Alliance Data Systems Is Selected By Williams-Sonoma, Inc. To Provide Private Label Credit Services For Pottery Barn And Pottery Barn Kids.

Furniture World Magazine

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of transaction services, marketing services and credit services, announced that a five-year agreement has been signed with specialty retailer Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) to provide a full-service, turnkey private label credit card program for Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids retail stores as well as catalog and Internet sales channels. Alliance Data will provide services to approximately 200 Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids stores throughout the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Alliance Data will provide a full-service private label credit card program that will include account acquisition and activation; receivables funding; card authorization; private label credit card issuance; statement generation; remittance processing; and customer service functions for all sales channels. Additionally, Alliance Data will provide customized marketing services such as a customer reward program designed to increase direct-channel sales via Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids catalogs. When asked about the choice of Alliance Data Systems, Pat Connolly, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., said: "We selected Alliance Data Systems after an extensive evaluation of providers within the private label credit card industry. Alliance Data has a proven track record in providing such programs, and demonstrated the know-how and necessary experience in providing an effective program across all three channels: retail, catalog, and Internet. Additionally, they have a deep understanding of the retail business. We believe that our relationship with Alliance in this program can be a significant factor in our future sales growth." "The expertise and systems we have built in credit services is an ideal fit with the needs of William-Sonoma, Inc.," said Ivan Szeftel, president, retail credit services, Alliance Data Systems. "We’re looking forward to providing Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids with these important services that will help to increase the loyalty and profitability of their customers. Our proven retail experience in store, catalog and web sales channels gives Alliance Data an added measure of expertise that will help deliver effective and results-driven services for Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids." About Alliance Data Systems: Based in Dallas, Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of transaction services, credit services and marketing services, assisting retail, petroleum, utility and financial services companies in managing the critical interactions between them and their customers. Alliance Data each year manages over 2.5 billion transactions and 72 million consumer accounts for some of North America's most recognizable companies. The Company also operates and markets the largest coalition loyalty program in Canada. Alliance Data Systems employs over 6,500 associates at more than 20 locations in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. For more information about the company, visit its web site, www.alliancedatasystems.com. About Williams-Sonoma, Inc.: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a national specialty retailer of high quality products for the home. These products are marketed through more than 400 retail stores, six mail order catalogs (Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Bed + Bath, Pottery Barn Kids, Hold Everything and Chambers), and eCommerce Web sites at www.williams-sonoma.com, www.potterybarn.com and www.potterybarnkids.com. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information about the company, visit its corporate web site, www.williams-sonomainc.com.