Ferguson Selects Edgenet’s Big Hammer Data for Product Data Acquisition

Business Editors/Technology Editors

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 3, 2008--Edgenet announced today that Ferguson, a division of Wolseley plc and the largest distributor of plumbing supplies and the third largest supplier of heating and cooling equipment in the US has chosen Big Hammer Data, a division of Edgenet, for GS1 GDSN and marketing data pool services. Big Hammer has a 15 year heritage in the data collection and distribution industry with an emphasis on hardlines and will provide Ferguson with the people, process and technology to support data synchronization for Ferguson’s thousands of vendors and more than 300,000 products.

“The partnership with Big Hammer provides vendors with an opportunity to increase sales with Ferguson and create data transfer efficiencies and cost-savings in their own organizations at the same time,” said Chris Ann Jackson, Ferguson’s Manager of eBusiness. “It was important to us to select a partner that understood the depth of our relationships with our vendors and the need to add value for them as a part of this process.” Ferguson will begin synchronizing data by the end of 2008. “The product content collected from this ongoing initiative will be a key driver of sales through Ferguson Online and other key channels to market,” Jackson said. Big Hammer provides industry leading data services for three of the largest recipients in the hardlines industry today. “The addition of Ferguson helps Big Hammer expand its hardlines presence especially in the industrial supply, plumbing and HVAC areas,” said Joe Czarnecky, SVP of Data Services at Edgenet. Czarnecky went on to say, “We are excited about Ferguson’s decision to collaborate with Big Hammer for product data. It is a win-win-win situation for us, Ferguson and their vendors.”

Ferguson will use the product content from the Edgenet Network to drive business to their ecommerce initiatives and to provide product content for integration with their SAP business applications. The Edgenet Network, which includes Big Hammer, will provide Ferguson the ability to collaborate, collect and share product content from their vendors with their internal applications and selling partners. The Edgenet Network is the leader in hardlines product content that allows selling channels to categorize product attributes and enable product searching and comparison in today’s demanding ecommerce environments.

About Edgenet and Big Hammer Data

Edgenet provides visual guided selling and content solutions to leading retailers and suppliers in the hardlines and home goods industry. Vertically integrating the industry, Edgenet links retailers and suppliers with rich product content and compelling software solutions for in-store, online and in-home selling. Edgenet’s Big Hammer Data division maintains the largest and richest data pool in hardlines, serving thousands of suppliers and synchronizing more than 300,000 product items and 21 million attributes. Edgenet solutions empower consumers and associates with visual product knowledge, endless buying options and customizable products and services, increasing sales for retailers and manufacturers across all hardlines product segments.

About Ferguson

In the US, Ferguson is ranked by trade publications as the largest distributor of plumbing supplies and pipes, valves, and fittings (PVF). Ferguson is also the third largest distributor of heating and cooling equipment (HVAC).

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $11.1 billion and around 22,000 associates in around 1,400 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean.

To learn more about Big Hammer:
Big Hammer Data Division: 1-866-865-6602
www.bighammer.com

To learn more about other Edgenet solutions:
United States Corporate Offices: 1-877-EDGENET (334-3638)
European Offices: 011+44 1223 257 715
www.edgenet.com

Copyright © 2007 Edgenet, Inc. Edgenet, Big Hammer and m2? are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Edgenet, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Certain other product names, brand names and company names may be trademarks or designations of their respective owners.