ayr1 Partners with Reshare To Offer Home Furnishings eCommerce Solution

Furniture World Magazine

ayr1, a leading eCommerce provider for the home furnishings industry, and Reshare Corporation, a pioneer in Collaborative Channel Commerce® (C3) software, have partnered in a $3 million technology initiative to provide a solution that allows home furnishings manufacturers and importers to sell their products online directly to consumers in partnership with their retailers. As a result, consumers are now able to select and purchase the product they want from a manufacturer’s entire inventory online and choose their preferred retailer for local service, support and delivery. Although the transaction occurs at the manufacturer’s website, profits attributable to the sale are distributed by Reshare’s patented C3 software, just as if it were an in-store sale. This core structure provides substantial benefits for consumers, retailers, their representatives and the manufacturers when compared to any other Internet sales model. Manufacturers like Caber/Protect-a-Bed, Natura, Howard Miller and Sligh Furniture already utilize Reshare’s C3. Reshare and ayr1 will launch an integrated marketing campaign at High Point Market, the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, October 20-26, 2008, in High Point, NC, to support the launch. “Reshare’s patents are truly brilliant. Combined with our robust eCommerce capabilities, manufacturers and retailers are able to collectively sell more products and serve their consumers better .In these difficult economic times. the furniture industry must embrace new more efficient technologies while protecting its current distribution channel,” says Ron Goswell, ayr1 CEO. Adds Adam G. Southam, chief strategic officer of Reshare, “We chose AYR1 to offer C3 because of their depth of knowledge, reputation and penetration into the home furnishings market. With thousands of retailers as customers and thousands of ecataloged manufacturers, AYR1 is the ideal partner for Reshare. Our collective commitment to the furniture industry is unrivalled, as is the strength of Reshare’s intellectual property. Manufacturers need to be wary of the sustainability of any untested vendors that might claim to offer what appears to be a similar solution, but will not be backed by the power of our numerous patents.” Every day, more consumers are utilizing the Internet in search of solutions and to transact commerce online. Online furniture sales are expected to exceed 18% of GNP by 2010, according to leading analyst Forrester Research. Consumers are demanding a relationship with brands and retailers at the same time. In the past, most furniture manufacturers have been reluctant to sell products direct to consumers or compete directly with their valuable retailers. ayr1 is the only global eCommerce provider licensed by Reshare to offer its patented C3 methodology to the home furnishings industry. No other provider can legitimately, legally or ethically offer C3 to manufacturers in the industry today. About ayr1: ayr1 is the largest retail website solutions provider in the world and the leading developer of retail consumer based web site solutions for the home furnishings industry. They have designed and host thousands of retail websites and thousands of ecatalogs. With thousands of strategic alliances signed with the world's biggest brands in furniture, appliances, lighting, flooring, outdoor power and electronics industry, this Canadian company continues to build on its 10 years in the Internet business. The growing trend of preshopping on the Internet is accelerating ayr1's growth as modern retailers shift their advertising budgets from print, radio, television and yellow pages, into the more flexible virtual showrooms of the Internet. For more information, visit www.ayr1.com or call 800-291-9469. About Reshare: Reshare® is the leading Collaborative Channel Commerce® (C3) software and strategy company with the only patented channel management Software-as-a-Service that enables manufacturers and brand owners to sell online directly to end users without circumventing valuable channel partners. With over 20 years of online experience across a multitude of industries, Reshare offers software and strategies that resolve channel conflict, guarantee complete brand control and enhance relationships between all channel partners and end users. That translates to increased revenue, market share and profitability. Visit www.reshare.com.