Centric Software - News & Events

CAMPBELL, Calif., June 2, 2010 - Western Glove Works, the Canadian-based manufacturer of international denim brands Silver Jeans, 1921 Jeans and Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow apparel division has selected Centric Software, Inc., to provide its product lifecycle management (PLM) system.

Western Glove Works has purchased Centric's Product Specification, Product Sourcing, Calendar Management and Line Planning modules. The company will begin immediate implementation of the Centric 8 PLM system, phasing it in across all product lines. Western Glove Works will deploy Centric 8 this year to users in sales offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and New York, design and merchandise staff in Winnipeg and Montreal, and several suppliers in Asia, according to Mark Lamont, Vice President of Apparel Services.

Replacing a one-dimensional system
"Centric 8 will replace our current system which is one dimensional and not effective in linking different areas of the company," says Lamont. "Whether it's a graphic, line sheet, sketch or other data point, it is critical that everyone involved in product development - sales, design, merchandising, the entire team - has access to the same product information. Centric 8 will solve that problem and eliminate the double and triple entry that often goes on between our group and our suppliers and slows our product cycles."

That functionality is especially crucial in 2010, explains Lamont, as the company expands its product lines by adding tops, jackets and sweaters to its base denim lines in both its Silver Jeans and Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow apparel division, in which it is collaborating with singer Sheryl Crow. "We have different and more complex needs, and wanted to find a PLM system that could grow with us," he says. Western Glove Works sells to mid- and high-end major chains, independent retailers and boutiques.

Western Glove Works will use Centric 8 to reduce product development cycle time. "Centric 8 will allow us to establish and work with clear business rules," says Lamont. "Instead of spending valuable time sorting through different versions of product data, we now will be able to easily provide reliable, current information to everyone in the product development process at any time."

Selection process
Western Glove Works selected Centric after carefully evaluating at least six other systems, says Lamont. The company chose Centric 8 for its extensive functionality, its ability to provide a central source of accurate, up-to-date information, and for its ease of use and intuitive navigation. "Centric's PLM really stood out as the most user-friendly, straightforward system," he says. Western Glove Works users participated directly in the PLM selection process, and asserted that Centric 8 was the simplest PLM system to learn, understand and implement quickly.

"User adoption is critical," stresses Lamont. "Full and speedy user adoption will ensure a smooth and easy transition - especially critical as we expand our product lines this year." The company also cited Centric 8's strong reporting and fully Web-based platform.

"Centric's PLM will allow Western Glove Works to focus its energies on creating the products that make the company one of North America's major apparel companies," says Chris Groves, president and CEO of Centric Software. "With a widely adopted, central repository of information - the "single version of the truth" that Centric 8 provides - Western Glove Works will reap staff productivity gains, cost reductions and shorter cycle times. We at Centric look forward to working hand-in-hand with a forward-thinking company like Western Glove Works and helping them implement business critical processes."

Western Glove Works (www.westerngloveworks.ca)
In 1921, the first generation Silver family started a garment factory in Winnipeg, Canada to produce leather gloves and denim work wear built tough for workers across North America. The company has come a long way from its modest beginnings when Gauntlet Gloves, Treatemruf Riders Pants and Handy Andy Overalls were all the rage. Today, Western Glove Works is one of the largest apparel manufacturers in Canada and a leader in the denim manufacturing industry, serving markets throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Western Glove Works brings a family tradition of denim manufacturing to its group of brands. While times have changed and much of the world's denim production has been automated, the original care, concern, dedication to value, quality and style developed by Western Glove Works over the last 89 years, remains at its essence. With over 40 million pairs of jeans under its belt, the company's history and experience continue to manifest themselves in all the Western Glove Works products and brands.

About Centric Software, Inc. (www.centricsoftware.com)
Centric Software is a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions for makers of hard-lines, soft-lines, or both in the fashion and consumer goods industries. Centric 8 delivers easy-to-use functionality to manage critical, inseparable business processes - product development, sourcing, and line planning and profitability management - all through a modularized system that implements and delivers value rapidly. With Centric 8, companies cut costs and inefficiency, speed new products to market, drive margin improvement, and improve global collaboration and compliance. Global enterprises including INTERSPORT France, The Coleman Companies, KlimUSA, BassPro Shops, Bravo Sports, and United Stationers use Centric solutions to achieve revenue growth, reduce costs, and deliver trend-right products to their customers.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software . All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.