Quick Links
Press release
vrSoftware Launches 'vrLineplan' to Improve Retail Assortments
'vrLineplan' Enables Buyer and Merchandiser Collaboration at Bench and Go Outdoors.
Boroughbridge, England, Aug 9, 2011. vrSoftware™, the market leading provider of "Visual Retailing" software solutions, today announced the launch and general availability of its new product, "vrSoftware Lineplan™", the only interactive visual line planning tool available for retailers, brands and wholesalers to visually plan and build product ranges. vrLineplan, already proven and in use at retailers Bench and Go Outdoors, extends and expands vrSoftware's "Visual Retailing" solutions.
Bench, the global urban lifestyle clothing brand added vrSoftware Lineplan™ in partnership with VR Intelligence for its buying & merchandising teams, to integrate with Visual Merchandising modules from vrSoftware, vrSoftware Mockshop® and vrSoftware Sampleroom™, for a truly joined up process from visual concept to consumer system. Bench designs, sources and retails vibrant, fashionable and distinctive products, also sets itself apart with constant innovation not only in its products but in how it does business. "You can't see a balanced range by looking at just numbers. In the fashion industry we use pictures, samples and swatches to communicate with ourselves and with one another," said Julian Webb the head of buying and merchandising (B&M). "The old adage, 'a picture paints a thousand words' is very, very true and having the ability in B&M to build the range visually and then being able to deliver that ideal vision right through to visual merchandising (VM) store communication is absolutely the way forward. VR Intelligence first helped us sort out our VM store communications using vrMockshop to demonstrate how best to present the range, utilize the space and effectively execute in store - the feedback we've received has been universally positive. Now they'll be helping us vastly improve our line planning process with vrLineplan. The collective automation of these visual tools cuts out a ton of wasted and duplicated effort and will enable us to grow the business even faster whilst keeping our distinctive urban lifestyle edge."
Go Outdoors, the UK's biggest outdoor stores, selected vrSoftware's Lineplan in partnership with VR Intelligence, to deliver best in class visual assortment planning for its growing buying & merchandising teams. "At heart we're a simple business, with a fantastic retail proposition and growing fast," said Lee Bagnall, Go Outdoors C.O.O. "We needed a planning system that delivers immediate benefits to Buying and Merchandising (B&M); vrSoftware Lineplan will do just that." Elliot Murgatroyd, the Project Manager added, "we ran an exhaustive system pre-selection process; we carefully reviewed all the major retail planning systems that are out there, and then some! Quite simply, vrSoftware Lineplan's end to end visual approach was a perfect fit for us." Ed Sygrove the Head of IT said, "we were always after a best in class planning system and that's exactly what we have in vrSoftware Lineplan."
"Retailers need to strike a balance between the 'art' and 'science' of successful planning, buying and merchandising - almost every brand in the world is now having to learn how to build merchandise stories and sell them into their different retail channels and, whilst the numbers are extremely important, the brand image and proposition are absolutely critical to the shopper," said John Plows, Director, VR Intelligence. "vrLineplan facilitates this process both visually and numerically to address Bench's and Go Outdoors needs."
"vrSoftware Lineplan™ is the only interactive visual line planning tool available for retailers, brands and wholesalers to visually plan and build product ranges. We're delighted that vrSoftware Lineplan™ has been selected by Bench and Go Outdoors with the support of the buying and merchandising expertise of our solution provider VR Intelligence," said Colin Liversedge, MD, vrSoftware. "vrLineplan extends our visual retailing solutions to Buyers and Merchandisers as an additional user community, enabling them to better deliver balanced product assortments that both satisfy customers and meet the commercial and brand image goals of retailers. In recent years VR Intelligence has been heavily involved with many famous sports and denim brands helping them achieve significant productivity increases with the vrMockshop and now vrLineplan Visual Retailing tools."
vrSoftware Mockshop® for visual merchandising, vrSoftware Sampleroom™ for range visualization and vrSoftware Lineplan™ are delivered and supported by vrSoftware Authorized Distributors, Solution Providers and Associates worldwide. These partners are both local to their customers and their in-depth knowledge and diverse range of retail experience and expertise delivers true business and operational solutions that help clients save money and increase revenue. They truly know and understand their customers businesses and needs as they implement, customize and add onto the vrSoftware software solutions, as VR Intelligence has done for Bench and Go Outdoors.
About Bench
Bench is a British born, urban lifestyle brand which designs, sources and markets cool and distinctive products. The brand originated in the late 80s as a niche tee shirt brand creating pieces inspired by BMX biking and the world of skate boarding. Over the years, the brand quickly gained popularity with those in the know who appreciated the innovativeness that Bench was able to demonstrate. Bench has developed into a widely and highly respected urban lifestyle brand that was named the coolest streetwear brand by the 2007/2008 CoolBrands panel. From humble Manchester beginnings, Bench's distribution has extended globally; the brand is now sold worldwide in Europe, USA and Canada. Bench has always built its collections on the individuality of real people and real products and will continue to do so moving forward.
For more information visit www.bench.co.uk.
About Go Outdoors
GO Outdoors set out on a big adventure more than 40 years ago. Its vision became to help as many people as possible to have fun and adventure in the outdoors by expanding both the number of stores and the number of departments in each store. Today product range covers outdoor clothing, caravanning, camping, cycling, fishing, running, riding, and climbing, collectively the UK's widest range at the lowest prices, all served by a friendly team of outdoor enthusiasts.
For more information visit www.gooutdoors.co.uk.
VR Intelligence
VR Intelligence is a vrSoftware Solution Provider and expert advisor to the retailing industry. Based on a successful international track record in range planning and visual merchandising VR Intelligence truly understands the retail purpose and has proven its ability to intelligently transfer knowledge and process success to clients such as Levi's, Nike and Asics. VR Intelligence offers system implementation and selection, visual merchandising training, vrMockshop and vrLineplan business integration, IT System training, store opening programs, training and core skills development programs, visual merchandising / Range construction / Assortment planning / Allocation & replenishment / WSSI / Delivery scheduling as well as supplier management and supply chain optimization.
For further information visit www.vrintel.co.uk.
'vrLineplan' Enables Buyer and Merchandiser Collaboration at Bench and Go Outdoors.
Boroughbridge, England, Aug 9, 2011. vrSoftware™, the market leading provider of "Visual Retailing" software solutions, today announced the launch and general availability of its new product, "vrSoftware Lineplan™", the only interactive visual line planning tool available for retailers, brands and wholesalers to visually plan and build product ranges. vrLineplan, already proven and in use at retailers Bench and Go Outdoors, extends and expands vrSoftware's "Visual Retailing" solutions.
Bench, the global urban lifestyle clothing brand added vrSoftware Lineplan™ in partnership with VR Intelligence for its buying & merchandising teams, to integrate with Visual Merchandising modules from vrSoftware, vrSoftware Mockshop® and vrSoftware Sampleroom™, for a truly joined up process from visual concept to consumer system. Bench designs, sources and retails vibrant, fashionable and distinctive products, also sets itself apart with constant innovation not only in its products but in how it does business. "You can't see a balanced range by looking at just numbers. In the fashion industry we use pictures, samples and swatches to communicate with ourselves and with one another," said Julian Webb the head of buying and merchandising (B&M). "The old adage, 'a picture paints a thousand words' is very, very true and having the ability in B&M to build the range visually and then being able to deliver that ideal vision right through to visual merchandising (VM) store communication is absolutely the way forward. VR Intelligence first helped us sort out our VM store communications using vrMockshop to demonstrate how best to present the range, utilize the space and effectively execute in store - the feedback we've received has been universally positive. Now they'll be helping us vastly improve our line planning process with vrLineplan. The collective automation of these visual tools cuts out a ton of wasted and duplicated effort and will enable us to grow the business even faster whilst keeping our distinctive urban lifestyle edge."
Go Outdoors, the UK's biggest outdoor stores, selected vrSoftware's Lineplan in partnership with VR Intelligence, to deliver best in class visual assortment planning for its growing buying & merchandising teams. "At heart we're a simple business, with a fantastic retail proposition and growing fast," said Lee Bagnall, Go Outdoors C.O.O. "We needed a planning system that delivers immediate benefits to Buying and Merchandising (B&M); vrSoftware Lineplan will do just that." Elliot Murgatroyd, the Project Manager added, "we ran an exhaustive system pre-selection process; we carefully reviewed all the major retail planning systems that are out there, and then some! Quite simply, vrSoftware Lineplan's end to end visual approach was a perfect fit for us." Ed Sygrove the Head of IT said, "we were always after a best in class planning system and that's exactly what we have in vrSoftware Lineplan."
"Retailers need to strike a balance between the 'art' and 'science' of successful planning, buying and merchandising - almost every brand in the world is now having to learn how to build merchandise stories and sell them into their different retail channels and, whilst the numbers are extremely important, the brand image and proposition are absolutely critical to the shopper," said John Plows, Director, VR Intelligence. "vrLineplan facilitates this process both visually and numerically to address Bench's and Go Outdoors needs."
"vrSoftware Lineplan™ is the only interactive visual line planning tool available for retailers, brands and wholesalers to visually plan and build product ranges. We're delighted that vrSoftware Lineplan™ has been selected by Bench and Go Outdoors with the support of the buying and merchandising expertise of our solution provider VR Intelligence," said Colin Liversedge, MD, vrSoftware. "vrLineplan extends our visual retailing solutions to Buyers and Merchandisers as an additional user community, enabling them to better deliver balanced product assortments that both satisfy customers and meet the commercial and brand image goals of retailers. In recent years VR Intelligence has been heavily involved with many famous sports and denim brands helping them achieve significant productivity increases with the vrMockshop and now vrLineplan Visual Retailing tools."
vrSoftware Mockshop® for visual merchandising, vrSoftware Sampleroom™ for range visualization and vrSoftware Lineplan™ are delivered and supported by vrSoftware Authorized Distributors, Solution Providers and Associates worldwide. These partners are both local to their customers and their in-depth knowledge and diverse range of retail experience and expertise delivers true business and operational solutions that help clients save money and increase revenue. They truly know and understand their customers businesses and needs as they implement, customize and add onto the vrSoftware software solutions, as VR Intelligence has done for Bench and Go Outdoors.
About Bench
Bench is a British born, urban lifestyle brand which designs, sources and markets cool and distinctive products. The brand originated in the late 80s as a niche tee shirt brand creating pieces inspired by BMX biking and the world of skate boarding. Over the years, the brand quickly gained popularity with those in the know who appreciated the innovativeness that Bench was able to demonstrate. Bench has developed into a widely and highly respected urban lifestyle brand that was named the coolest streetwear brand by the 2007/2008 CoolBrands panel. From humble Manchester beginnings, Bench's distribution has extended globally; the brand is now sold worldwide in Europe, USA and Canada. Bench has always built its collections on the individuality of real people and real products and will continue to do so moving forward.
For more information visit www.bench.co.uk.
About Go Outdoors
GO Outdoors set out on a big adventure more than 40 years ago. Its vision became to help as many people as possible to have fun and adventure in the outdoors by expanding both the number of stores and the number of departments in each store. Today product range covers outdoor clothing, caravanning, camping, cycling, fishing, running, riding, and climbing, collectively the UK's widest range at the lowest prices, all served by a friendly team of outdoor enthusiasts.
For more information visit www.gooutdoors.co.uk.
VR Intelligence
VR Intelligence is a vrSoftware Solution Provider and expert advisor to the retailing industry. Based on a successful international track record in range planning and visual merchandising VR Intelligence truly understands the retail purpose and has proven its ability to intelligently transfer knowledge and process success to clients such as Levi's, Nike and Asics. VR Intelligence offers system implementation and selection, visual merchandising training, vrMockshop and vrLineplan business integration, IT System training, store opening programs, training and core skills development programs, visual merchandising / Range construction / Assortment planning / Allocation & replenishment / WSSI / Delivery scheduling as well as supplier management and supply chain optimization.
For further information visit www.vrintel.co.uk.