expectations. With my previous system, I was often missing new store sales projections by 20 percent or more, but with Prediction's system, I'm now working with an average absolute error rate of less than 8 percent. This is the best I've ever seen, and it is even more impressive when you consider the fact that our stores are opening in new markets with a new store prototype," said Roland Mackie, vice president of real estate for Kirkland's. "In addition to being highly accurate, Prediction's system is easy to use and delivers immediate results, which enables me to streamline our internal site evaluation process."

"Kirkland's willingness to embrace change from a retail real estate perspective has helped it become the market leader, and Prediction Analytics is proud to be an important part of Kirkland's retail expansion," said Mark Winters, president and CEO of Prediction Analytics. "Kirkland's and Prediction Analytics share the belief that highly accurate retail performance modeling is critical to achieving return-on-capital targets. By providing Kirkland's real estate committee with a holistic view of how their concept will perform at specific locations, we're helping Kirkland's achieve its performance goals, store by store and market by market."

About Prediction Analytics

Based in Irving, Texas, Prediction Analytics, an Experian company, helps retailers and restaurants reduce the cost of location mistakes and increase the return on their retail investment. Recently acquired by Experian, a global solutions company, Prediction Analytics provides executives and analysts alike the ability to quickly conduct predictive analyses on locations and markets in a way that delivers visibility into the many variables that contribute to store performance. More importantly, they are able to conduct dynamic "what-if" scenarios that impact results. Since 1977, Prediction Analytics' team members have served as trusted advisors for leading companies around the world evaluating well over 100,000 retail and restaurant locations. And in the process, they have developed a uniquely effective approach to the most pressing retail performance challenges. Please visit Prediction Analytics' Web site at www.predictioncompany.com.

About Kirkland's Inc.

Kirkland's, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is a leading specialty retailer of home decor in the United States. Although originally focused in the Southeast, the Company has grown beyond that region and currently operates 347 stores in 37 states. The Company's stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products. The Company's stores also offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise, as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for giving as gifts. More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.

About Experian

Experian is the global leader in providing value-added information solutions to organizations and consumers. It has an unrivaled understanding of individuals, markets and economies around the world. Experian provides information, analytics, decision-making solutions and processing services. It assists organizations in understanding their markets and customers and helps them find, develop and manage profitable customer relationships to make their businesses more profitable. Experian promotes greater financial health among consumers by enabling them to understand, manage and protect their personal information and helping them control financial aspects of key life events. Experian works with more than 50,000 clients across diverse industries, including financial services, telecommunications, health care, insurance, retail and catalog, automotive, manufacturing, leisure, utilities, e-commerce, property and government. A subsidiary of GUS plc with headquarters in Nottingham, UK, and Costa Mesa, Calif., Experian's 12,000 people in 28 countries support clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales exceed $2.5 billion. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.experian.com/.> The word "Experian" is a registered trademark in the EU and other countries and is owned by Experian Ltd. and/or its associated companies.