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JCPenney Improves Operating Efficiencies, Reduces Costs, and Improves Margins With Its Comergent-Powered Special Order Merchandise Management System

Largest Retailer of "Hard" Window Treatments Empowers Sales Associates, Enables Manufacturers to Sell More Products, and Increases Customer Satisfaction With Comergent

Comergent Technologies®, Inc., the leading provider of enterprise e-commerce solutions, announced that JCPenney (NYSE: JCP) is using the Comergent E-Business System(TM) to automate its window blinds sales management process. JCPenney, one of America's largest retailers, is using Comergent to enable its sales associates to place accurate and complete sales orders, and allow manufacturers to receive orders more quickly to reduce fulfillment time, lower operating costs, drive revenues, and increase customer satisfaction.

Comergent provides JCPenney a "clienteling" solution of in-store kiosks that prompt sales associates with a series of options enabling them to select, configure, and quote complete, accurate orders in 30 minutes or less. Once an order is completed, it is automatically sent electronically to the manufacturer, and a confirmation receipt is immediately returned to the sales associate. Within the first three weeks of implementing its Comergent-powered system, JCPenney's percentage of correct orders significantly increased, and its manufacturers' lead time decreased by seven days. This new and significantly improved process is helping JCPenney realize improved business efficiencies, lower operating costs, increased margins, and greater customer satisfaction.

"When we decided to automate the special order merchandise system for our in-store window blinds sales, it was imperative that our solutions provider share our commitment to quality and value and have a demonstrated track record of ensuring their customers' success," said Greg Franko, vice president, divisional merchandising manager of window coverings, JCPenney. "We chose Comergent based on its ability to deliver an e-commerce system that provides our sales associates with an efficient sales process, our manufacturers with an expeditious order management system, and our customers with a satisfying purchasing experience."

"Hunter Douglas' leadership position flows directly from continuous innovation within our business," said Joe Kushlick, IT director, Hunter Douglas. "When we heard about JCPenney's Comergent-powered sales order system, we immediately understood its value and ability to improve our operating efficiencies. Within a matter of days, we saw an immediate, significant improvement in overall order accuracy and placement that has enabled us to shorten our delivery times and better service our mutual customers."

About JCPenney

JCPenney is one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. The company operates 1,020 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and 61 Renner department stores in Brazil. JCPenney Catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and jcpenney.com is one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet. For additional information, visit www.jcpenney.net.

About Comergent

Comergent is a leading provider of enterprise e-commerce software solutions. The Comergent E-Business System automates and optimizes a corporation's selling and ordering processes, thereby increasing its revenue and profit, enhancing customer loyalty, and improving visibility into sales processes and channels. With patents pending, Comergent pioneered the concept of a single e-commerce system to address all products, customers, channels, and selling processes. The first company to bring to market truly collaborative e-commerce, Comergent was an early proponent of the service-oriented architecture. The Comergent E-Business System deploys rapidly with minimal customization and provides excellent returns on investment. Customers include industry leaders like Cisco Systems, DuPont, Gates Corporation, GE Access Distribution, InterContinental Hotels Group, J. C. Penney Company, NEC Solutions America, Nissan Motor Co., Pitney Bowes, Stanley Works, and The Toro Company. Comergent is privately held with headquarters in Redwood City, Calif. For more information, visit www.comergent.com.

Comergent and the Comergent logo are registered trademarks of Comergent Technologies, Inc. Comergent E-Business System is a trademark of Comergent Technologies, Inc. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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