[February 15, 2011]

Carhartt Implements Predictix Planning and Forecasting Applications to Drive Process Improvements and Accelerate Business Transformation

Predictix today announced that Carhartt, the nation's leading manufacturer of rugged, authentic work wear, is implementing a broad suite of planning and forecasting applications from Predictix, with an initial rollout of Financial Planning, Merchandise Planning, Demand Planning and Assortment Planning. The Predictix implementation, currently underway, is part of a strategic business transformation as the premium work wear brand accelerates its growth, diversifies into new market segments and expands its retail presence.

The Predictix applications will enable Carhartt to transform its merchandise planning and forecasting processes as the company focuses on fulfilling the growing consumer demand for Carhartt's durable and rugged apparel offering. Predictix will also help Carhartt better serve its diverse client base of retailers. Carhartt's clients include 3,000 different retailers representing more than 9,000 locations, ranging from well-known specialty retailers to farm and ranch stores, Army-Navy stores, western wear retailers and many others.

With Predictix, Carhartt gains new insight into demand throughout its client base at both the store and SKU level, allowing Carhartt to understand and recommend the right product mix for each selling location. The Predictix planning and forecasting applications will be essential for reducing closeouts, improving sell-through, eliminating stockouts on best-selling products, and increasing margins throughout Carhartt's merchandise line. Predictix will also help Carhartt optimize its supply chain to ensure that the right products are delivered to the right retailers on time.

Key business benefits of the Predictix implementation for Carhartt include:

• Integrated decision-making throughout the merchandising process. Predictix will integrate merchandise decision-making from all the key stakeholders within Carhartt, from field sales to the product development team ad merchandise planning group. Armed with better insights, Carhartt can easily fine-tune the merchandise mix for each channel within its diverse client base, improving inventory turns and the effectiveness of the merchandise lineup.
• Real-time responsiveness to seasonal demand. The Predictix planning applications will help Carhartt create the right levels of reserve inventory to respond to in-season demand and ensure the right level of availability for each SKU. The Predictix plans are fed into Carhartt's SAP (News - Alert) system for allocation; if demand is over or under the anticipated level, the Predictix solution automatically recommends how to release inventory to each account.
• Supporting the transition to consumer-centric merchandising. While wholesalers and manufacturers have traditionally relied on a "push" model, the merchandising systems from Predictix will enable Carhartt to make the transition to true consumer-centric retailing. With Predictix, Carhartt can easily segment its client base and adopt the disciplines to support true localized assortments for each of its retailers.

"Predictix brings extensive wholesale and retail expertise into our strategic relationship with Carhartt, and we have already seen a number of wins in working together," said Jon Beck, Executive Vice President, Predictix. "We're delivering on Carhartt's requirements in an agile manner and iterating to a best-fit solution for them, which underscores our ability to adapt to each of our clients' needs. We look forward to completing the initial implementations as we continue to deepen our relationship with Carhartt."

About Carhartt, Inc

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium work wear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged apparel for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with approximately 3,500 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company's founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.

About Predictix

Retailers, wholesalers and brands make better forecasting, planning, assortment, pricing, and replenishment decisions with the Predictix merchandising software suite. Our clients get started quickly and see value early thanks to our cloud-based solutions and our agile approach to delivery. Our predictive technology is more accurate and drives better decisions in today's changing environment. Building on our executive team's experience in leading well-known retail technology companies, we've developed our software from the ground up so our clients can completely tailor and readily adapt it as their business needs change. With no hardware to buy, software to install, or long-term commitments to make, we are changing the way our clients invest in and get value from technology. Learn more at www.predictix.com.

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