Major supermarket chain Sainsbury‘s has signed a new software deal which should allow it to produce quicker in-store promotions for entertainment products, it was revealed today.
Technology experts Trace One has integrated its ‘Deals & Terms‘ solution into the retailer‘s supplier promotions process for products such as books, CDs, DVDs and video games.
Sainsbury‘s manages up to 200 entertainment deals at any given time with over 250 suppliers, and with the new system buyers will be able set final details of any promotion with suppliers at the start of the process and manage the campaigns more affectively through detailed dashboards.
Richard Crampton, Head of Entertainment at Sainsbury‘s, says that the new system should both enhance entertainment deals in store and improve the company‘s relationships with its suppliers.
“Having reviewed the market, we decided Trace One‘s Deals &Terms system was the best fit solution for our business needs,” Crampton added.
“The promotions we put together can include various deal types over multiple suppliers and hundreds of products. We needed a system that would help capture these negotiations to speed up the process.
“Previously, we were capturing agreements on e-mails and spreadsheets. With the high volume of deals being set up there would inevitably be some information that would be missed. Trace One‘s software has allowed us to capture and track the deal process, which will improve our collection accuracy by up to five per cent.”
Many of the largest entertainment retail specialists have struggled for sales over the last 12 months, with HMV restructuring its business & shedding a high number of stores in 2011, and Game Group having to enter administration just last week.
Entertainment specialist have been negatively effected by major supermarkets undercutting their prices, and grocers will no doubt look to capitalise further on this market now that the specialists are reducing their store numbers.
Amina West, Vice President for Northern Europe at Trace One, commented: “We are delighted to enhance our existing relationship with one of the largest and most successful supermarkets in the UK.
“Sainsbury‘s really recognises the importance of expanding non-food ranges in the current market, as higher margins can be gained from these products. By streamlining the deals and terms process with suppliers, the supermarket will be able to fulfil its goal of offering high quality products at good value.”
