Fry, Inc. Assists The TJX Companies, Inc. With Development Of Retailer's First-Ever E-Commerce Sites

Fry, Inc. Assists The TJX Companies, Inc. With Development Of Retailer's First-Ever E-Commerce Sites

New Sites Launched for T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Fry, Inc., a leading e-commerce design, development and managed services provider, today announced that it partnered with The TJX Companies, Inc., the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide, to develop e-commerce web sites for T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, http://www.tjmaxx.com/ and http://www.homegoods.com/ . The TJX Companies launched the sites in September 2004, marking its entry into e-commerce.

"We're very pleased to work with the leading off-price retailer, The TJX Companies, to launch their first e-commerce sites," said David Fry, president and chief executive officer of Fry. "Now the new sites for T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods provide current customers multiple ways to shop while introducing new customers to the benefits of shopping off-price."

The sites were developed by Fry using their Open Commerce Platform(TM) (OCP), an e-commerce solution that enables retailers to quickly and economically develop an online store and establish their e-commerce business. Fry customized the OCP framework to deliver flexible product workflows through the OCP Site Manager in order to meet the specific content management requirements of both sites. Fry also integrated state-of-the-art e-commerce technologies into the new sites, to provide T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods with dynamic in-site search and navigation, advanced product visualization and shopping cart processes.

One unique aspect of the sites is a feature called "Hot Categories" where popular items are showcased across all product lines, making it faster and easier for shoppers to find what they are looking for. The sites also provide a feature by which shoppers can access and manage their own account information, order history, order status and billing information.

Fry will also host both sites and provide managed services and maintenance on an on-going basis.

Sherry Lang, Vice President of Investor and Public Relations, The TJX Companies, Inc., stated, "We are excited about the launch of our e-commerce web sites. The Internet channel provides an opportunity to attract new T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods customers as well as offers our existing customers the convenience of shopping from home. We will also use the Internet sites to market our concepts and encourage customers to shop the wider selections offered in our stores."

About Fry, Inc.

Fry, Inc. helps organizations conduct business transactions, disseminate information, build customer relationships and synchronize efforts across multiple channels. The firm designs, builds, integrates, hosts and manages Web-based applications for clients such as Crate and Barrel, Godiva Chocolatier, Unilever, Home & Garden Television, Food Network, Spiegel, Eddie Bauer, AAA Michigan and the Auto Club Group, Brookstone, Domaine Chandon and the National Association of Home Builders. Online operations created and managed by Fry generated $1 billion in 2003. The company has offices in Ann Arbor, New York and Chicago and specializes in systems engineering, managed services, information architecture, creative design, usability and brand strategy. Established in 1994, Fry is a privately held company celebrating its 10th year in business. For more information, visit the Fry web site at http://www.fry.com/ .

About T.J. Maxx

T.J. Maxx is the largest off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the United States. Founded in 1976, T.J. Maxx sells brand name family apparel, accessories, home fashions, women's shoes, lingerie, and fine jewelry, all at excellent values. T.J. Maxx's target customer is a middle to upper-middle income shopper who is fashion and value conscious and fits the same profile as a better department and specialty store shopper.

About HomeGoods

HomeGoods was launched by The TJX Companies in 1992 to expand the Company's presence in the home fashions market. HomeGoods offers great values on a broad array of giftware, furniture, lamps, rugs, accessories, and seasonal merchandise. This chain operates in a stand-alone and superstore format, which couple a HomeGoods with a T.J. Maxx or Marshalls store. Like T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods customers are middle to upper-middle income shoppers who fit the same profile as the better department and specialty stores.

About The TJX Companies

The TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Company operates 767 T.J. Maxx, 695 Marshalls, 206 HomeGoods, and 121 A.J. Wright stores, as well as 33 Bob's Stores, in the United States. In Canada, the Company operates 167 Winners and 39 HomeSense stores, and in Europe, 160 T.K. Maxx stores. Additionally, the Company operates two e-commerce websites, http://www.tjmaxx.com/ and http://www.homegoods.com/ . TJX's press releases and financial information are also available on the Internet at http://www.tjx.com/ .


Source: Fry, Inc.

CONTACT: Jason Brown of Airfoil Public Relations, +1-313-887-7216,
brown@airfoilpr.com , for Fry, Inc.

Web site: http://www.tjmaxx.com/
http://www.homegoods.com/
http://www.tjx.com/
http://www.fry.com/


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