SAS, customers start retail 'evolution' with enhanced merchandise planning power

Bakers Footwear 'stops guessing and starts knowing' with refined
SAS® Integrated Merchandise Planning software

NRF 96th Annual Convention and EXPO, NEW YORK   (Jan. 15, 2007)  –  “Survival of the fittest” refers not only to Darwinian principles but also to the intense competition in today’s retail industry. In an effort to help its customers evolve and thrive in a marketplace driven by razor-thin margins, SAS, the leader in business intelligence, is formally unveiling the latest evolution of its signature merchandising software, SAS Integrated Merchandise Planning 6.1. SAS is demonstrating its retail intelligence solutions at NRF booth No. 1327.  

“Competitive advantage is the reason we choose to continue working with SAS Retail,” said Stan Tusman, Executive Vice President of Bakers Footwear. “We knew from working with SAS previously that we could trust their retail expertise and commitment to our success. SAS predictive analytics, coupled with SAS’ retail business process expertise, made us believe that working with SAS to refine this new product release would benefit Bakers.” 

SAS Integrated Merchandise Planning 6.1 encompasses everything from strategic planning in the boardroom and retail performance analysis to merchandise financial planning, intelligent clustering, advanced assortment planning, in-season management and allocation integrated with SAS space planning. Integration allows retailers to drive, manage and achieve performance goals with foresight that is built on SAS’ legendary integrated business intelligence and demand forecasting capabilities. 

In addition to Bakers Footwear, retailers such as AutoZone, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Hudson’s Bay Company and Mark’s Work Wearhouse also came on board with the enhanced SAS Integrated Merchandise Planning suite in 2006. Other retailers feel the competitive advantage is so great that confidentiality prevents disclosure of their names to the marketplace.  

“We are privileged to help so many retailers drive results in today’s highly competitive retail market,” said Lori Schafer, Vice President of the SAS Global Retail Practice. “SAS Retail is uniquely qualified to help retailers today as they turn to SAS technology and SAS retail intellectual capital as a growth platform for their business.” 

Additional SAS retail customers include Brooks Brothers, Burger King, Carrefour, Casino, Casual Male, The Children’s Place, Eddie Bauer, Federated Department Stores, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Luxxotica Retail, Marks & Spencer, Newport News, Northern Tool & Equipment, Office Depot, Sainsbury’s, ShopKo, Sport Chalet, Staples, Tesco, Tween Brands,  Williams-Sonoma and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. 

About Bakers Footwear

Bakers is owned and operated by Bakers Footwear Group, a St. Louis-based retail company. In addition to Bakers brand, our stores also offer many other brands including Steve Madden, bebe, Diesel, Restricted, Rocket Dog and Skechers. Bakers Footwear Group currently operates over 230 stores in 36 states as Bakers and 25 stores trading as Wild Pair.

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