SDCExec.com |

Milwaukee, WI — June 24, 2008 — Blick Art Materials, the largest retailer of art supplies in the country, said this week it has managed its rapid growth across all its sales channels and increased inventory accuracy to 99 percent with the help of RedPrairie Corp.'s warehouse management system (WMS) and Workforce Management solutions.

Headquartered in Illinois, Blick has over 30 company-owned and operated stores in addition to its catalog, online and commercial channels. The company operates one distribution center, with two facilities, out of Galesburg, Ill.

The number of stock-keeping units (SKUs) the company manages has grown from 40,000 to over 60,000 over the last three years. With RedPrairie, Blick said it has increased productivity while reducing picking errors by over 35 percent, allowing the company to lower its return rate from around 3 percent to under 2 percent.

"Our company has experienced double-digit growth for several years, and we needed warehouse and workforce management solutions that were going to grow with us and help us manage our diverse product group," said John Polillo, executive vice president of Operations for Blick Art Materials. "Whether a small tube of paint or a large roll of art paper, every order has to be perfect for our customers every time. With RedPrairie's retail supply chain expertise, we not only have near-perfect inventory accuracy, but have improved our picking strategies and distribution center efficiency."

Mike Mayoras, CEO of RedPrairie, added: "For almost 100 years, Blick Art Materials has successfully supplied the artist community. We're proud that our solutions have helped this rapidly growing retailer resolve some of their toughest distribution challenges."