October 22, 1999 (Greenville, S.C.) – While consumer goods retailers are rushing to launch their e-commerce web sites, a major online seller of home furnishing products is doing the reverse—establishing a network of local stores so that consumers can enjoy the benefits of both online and offline shopping.
HomePoint.com, the online home furnishings supersite at www.homepoint.com, recently announced the launch of the HomePoint Advantage Network, which will link thousands of local furniture stores to the web company’s sophisticated extranet. The cutting-edge electronic system will facilitate ordering and delivery of over 60,000 furniture selections, vastly enhancing service to the consumer.
"We have seen enormous growth in sales of home furnishings products over the web," explained Mike West, CEO of HomePoint.com. "But some of our internet shoppers still enjoy visiting a furniture showroom and dealing with a local establishment for product delivery and set-up. For them, the HomePoint Advantage Network is the perfect solution."
The HomePoint Advantage Network will also provide an attractive solution for local furniture stores looking to establish an e-commerce program. Connected to HomePoint’s extranet, they will instantly gain access to thousands of furniture items not previously available to them because of manufacturers’ minimum order and stocking requirements. They will also benefit from HomePoint’s promotional programs, including tie-ins with the HomePoint.com Music City Bowl.
"In effect, we are transforming the local furniture store with limited product lines into a giant online furniture retailer. Furthermore, with our huge inventories of products and our regional warehouses throughout the country, we will cut delivery time to the consumer from the typical six to eight weeks, to just seven days," West added.
Consumers shopping at a HomePoint-authorized dealer will be able to peruse the retail floor or use an electronic catalog, assisted by a trained sales person, to search the HomePoint Advantage site, place orders and arrange delivery right on the spot.
"Ultimately, consumers will benefit from multiple shopping options. Many will be very happy purchasing over the web. Others will prefer to find authorized HomePoint dealers where they can see and feel products and get personal, face-to-face service," explained West. "Either way, customer satisfaction is our goal."
HomePoint.com, which is headquartered in Greenville, SC, first debuted in December 1998, under the FurniturePoint.com brand name. The organization subsequently blossomed into HomePoint.com in June. In August, 1999, HomePoint.com secured $16.5 million in equity financing from Catterton Partners and GE Equity, along with New Millennium Partners and Piedmont Venture Partners, to be directed toward building the HomePoint.com brand, operating expenses and developing its home furnishings supersite. HomePoint.com services consumers with a comprehensive selection of home furnishings, free shipping in the continental U.S., design consultation and a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee.
