FurnitureFind.com Taps Whittman-Hart to Create Online Marketplace for Home Furnishings Industry Companies to Develop Customized Business-to-Business Programs to Link Furniture Retailers and Manufacturers

Furniture World News

Whittman-Hart, Inc. (NASDAQ: WHIT), a leading provider of enterprise e-Business solutions, today announced that it has been selected by FurnitureFind.com, a leading online retailer of home furnishings, to develop an Internet marketplace that links furniture retailers and manufacturers. Whittman-Hart will help FurnitureFind.com introduce an integrated digital solution designed especially for home furnishings companies. The business model is expected to incorporate information bureau services, online ordering, surplus inventory management, and order, shipping and tracking capabilities. "By teaming FurnitureFind.com's experience in online consumer home furnishings with Whittman-Hart's business-to-business expertise, we can create a holistic framework to help furniture manufacturers streamline their customer service and fulfillment operations," said Ingemar Venckus, Whittman-Hart's Grand Rapids Branch Manager. "With these capabilities, FurnitureFind.com's partner retailers will be able to reach new markets, drive more business to their traditional retail outlets and create efficiencies that improve profitability." FurnitureFind.com, which recently announced its intention to merge GoodHome.com, will use its Internet presence, combined with its roots as a traditional furniture retailer, as a foundation for the business-to-business initiative. FurnitureFind.com and GoodHome.com currently have relationships with more than 200 manufacturers. "We understand both the business of selling furniture and the tools you need to take the business online," said Steve Antisdel, CEO of FurnitureFind.com. "The solution we're creating with Whittman-Hart will empower traditional retail furniture chains and manufacturers. We'll create Web sites for them and offer personalized online ordering, state-of-the-art Web-based logistics management, procurement and integrated back-office systems. This solution will give companies in the home furnishings industry what they're looking for - a convenient, effective way to take their business to the Internet." About Whittman-Hart: Headquartered in Chicago, Whittman-Hart helps clients improve marketplace performance by creating the essential connections between strategy, marketing and technology. In 1999, FORTUNE ranked Whittman-Hart as one of America's Fastest-Growing Companies. In 1998 and 1997, Forbes named Whittman-Hart one of the 200 Best Small Companies in America. In 1998, Standard & Poor's added the Company to its S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Whittman-Hart has approximately 4,100 employees in 23 branch offices throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Whittman-Hart recently announced its intention to merge with USWeb/CKS. Whittman-Hart's Web site is www.whittman-hart.com. About FurnitureFind.com: With nearly 50 years of real-world furniture retailing experience, FurnitureFind.com is an information-rich, service-oriented online environment that offers a broad selection of well-known home furnishings brands. Recently ranked #1 in Customer Confidence by Gomez Advisors (www.gomez.com), FurnitureFind.com offers, nationwide Kid Glove Home Delivery, assured service, and exclusive 24/7 live customer assistance by Certified Home Furnishings Advisors. Together with GoodHome.com, the company has more than 200 manufacturer relationships and 100,000 products available. About GoodHome.com: Recently ranked the #1 site in its category by Gomez Advisors (www.Gomez.com), GoodHome.com (www.goodhome.com) offers consumers a single destination where they can view, find, and purchase everything they need to decorate their home in their personal style - online. GoodHome.com features specially-selected merchandise, combined with unique Window ShoppingSM and iDecorate SM technologies to offer consumers a seamless experience in selecting, visualizing, and purchasing products including furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, accessories, and more. For more information contact steve@furniturefind.com