This Week in IDEA | August 01, 2007

New IDEA Customer: Edward Joy Electric

Edward Joy Electric, a distributor from Syracuse, NY, became an IDEA customer on July 30, 2007. Edward Joy Electric has provided electrical and lighting solutions to commercial and residential customers for over 125 years. They will be relying on the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) for their suppliers’ product and pricing information, taking advantage of the cost saving features and reliability of the Industry Data Exchange (IDX) and the low prices of IDEA eCredit (IeC) Focus Reports. Learn more at www.edwardjoyelectric.com.Welcome Aboard!

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New IDEA Customer: Professional Electric Products Company (PEPCO)

Professional Electric Products Company (PEPCO), a distributor from Willoughby, OH, became an IDEA customer on August 1, 2007. PEPCO has over 37 years of experience as an electrical distributor. They also deliver value-added services from product selection, to inventory management and installation assistance. They will be taking advantage of the cost saving features and reliability of the Industry Data Exchange (IDX). PEPCO is a proud member of NAED. Learn more at www.pepconet.com. Welcome Aboard!

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New IDEA Customer: North-West Electric

North-West Electric, a distributor from Willow Grove, PA, became an IDEA customer on August 1, 2007. North-West Electric offers thousands of lighting fixtures, lamps, bulbs, accessories and ceiling fans. They will be taking advantage of the cost saving features and reliability of the Industry Data Exchange (IDX). North-West Electric is a proud member of IMARK. Learn more at www.nwelighting.com. Welcome Aboard!

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New IRD CERICOMX® Customers

IDEA, a 1SYNC Data Pool On-Board Solution (OBS) partner, implements suppliers that subscribe to the 1SYNC data pool using IDEA's IRD CERICOMX application. IDEA was recently assigned the following three suppliers:

- Laufen International, Inc.
- Warner Wallcoverings
- Hadley Farms, Inc.

These companies will be trained to use IRD CERICOMX®, an IDEA branded product for supporting and uploading supplier product information into the GS1 Registry® and GDSN via the 1SYNC Data Pool.

If you would like to learn more about the CERICOMX® product, please contact John Etrie, IRD Product & Customer Support, at (703) 562-4624.

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SAP: Sponsor of Electro E-Biz Forum 2007

The Electro E-Biz Forum 2007 Committee would like to thank SAP for their Gold Level Sponsorship.

Founded in 1972 as Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing, SAP is a recognized leader in providing collaborative business solutions for all types of industries. Serving more than 41,200 customers worldwide, SAP is the world's largest business software company and the world's third-largest independent software provider overall. With SAP for Wholesale Distribution, midsize and large wholesale distribution businesses can improve their operational excellence and profitability while supporting innovative business models and customer services. Find out more at www.sap.com.

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Information + Technology = POWER: Choose Your Formula

Choose Your Formula at the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007 Tech Center. IDEA is bringing back the incentive program to give you the chance to learn and win!! Whether you are a technology company or an attendee, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to network and exchange ideas with industry peers; all to advance eCommerce. To ensure maximum visibility of all participating companies, Garmin GPS navigation systems will be given to three attendees with the most booth visits. This is the ideal way to demonstrate new products and gain insights on how you can conduct business more effectively. As of August 1, the following companies will be participating in the 2007 Tech Center:

- Full Tilt
- eMobile Cat
- Intuit Eclipse
- Activant
- Taylor Market Media Group
- Computer Pundits
- DATAgility
- Gillani, Inc.
- Billtrust
- BlueVolt
- epaCUBE
- SAP
- Trade Service
- Infor Global Solutions

The Tech Center will be open from 7:00AM – 5:30PM (Closed during General Sessions) September 19 and 20. If you are interested in participating in this event, download the Tech Center Prospectus, Register for the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007, or Visit the Electro E-Biz Forum Page for details.

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Electro E-Biz Keynote Spotlight: Facing the Forces of Change with Dr. Adam Fein

When: September 18-20, 2007
Where: Vancouver
Venue: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel
Who should attend?: Executives, Sales & Marketing staff, eCommerce Managers

Facing The Forces Of Change®: Lead The Way In The Supply Chain - Adam Fein, Founder and President, Pembroke Consulting, Inc.

The Electro E-Biz Forum 2007 opening session will prove to be one of the most groundbreaking hours in Forum history. Adam Fein, Founder and President of Philadelphia-based Pembroke Consulting, Inc., will provide attendees with strategic insights into the key business and economic trends affecting the wholesale distribution supply chain through 2012. Catch a glimpse of some innovative strategies and tactics that you can use in response to these trends.

Purchase Adam Fein's publication, Facing the Forces of Change®: Lead the Way in the Supply Chain, today and check out his new blog, Distribution Trends, to get the most out of his new report.

Take this opportunity to learn how to stay ahead from one of the most sought out distribution experts. Register for the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007 today!

Adam J. Fein, Ph.D, is the founder and president of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., a boutique management consulting and research firm. Dr. Fein consults with manufacturers on channel strategy, advises technology companies on marketing, serves as an expert witness and legal consultant on selected cases involving pharmaceutical distribution, and delivers presentations to executives around the world.

Dr. Fein is a well-known scholar and thought leader on distribution channels and B2B supply chains. He has published over 100 academic and industry articles as well as authored or edited eight books for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW). NAW selected Dr. Fein to research and write the last three editions of Facing the Forces of Change, the distribution industry's leading future trends study. He also writes an online web log devoted to the pharmaceutical industry at www.DrugChannels.net.

He serves as the first Fellow of NAW's Institute for Distribution Excellence, as a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School of Business' Mack Center for Technological Innovation, and on the editorial board of Pharmaceutical Commerce magazine.

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August 8 Webinar Reminder: Register Now to Learn How to Reduce Credit and Collection Expenses with IDEA eCredit

Don’t forget to invite your credit and collections department to learn more about the benefits they receive as an IDEA customer.

What: The Advantages of Industry-Specific Credit Reports Webinar
When: Wednesday, August 8th @ 2:00pm
Speakers: Pat McCartin, Sales Manager, IDEA; Chris Hobson, Chief Marketing Officer, eCredit

Register Now!

Join industry experts from eCredit and IDEA to learn the benefits of utilizing IeC's Industry Focus Credit Reports and see first hand how both companies are working together to provide you with the best technology and service available.

Gain insights on how to:
-View aging information from your company, your industry and other participating companies
-Utilize data and scores to make more informed decisions
-Reduce bad debt
-Participate in your industry’s data exchange program

Don't miss this opportunity to view a demonstration of the latest reporting solution from IDEA and discover how simple it is to participate in the Data Exchange Program.

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Ayesha Thomas Joins the IDEA Team

Ayesha Thomas, formally of Varsity Campus Outfitters, has joined the IDEA team as the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) Data Quality Analyst. Ayesha will assist in the operation of the IDW data quality program to advance customer data synchronization by ensuring correct, standardized data population. Ayesha can be reached at (703)562-4642 or athomas@idea-esolutions.com. Welcome to the IDEA team!

This position was newly created to accommodate IDEA’s growing customer base.

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Isabel DuPont Leaving IDEA

IDEA sadly announces that Isabel DuPont, IRD Sales Manager, will be leaving the company effective August 6th. Throughout her career at IDEA, she educated manufacturers and retail trading partners of the benefits they receive as an IDEA customer. Her enthusiasm and hard work helped many companies throughout the supply network improve their business processes and save with IDEA’s products and services.

IDEA would like to thank Isabel for her contributions to the industry and wish her the best in all future endeavors.

Pat McCartin, Director of Sales, will become the primary sales contact until this position is filled. You may reach him by phone at (978) 454-7819.

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Did You Know? IDW Hot Facts

All enriching data can be loaded via EDI (views B3 and B7). In addition, IDEA has developed a very simple flat file method (12 columns - only 5 required) to load any of the enriching data. To date, IDEA has about 400K SKU's from over 30 manufacturers with some enriching data, which includes:

Catalog Description (max. 3072 characters)
Label Description
Slang Description
Seller Defined Keywords
Shipping Restrictions
Associated Comments
Product Ordering Restrictions
Product General Policy

Files can be provided as URL's to the data stored on the manufacturer's server and/or actual files stored on the IDW server for the following:

Images (low or high resolution)
Brochures
Specification Sheets
Technical Drawings
Engineering Drawings
Line Drawings
Technical Bulletins
Installation Instructions
Pallet Configuration Drawings

Note: Generic product and pricing data must be in the IDW before enriched data is added.

If you are interested in providing enriched data to the IDW to differentiate your products from competitors and speed up the selling process, contact Bob Whitehouse, IDW Program Director, at (703) 562-4608.

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