STORES Magazine - January 2009 - (Page 48)

NUTS AND BOLTS / IN-STORE TECHNOLOGY Systems Makeover Solutions from HP are what’s in fashion at Chico’s BY D. GAIL FLEENOR hico’s FAS, specialty retailer of private-label, casual-todressy women’s clothing, is garnering plenty of attention these days. After signing Debbie Phelps, mother of Olympic swimming phenom Michael Phelps, to represent its clientele, the Fort Myers, Fla.-based clothier drew more attention when First-Lady-To-Be Michelle Obama wore a design by Chico’s affiliate White House | Black Market during a television appearance. C The company operates 1,083 stores bearing the Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates banners. As its popularity grows, it is even more crucial that Chico’s be able to satisfy customer demand, not only through its fashion offerings but via the technology that keeps everything moving. Chico’s depends upon Hewlett Packard to help manage its growth and operations, utilizing more than 20,000 HP devices that link to the company’s headquarters. Other HP solutions the clothier uses include back office systems that support purchasing, clothing design, material sourcing, distribution and financials. “For us, it’s about the relationship we have with HP,” says Steve “If we need to Ross, vice president of inforfrom testing to implementtry out new mation technology for ing the different solutions Chico’s. “HP provides us we are considering,” he technology or with a very high level of acsays. “That’s on top of a get creative on cessibility. If we need to try good price point and a good a solution, we out new technology or get performance point.” can get this creative on a solution, we done quickly can get this done quickly Integrity Superdome without a lot of without a lot of red tape.” versatility red tape.” HP answers requests for The HP Integrity Super— Steve Ross, testing very quickly, Ross dome high-end server is Chico’s says, and provides needed Chico’s large box database expertise and equipment on server. Integrity Superdome premises so Chico’s can start testing socan run intensive applications like Oralutions as soon as possible. “It is really a cle and SAP and often serves as an IT consolidation platform. Chico’s has taigood partnership in a number of areas, lored the big box to suit its myriad needs. from hardware to system software, 48 STORES / JANUARY 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of STORES Magazine - January 2009

STORES Magazine - Jauary 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Mechanical Marvel P&G Invests in Ocado Now I Remember What Shoppers Think 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Breaking the Monotony Multi-Channel Concept2Watch E-Commerce Analytics Category Management IT Systems In-Store Technology IT Systems Communications Website Strategy Communications SOA Energy Video Surveillance Employee Theft Online Fraud Industry Perspective Loeb Retail Letter ARTS Update Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword End Cap

STORES Magazine - January 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.