Kittery Trades Up To A New Reality

NorthgateArinso (Northgate) has further stamped its authority as North America's leading MultiValue provider by sealing a long-term partnership with sporting goods powerhouse Kittery Trading Post.

Already the largest MultiValue vendor, Northgate continued its recent surge by inking a deal to provide its state-of-the-art Reality solution to Kittery's operating platform.

The reasons behind Kittery's decision to switch from TigerLogic's D3 option to Northgate provided the latest resounding endorsement why Reality continues to be the only realistic choice for businesses looking to supercharge their operating systems.

"I don't have the time to get involved in the operating system," said Kittery's MIS director Jim Cronin.. "I need a system that is stable, reliable and recoverable. It didn't take long for me to see that what Reality had to offer was far superior to what I was experiencing."

Kittery Trading Post has been a pillar of the sporting goods market since 1938 and specializes in hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing and winter sports - providing a one-stop shop for the outdoors adventurer.

It was recently awarded first place by Esquire Magazine in its list of the Great Men's Stores of America.

Yet while the company has always catered to thrill seekers, there was no desire on Kittery's part to experience a constant white-knuckle ride with its own technology. As the business world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, D3 was simply not able to keep up with what Cronin needed.

"It was nerve-wracking," said Cronin. "We never knew if we were going to be functional and the worst thing was that the biggest problems came at our busiest times.

"The difficulties and loss of function that we experienced corresponded directly to lost sales and lost revenue and we realized it was time for a change."

Kittery's need for a rock-solid system is especially vital in the area of firearms sales, which require government-enforced licensing documentation to be completed online. A low point for Cronin was being forced to turn customers away because of the failing system.

Fortunately, those issues will now be a thing of the past.

"We can now look ahead with confidence that we have a stable and adaptable platform to drive our business forward," said Cronin. "We have had to adapt and change a lot since the company was founded and during my 27 years here. This is definitely a change for the better."

For Northgate, this latest boost once again justifies the firm decision to press forward with its aggressive expansion in North America, despite the tough economic environment of the past two years.

"We have total belief in our product and every new step is reinforcement of that," said Mark Pick, Northgate's Vice President - Reality. "Kittery is not only a beacon of the New England sporting goods market but Jim Cronin is seen as a valued and respected member of the Pick community. Their migration to Reality exposes all the shortfalls of D3 and will provide him with an unprecedented level of stability.

"We look forward to a long and successful partnership."