HC Slingsby plc selects Maginus multi-channel e-business solution to support sales of its 30,000 plus commercial and industrial products

• Major 160-user solution based on innovative Maginus 6xa software to deliver increased CRM and Marketing support for HC Slingsby, backed by comprehensive multi-channel sales and fulfilment capability

Manchester, 30 March 2005 - Maginus, the specialist provider of multi-channel solutions for Retail and Distribution, has announced a major new order from HC Slingsby plc, the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial and commercial equipment. HC Slingsby offers over 30,000 products covering handling and lifting, safety and security, workshop and maintenance, access, flooring, waste and environmental management, janitorial, office, storage and shelving. They can also tailor make solutions to individual customer requirements.

The new Maginus e-business solution will provide full multi-channel sales support across HC Slingsby’s catalogue, telephone and online sales operations, with a particular focus on increased CRM and marketing support. HC Slingsby selected Maginus after a comprehensive tender process, and will implement a 160-user Maginus solution based on the company’s innovative Maginus 6xa software architecture.

HC Slingsby will install the Maginus solution at its Bradford headquarters and four regional offices across the UK and Ireland. The flexibility of the Maginus 6xa architecture will enable particularly close integration between HC Slingsby’s sales and CRM operations, and will support the company’s comprehensive customer loyalty scheme which offers priority order lines, exclusive offers and growth bonus discounts. HC Slingsby will also use the new Maginus solution to support major database marketing and e-mail initiatives to target both new and existing customers.

“We’ve been in business for over 110 years, and have remained successful by continually investing in new technology and solutions that enable us to offer the best value for our customers,” said HC Slingsby’s Managing Director, Dominic Slingsby. “We concentrate on providing our customers with the most choice – our new 30,000-product catalogue, for example, features over 2,000 new products – and then backing up that range with the highest levels of service. We chose Maginus because its combination of multi-channel support, CRM and marketing strength and strong fulfilment capability was the best fit for our expanding operation.

“The new Maginus solution means we can now integrate our multi-channel sales operations with our customer intelligence database, giving us access to valuable customer details and historic buying information. We’re also using Maginus to introduce innovative capabilities that will add value for our customers during ordering,” he continued.

“The Maginus solution makes an ideal match for HC Slingsby, with its extensive product range and innovative CRM and marketing approach,” commented Harry Manley, Commercial Director at Maginus. “Our 6xa technology will support HC Slingsby’s existing multi-channel and fulfilment operations, but is also flexible enough to evolve with the company as their business continues to change. We look forward to working closely with HC Slingsby to support its continued development, as it focuses on further developing its impressive customer-centric ethos.”

About HC Slingsby plc:
HC Slingsby is the leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial and commercial equipment, and with 30,000 products the twice-yearly catalogue aims to fulfil all workplace needs in a single source solution. Producers of materials handling, storage and access equipment since 1893 and has a network of offices across the UK. Its 24-hour ordering system makes ordering products an easy process and with a fully interactive e-commerce facility, flexible personal service, no minimum order level and free delivery. www.slingsby.com

About Maginus:
Maginus solutions enable retail and distribution companies to drive revenue and increase customer satisfaction by providing comprehensive control over multi-channel selling and fulfilment. The company’s integrated suite of powerful CRM, Financials and Supply Chain software helps organisations to market, sell and deliver the products their customers want via a broad range of channels including catalogue and mail order, telesales, the web, trade counter and store operations. Originally founded in 1972, Maginus brings over 30 years’ of in-depth customer experience to the retail and distribution sector. Find out more about the company at www.maginus.com

For more information, please contact:

Janice Mawhinney
Maginus Software Solutions
Tel: 0161 946 3816
janice.mawhinney@maginus.com

Cheryl Billson
IBA - PR for Maginus
Tel: 01780 721433
cbillson@iba-europe.com