CHICAGO, Feb. 9 -- In an unprecedented venture, W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW) announced today that it has brought six industry leaders together to create a one-stop, on-line business-to-business service for the procurement of a wide variety of products and services. OrderZone.com (http://www.OrderZone.com) is a powerful, easy, and convenient solution for businesses looking to streamline their procurement process.
Any business, regardless of size, will find OrderZone.com a better way to
purchase business supplies and services. Currently in pilot with selected
customers, OrderZone.com is expected to open for business in the second
quarter of 1999.
The participating companies include:
- Cintas Corporation designs, manufactures and implements uniform
programs that help companies build identity throughout the United
States and Canada. The company also provides ancillary services
including entrance mats, sanitation supplies and first aid products
and services.
- Corporate Express, Inc. offers its customers a complete line of non-
production goods and services including office and computer supplies,
PC software, delivery services, document and print management,
promotional marketing, cleaning products, and other similar products.
- Grainger Industrial Supply is a division of Grainger, the leading
distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and
related information to the commercial, industrial, contractor, and
institutional markets in North America.
- Lab Safety Supply, Inc. is a direct marketer of safety and industrial
products targeted to meet the needs of business customers in North
America.
- Marshall Industries is among the largest global distributors of industrial electronic components and production supplies.
- VWR Scientific Products is a leading distributor of laboratory
supplies, chemicals and equipment to life science, educational and industrial organizations.
Customers using OrderZone.com can easily purchase hundreds of thousands of
products across all suppliers using one simple registration, one search engine
and one order form, saving them time and money. MasterCard, Visa, and open-
account billing are available to purchasers.
"It's one-stop shopping for businesses," says Richard Keyser, Chairman and
CEO, W.W. Grainger, Inc. "With OrderZone.com, customers place one order on
one site and receive one invoice across multiple suppliers. OrderZone.com
will dramatically change the way businesses buy products by simplifying the
purchasing process -- eliminating time-consuming steps and paperwork."
OrderZone.com is also unique because unlike costly customized solutions,
access to this application is currently free of charge and gives companies the
ability to utilize the cost savings associated with one-stop purchasing.
Using the site is easy. Customers can use advanced search functionality
to easily find the products needed, simultaneously searching the databases of
all suppliers. Or, if purchasers are interested in the products of only one
supplier, OrderZone.com allows them to shop by individual supplier.
Once purchasers have found the products they need, ordering is simple. Whether they order products from one supplier or all, only one order form is
needed and one invoice is generated. OrderZone.com then distributes the order
to all the necessary suppliers for fulfillment.
Customers needing assistance can use the "help" icon to readily get
answers to many of their questions. There is also the option of sending an
e-mail to help@orderzone.com. E-mail questions are answered within one business day, and if immediate service is needed, a toll-free customer service line is open 7 am to 7 pm (CST), Monday through Friday.
OrderZone.com (http://www.OrderZone.com), a collaboration of industry-leading suppliers -- Cintas, Corporate Express, Grainger Industrial Supply, Lab Safety Supply, Marshall Industries and VWR Scientific Products -- is the first Web site of its kind to provide business purchasers with a one-stop source for the procurement of a wide variety of products and services.
Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) designs, manufactures and implements uniform programs that help corporations build identity, pride and teamwork in
the United States and Canada. In addition, Cintas also provides ancillary
services including entrance mats, sanitation supplies and first aid products
and services. The Company provides these services to businesses of all types
from small service companies to major corporations that employ thousands of
people.
Corporate Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEXP) is the world's largest provider of
goods and services to corporations and other organizations that value
innovative procurement solutions. Corporate Express offers its customers PC
software, office supplies, delivery services, document and print management,
computer supplies, promotional marketing, cleaning products, and other similar
products.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 1998 sales of $4.3 billion, is the
leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and
related information to the commercial, industrial, contractor, and institutional markets in North America. GWW shares are traded on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges.
Lab Safety Supply is a leading direct marketer of safety and industrial
supplies to American business. Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, Lab Safety
Supply reaches its customers through its award winning General Catalog, targeted specialty catalogs, and other marketing materials throughout the year.
Marshall Industries (NYSE: MI) is among the largest global distributors of
industrial electronic components and production supplies. Major product
categories include semiconductors, connectors, passive components, computer
systems and peripherals, production supplies, tool kits, test equipment and
workstations.
VWR Scientific Products (Nasdaq: VWRX) is a leading distributor of laboratory supplies, chemicals and equipment to life science, educational and industrial organizations. VWR also distributes critical environment -- or cleanroom -- supplies and apparel to manufacturers of electronics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals and is the largest national supplier in this industry.