Performance® Bicycle accelerates store in-stock improvements to drive increased profits with 4R Systems' Profit Optimized Inventory Services

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- National Retail Federation 2013 – 4R Systems, Inc., a leading provider of advanced inventory and supply chain services which help retailers increase profits by optimizing their inventory and related supply chain decisions, announced today that Performance Bicycle is live with 4R Systems' Profit Optimized Inventory Services.

4R's breakthrough technology provides retailers with profit optimized inventory decisions throughout an item's life cycle. 4R's services help retailers drive profit improvements when optimizing key decisions such as store and DC inventories for replenishment items, allocation of seasonal and fashion items, vendor ordering and markdown.

Performance Bicycle, the nation's largest independent cycling retailer, provides a multi-channel shopping destination with items available in more than 100 stores, in its catalog and website. Performance Bicycle was looking for the classic inventory planning solution and had met with several vendors, but it wasn't until they engaged with 4R to conduct a pilot that they saw the benefits of 4R's approach. "The pilot process let us gauge the results as well as the supply chain and in-store benefits," said Performance Bicycle Vice President Planning & Distribution Bill Bardill. "The 4R team is driven by results and solving problems. They are selling results, not a piece of software."

Performance Bicycle began its journey to profit optimize its inventory at the beginning of 2012 with 4R's 3-step process (evaluate, prove and implement). After the completion of the prove step, the results were quite evident. "I cannot imagine why any retailer would not want to at least conduct the analysis step to see the benefit 4R brings," said Bardill. "Once we completed the pilot step, we moved straight in to implementation with our retail stores. This was the easiest, quickest team based implementation in my retail career... 4R's client service is professional and responsive."

"Performance Bicycle is a great client to work with," said Jiri Nechleba, President and CEO of 4R Systems. "They had some unique challenges, but 4R's Client Services team and Performance Bicycle worked together to tailor the output that addressed these business needs."

"Minimizing inventory cost and lost margin while improving 'in-stocks' is the holy grail of replenishment. 4R Systems has begun delivering on all of these drivers," said Performance Bicycle Chief Executive Officer David Pruitt.

ABOUT PERFORMANCE BICYCLE
Performance Bicycle is the No. 1 cycling retailer in the U.S. and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Performance Inc. Performance provides a multichannel cycling retail experience that spans more than 100 stores nationwide, catalogs and www.performancebike.com, all catering to both the avid cycling enthusiast and the recreational rider. Performance Inc. is majority owned by North Castle Partners of Greenwich, Conn. For more information about Performance Bicycle, please visit www.performancebike.com, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

ABOUT 4R SYSTEMS
4R Systems is a leading provider of advanced inventory and supply chain services which help retailers gain significantly increased profits by optimizing their inventory and related supply chain decisions. Founded by supply chain experts from The Wharton School and Harvard Business School, 4R provides capabilities that profit optimize the matching of supply and demand. From initial launch, through replenishment to end-of-life for products ranging from short lived fashion items to long term staples, 4R provides retailers with services that fit their business. Clients using 4R have seen increases in profitability of 1 – 2 % of sales as a result of higher sales levels on lowered inventory.For more information, visit:
WEB: www.4rsystems.com EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: +1-610-644-1234

SOURCE 4R Systems, Inc.