OGDEN, Utah, A new study conducted by MarketStar
shows that manufacturer sponsored product training activities significantly
impact retail sales associates' brand recommendations and product sales. With over 40,000 employees and more than 400
locations worldwide, RGIS offers unparalleled retail coverage .

goods marketing

"These findings show that the recommendation of retail sales associates
for products that require at least a moderate level of consideration and
comparison is a critical factor in the brand purchase decision," said Ryan
Brock, VP of Strategy + Consulting for MarketStar.
MarketStar is part of Omnicom Group, the leading marketing communications
company in the world. To learn
more about becoming a SuperStudy sponsor, contact Paul Weitzel,
847-756-3717, Willard Bishop Consulting:
paul.

strategy 3i

Transora synchronizes data with retailers in 22 countries and has
offices in Chicago , Brazil, Mexico, France, and the United Kingdom.

Brand Focused Retail Training Shown to Have Significant Influence Over Product and Brand Recommendation

bishopconsulting.

goods retailers

Business Editors

CHICAGO ----

Hallmark Cards, Kellogg's, and Solo Cup Company are Among Industry
Leaders Choosing Transora as Their Data Pool Solution

Transora, the industry's leading Data Pool Solution , continues its
substantial growth due, in large part, to the addition of major
consumer product manufacturers to its customer base.
Manufacturers who recently signed with Transora include,
Constellation Brands, Energizer, Hallmark, Kellogg's, Perdue, and Solo
Cup Company. Additionally, Transora's Data Pool
solution operates in a secure environment, certified through the
SysTrust standard. In addition , almost
67 percent of retail sales associates indicated that training significantly
increases their own ability to sell the manufacturer's products.

sourcing goods

transora. RGIS
store-level services include: counting inventory, barcode scanning,
capturing data by SKU, and mapping total store space.

3i 3

Transora continues to increase the number of retailers and markets
synchronizing data, which enables its customers to maximize their
investment with Transora. "Our growth confirms that global data
synchronization is on the rise.
For more information about Transora, please visit their Web site at:
www.marketstar .----The WBC
SuperStudy--available at the end of First Quarter 2005--will provide
new insights into sales share, activity-based costs, net profit
contribution, cash flow, and working capital, and identify where value
is created across every category, aisle, and department in the grocery
store .

goods manufacturers

Transora's Data Pool solution is widely recognized as
having the most advanced data synchronization suite, enabling the
elimination of costly data errors, increased supply chain
efficiencies, and the advancement of next-generation technologies. In contrast, just 4 percent
indicated that they are no more likely to recommend a manufacturer's products.
When the retailers were asked which in-store marketing activity had the
most impact on sell-through, 49 percent indicated that product training is the
most important activity that a manufacturer can provide. Serving as an
integrated extension of a client's sales and marketing team, MarketStar
provides collaborative sell-through solutions for the retail channel. For more information call 1-800-877-8259 or visit
http://www.622 .

consulting strategy

rgis.com

marketing business

Of those surveyed, 86 percent of the store associates and managers said they
are more likely to recommend a manufacturer's products based on in-store
marketing efforts such as product training. "It also shows the
continued need for manufacturers to build their brands through in-store
marketing efforts such as product training."

About MarketStar
MarketStar designs and implements strategically focused retail sales and
marketing solutions for some of the world's leading companies.

3i management

weitzel@bishopconsulting. www. www. www.

consumer manufacturers

Companies are choosing Transora 's solution due to its unmatched
functionality and continued enhancements, including the
synchronization of core, new product, and price + promotion data for
both manufacturers and retailers. Today, Transora is the Data Pool with the
most connections around the globe. As more manufacturers and retailers
adopt, the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) community will see a greater
return on investment. Transora will continue to support the
advancement of global data synchronization and offer the most
comprehensive Data Pool solutions available on the market.com

com.9716
tikennedy@marketstar.

Business Editors

BARRINGTON, Ill.
Willard Bishop Consulting is partnering with RGIS Inventory
Specialists, Auburn Hills, Michigan, to provide store mapping support,
and with RetaiLogic, Manchester , Massachusetts, to model and optimize
total store space.
Manufacturers are sponsoring the study , and only sponsors will
receive access to the total store database, containing more than 70
key metrics about the performance of over 250 categories and 1,000
subcategories--as well as a written report of study results.com

About RetaiLogic, LLC

RetaiLogic provides retailers and manufacturers of consumer
products with innovative consulting services and web-based software
tools to maximize return on their large investments in merchandising,
marketing, and sales operations.com

About Willard Bishop Consulting, Ltd.

3 manufacturing

Along with these key customer acquisitions, Transora continues to
enjoy a 100% record of customer renewals for data synchronization.
"We have strong momentum continuing into 2005," said Bob Noe,
Transora's interim CEO."

About Transora

Transora is the leading consumer products community for
eCollaboration.
MarketStar recently surveyed 934 retail storefronts to assess the
effectiveness of consumer electronic manufacturers' in-store training efforts.

Contact Information

Ryan Brock
VP, Strategy and Consulting
(917 ) 304-9822

Editorial Contact:
Tim Kennedy
Director, Corporate Marketing
801.com

Raley's and Giant Eagle - Participants in the WBC Total Store SuperStudy

com

About RGIS Inventory Specialists

RGIS is the largest provider of inventory services to the world's
retail industry. RetaiLogic's total store space
optimization model, called CSO , helps identify retail selling assets
by optimizing the size of consumer product categories relative to one
another within available size constraints at store, department, and
category levels. (WBC )

WBC is a full service consulting organization, providing services
to suppliers, distributors , and consumer package goods retailers. With
a 25-year-plus track record of helping clients gain competitive
advantage and sustainable gains in sales, supply chain cost reductions
and profits, WBC provides creative solutions and practical products to
meet individual client needs.

marketing consumer

Transora Reports Banner Growth and Expanding Manufacturer Customer Base

This alleviates an area of concern with our
customers knowing that their product information is securely
synchronized throughout the supply chain. The project will evaluate total store performance and result in
optimal shelf space allocation across the entire store.spaceoptimization.