Core Assets (CSE:CC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2019 to Dec 2024
Award-Winning Web Site Launches a New Level of Customer
Convenience
Circuitcity.com's Consumer-Driven Redesign Easier to Shop and Browse
RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- With American shoppers expected to
flock to the Web in record numbers in the upcoming holiday season, Circuit City
Stores, Inc. is setting a new standard for online shopping ease by launching
its next-generation Web site, http://www.circuitcity.com/.
The new site is the result of a year of intensive research into the needs of
growing numbers of consumers who shop both online and in traditional retail
settings. These multi-channel shoppers are changing the American retail
landscape, and Circuit City has been a leader in responding to evolving
consumer preferences.
"We have conducted multiple surveys and interviewed a wide variety of online
shoppers, both novice and experienced," said Fiona Dias, Circuit City's senior
vice president and president of Circuit City Direct, the Company division that
operates the Web site. "Popular features from our previous Web site were
maintained and improved in our new online store. And we've added new features
to provide what we believe is an unsurpassed shopping experience."
Among circuitcity.com's most prominent customer benefits:
* Greatly expanded product selection. Strengthened by more robust
architecture and navigation capabilities, circuitcity.com has tripled
its product offerings and now presents more than one million items for
sale, including consumer electronics, music, movies, games, custom
automotive accessories, downloadable PC software, and downloadable
music through Circuit City's MusicNow subsidiary.
* Improved navigation. Circuitcity.com's new navigation capabilities are
easier and more intuitive for customers to use. The newly designed
site allows shoppers to focus on products rather than Web site
mechanics. And customers who want to hone in on specific products will
find them faster and more effectively with one-click sorting options.
* Award-winning customer service. Independent ratings firm BizRate.com
repeatedly has recognized Circuit City's Web site for superior
performance. Based on feedback from more than one million online
shoppers, circuitcity.com was one of only seven retailers on the
Internet to achieve BizRate's "Circle of Excellence" award three years
in a row. In August 2004, Vividence, a leading market research firm,
ranked circuitcity.com among the top three online retailers for
consumer satisfaction. In addition, circuitcity.com shoppers who need
assistance can speak with product advisors seven days a week via
1 800 THE CITY, a toll-free telephone line.
* Pioneering multi-channel options. Circuitcity.com shoppers can see in
real time if the consumer electronics items they want are in stock at
any of Circuit City's more than 600 stores. The online shopper can
choose to pick up a purchase within minutes at a nearby store or have
it shipped to them. Vividence rated circuitcity.com's in-store pickup
feature "Best of the Web." In addition, sales associates in Circuit
City stores can tap into the Web site's expanded product selection to
meet customer needs.
* Industry-leading product information. Circuitcity.com empowers
shoppers with the knowledge they need to make the right choices,
including unbiased product reviews from more than 125,000 customers.
Regularly updated "Click and Learn" articles explain technical jargon
in plain language. Circuitcity.com shoppers also can sign up to receive
email newsletters focusing on new products and new movie, music and
game releases. In addition, Web shoppers can view 360-degree and
close-up images of many consumer electronics products.
* Promotional offers. To celebrate its "grand opening," the new
circuitcity.com will offer daily specials and giveaways for several
weeks following its September launch. In addition, shoppers can enter
several sweepstakes, including a "Plasma TV Makeover" contest that
offers a grand prize of five flat screen TVs and a wide array of home
theatre equipment worth more than $20,000. Going forward,
circuitcity.com will feature innovative limited-time Web-only specials
and new consumer financing options.
Circuitcity.com first launched in July 1999. The site had been continuously
upgraded over the years, but the re-launch represents circuitcity.com's first
complete makeover.
To help create the ultimate online shopping experience for consumer
electronics, Circuit City turned to industry leaders R/GA for design and
strategy and BroadVision for software architecture. "Together, these two firms
helped create a site that welcomes and delights shoppers," said Dias.
"Having worked with Circuit City on their initial Web site launch in 1999, we
are proud to be a part of this recent launch as their e-business solution
provider," said Pehong Chen, CEO of BroadVision. "As we mark the tenth
anniversary of e-business, BroadVision is excited about helping to build the
framework of Circuit City's future e-business initiatives. Through high
performance and easy to implement technology and services, we are helping
companies like Circuit City meet the demands of their increasing customer
base."
"Our goal was to create the ultimate e-commerce experience in the consumer
electronics category that was both intuitive and personalized," said Bob
Greenberg, chairman, CEO and chief creative officer of R/GA. "To improve the
overall customer experience, we integrated enhanced merchandising
opportunities, robust research tools and an innovative navigation system. All
were designed with the customer in mind, enabling them to make more highly
informed purchase decisions."
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Richmond, Va.-based Circuit City Stores is a leading specialty retailer of
consumer electronics. Circuit City operates 608 Superstores and five mall-
based stores in 158 U.S. markets. Its International segment operates through
more than 1,000 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also
operates a Web site at http://www.circuitcity.com/.
About R/GA:
R/GA (http://www.rga.com/) is the New York-based interactive advertising agency
that serves as the lead digital partner for Fortune 500 companies and
world-class brands. R/GA focuses on creating optimized, user-centric
experiences that sell products, engage customers and build brands across
channels, from the Web to broadband/enhanced television and wireless devices.
Named Interactive Agency of the Year in 2004 by Adweek, R/GA is a creative
powerhouse with a strong expertise in innovative technology, including the
software development of the 23-story Reuters sign in Times Square. Clients
include Avaya, Bank of America, Bed Bath & Beyond, Circuit City, Estee Lauder,
IBM, Levi Strauss, Nestle Purina, New York Stock Exchange, Reuters and Verizon.
Founded in 1977, R/GA is the world's most award-winning interactive agency and
has received the top creative awards for film, broadcast and interactive. R/GA
is part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), one of the world's largest
advertising and marketing services organizations.
About BroadVision
BroadVision is a global provider of personalized self-service web applications.
Our integrated suite of process, commerce, portal, and content solutions helps
customers rapidly increase revenues and reduce costs. Over 1,000 organizations
-- including Wal-Mart, Vodafone, Cardinal Health, Hewlett- Packard, Toyota,
Japan Airlines and the U.S. Air Force -- serving nearly 60 million registered
users, rely on BroadVision's open solutions to power and personalize their
mission-critical web initiatives.
For more information about BroadVision, Inc., call 650.542.5100, email or
visit http://www.broadvision.com/.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGODATASOURCE: Circuit City
Stores, Inc.
CONTACT: Jim Babb of Circuit City Stores, Inc., +1-804-527-4003,
; David Friedman of BroadVision, +1-415-593-8449,
; or Karen Spiegel of R-GA, +1-212-946-4055,
Web site: http://www.circuitcity.com/
http://www.rga.com/
http://www.broadvision.com/