International Hardware Co-op Selects E3 Inventory Management Solution

Do it Best Corp., an international member-owned hardware, lumber, and building materials cooperative, has chosen to implement a comprehensive inventory management solution from E3 Corp. which includes the company's flagship product for distribution centers (DCs), E3 True Replenishment for Inventory Management (E3TRIM).

E3 says E3TRIM is designed for the demanding inventory management needs of distribution centers. It offers wholesalers and retailers the information, control, and tools needed to cooperate with suppliers by providing demand and order projections, stable order patterns, and, where appropriate, information regarding promotional activity and inventory levels.

E3 says the system also provides the ability to order in the most economic order cycle, as well as plan and execute promotions and forward buy opportunities in order to add real bottom-line profitability.

Founded in 1945 as Hardware Wholesalers, Inc. (HWI), Do it Best Corp. is comprised of 4,400 independently owned stores in the U.S. and 42 other countries, making it one of the largest hardware cooperatives in the world. Each of these stores is serviced from one of seven DCs across the U.S.

"We studied a number of other vendors' solutions, but E3 was the only company that brought all of the pieces together for a complete replenishment toolset," says Do it Best Corp. vice president of Hardware Products Ed Zoller. "Our requirements include a tremendous amount of functionality today and the ability to expand with our growing business in the future -- as well as the tools to help fuel that expansion.?

Adds Zoller, ?We're looking forward to using the E3 system because it will allow us to go beyond current forecasting techniques and use some very advanced economic analysis tools to maximize our return on inventory investment. In the future, we look forward to expanding the solution into a collaborative commerce program that will help us drive this ROI value throughout our supply chain."

Do it Best Corp. joins a growing list of hardware retailers who are choosing E3 inventory management solutions. In fact, Do it Best Corp. is a partner in the Alliance International LLC, all of whom are E3 customers. Alliance International LLC _ the first-ever U.S.-Canadian partnership of hardware, home improvement and garden market stores -- is a purchasing partnership of Do it Best Corp. and Canadian companies RONA Inc. and Home Hardware Stores Ltd.

Do it Best Corp. also joins leading U.S. hardware co-ops Ace Hardware and TruServ as an E3 customer.