Pendleton successfully expands its retail store operation using Buxton's analysis

FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 2006) – Pendleton Woolen Mills, the manufacturer and retailer of world-class wool clothing and blankets, is opening three new retail locations using site-selection data from Buxton, the leading customer analytics firm for the retail industry. Buxton analyzed Pendleton’s core customers and identified potential high-performing sites. Based on this data, Pendleton recently opened stores in Columbia, S.C., Greensboro, N.C., and Cranston, R.I.

“The three new store locations, positioned with the Buxton store model, have exceeded our sales projections,” says David Armentrout, retail division manager, Pendleton.

A family-owned business for more than 140 years, Pendleton is expanding its 75-store chain into new markets. Buxton has worked with Pendleton for almost three years to help the retailer understand who their customers are, where they live and where they can find more like them. Pendleton products, which also include clothing made of luxury silks, cotton and other fabrics, are distributed through selected department and specialty stores, through the company’s catalog/Internet operation and through Pendleton retail stores.

Buxton created a CustomerID sales model that gave Pendleton the information it needed to make strategic decisions. The predictive model described the potential for new retail stores in markets across the United States and it prioritized these markets.

In addition, Buxton profiled Pendleton’s existing catalog and Internet customers and compared them with the company’s retail store customers. With this clear understanding of their customers’ needs, company leaders can customize the shopping experience. Pendleton can also use data from Buxton to optimize its direct mail efforts.

“Buxton’s proven CustomerID product allowed Pendleton to accurately assess the potential of future locations,” says Paul Schlesinger, senior vice president, Buxton. “A quality forecast makes the difference between selecting an exceptional site, an average site or a poor performing site.”

ABOUT PENDELTON WOOLEN MILLS
Pendleton is a privately held, fifth-generation family owned business. Pendleton products are available at traditional specialty stores, department stores, 75 Pendleton stores nationwide, Pendleton catalogs and via the Internet at www.pendleton-usa.com. The company owns and operates eight facilities that encompass aspects of its operation. The foundation of Pendleton Woolen Mills is its "vertical" manufacturing, controlling wool manufacturing from purchasing of wool from wool producers to the selling of the finished garments or blanket/home products. Today, Pendleton has become a year-around sportswear resource, introducing distinctively styled, non-wool menswear and women’s wear for spring and summer, as well as their famous high quality woolens. For more information, visit www.pendleton-usa.com.

ABOUT BUXTON
Since 1994, Buxton has been the industry leader in customer analytics for the retail industry. In recent years, Buxton has expanded its focus to also advise healthcare organizations, consumer packaged goods manufacturers, leasing agents and city governments. Buxton enables organizations to pinpoint the exact value of every customer for every product at any distance from a particular site. Buxton draws from its individual- and household-level databases to identify customer’s lifestyles, behavior patterns and buying habits. Among its 1,200 clients are communities such as McKinney, Texas; Buffalo, N.Y.; Gary, Ind.; Midtown Alliance Atlanta, Ga.; City of Moulton, Ala.; and the Village of Broadview, Ill. as well as retailers and brands such as FedEx, Casual Male, California Pizza Kitchen, The Container Store and New Balance Shoes. In a 2006 article for the retail industry, Retail Traffic recognized Buxton as “a site-selection ace that is forging new ground in advising retailers.” Buxton was also selected as one of the Most Innovative Companies in the 2006 American Business Awards and was named in Fast Company Magazine’s 2005 Fast 50 list of top innovators and technology pioneers.