IBS delivers new procurement solution for leading distance retailer in Finland and the Baltics

News & Events 2003-09-02

IBS New Mail Order software helps Hobby Hall to optimise inventories and automate supply chain.

Hobby Hall, the largest mail order company and distance retailer in Finland and the Baltic Countries, has chosen IBS to deliver new procurement and inventory solutions. With the new ASW solutions, Hobby Hall will be able to better optimise inventories, improve procurement processes and enhance customer service without the need to build customised solutions.

Hobby Hall will implement a new IBS Mail Order system, which is a vertical solution especially designed for international mail order businesses. IBS Mail Order is based on IBS´s supply chain management system ASW Distribution and it provides Hobby Hall with tools for designing and executing procurement processes, inventory monitoring and for better forecasting the market demand for each item.

Hobby Hall is part of Stockmann Group Plc, the leading retail group in Finland. With the annual sales of 237 million Euros, Hobby Hall is the largest operator in distance retailing in Finland and the Baltic Countries. It offers primarily household and leisure articles via mail and telephone orders, the Hobby Hall Online web store, as well as five stores in Finland, two in Estonia and one in Lithuania. Hobby Hall’s mail and online product catalogues reach more than 1.3 million customers.

“Hobby Hall has 40 years of experience in retail business and a strong market position in mail order sales and electronic commerce. The growing needs of our customers, tightening international competition and strong need for cost efficiency require constant improvements in our business processes. With the new IT solutions we are able to further enhance our customer service and supply chain,” comments Pekka Polvinen, Director, Commercial Operations, Hobby Hall.

“By choosing a solution based on IBS´ standard mail order software, Hobby Hall will be able to deliver products to customers faster at lower costs. The deal with Hobby Hall is a major breakthrough for IBS in this kind of dynamic consumer business with a strong need for fast order times, predictability of consumer behaviour and cost efficiency. In addition, Hobby Hall´s strong experience in distance retail business brings us valuable support in our international product development”, comments Kari Merenheimo, Managing Director, IBS Finland.