MIAMI––Feb. 26, 2002–TigerDirect, a multi-channel computer reseller, was recently ranked #4 for traffic growth for December 2001 by Nielsen/NetRatings as published in the February 11 Wall Street Journal.
According to the report, TigerDirect’s website (http://www.tigerdirect.com) achieved a 161.4% increase in traffic over the previous year, accounting for over 1.1 million visitors in December 2001. TigerDirect has come a long way. Under the leadership of CEO Gilbert Fiorentino, TigerDirect has changed the way the company does business. While the company grew from a publisher of software titles and CD-ROMs to the online “computer superstore” that it is today, the CEO has led the way by being involved in every aspect of the business.
“Every decision our company makes is important to the customer and important to me,” said CEO Gilbert Fiorentino. “Ensuring the customer can receive a great price and pointing out exactly how great it is, enables us to draw more traffic - people tell their friends!”
TigerDirect has all the standard fare of computers and related equipment, however focus on bringing the greatest deals directly to the consumer - which has provided a more compelling reason for customers to buy from TigerDirect. T he email medium has allowed TigerDirect to inform consumers of great deals that just can’t be found anywhere else. Over 1 million individuals subscribe to the TigerDirect “preferred customer” list to receive the often “last minute” deals negotiated by the CEO and his team of “TigerDeals” staff.
“Other sites all have the same products at the same prices, however a great deal will always attract new customers,” says Lonny R. Paul, Director of eCommerce. “Giving our customers good deals every day as well as providing exclusive offers to new customers via our portal partners allows us to build our customer base.”
TigerDirect has built solid relationships with several online partners, including Yahoo, AOL and Half.com. Additionally, through Inceptor’s Excedia product, TigerDirect submits thousands of products into search engines and adds the power of thousands of online affiliates promoting the “latest deals” available anywhere.
With an annual catalog circulation of 26 million, TigerDirect is able to reach consumers both on and off-line. “Very few catalog companies have been able to make the adjustment to the online world - and the dot-com’s have had their share of failures,” said Fiorentino. “Being able to reach out to the masses in both ways provides us great benefit.”
About Tiger Direct
TigerDirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com) (a subsidiary of Systemax Inc. (NYSE:SYX)) is part of an integrated system of branded e-commerce web sites, direct mail catalogs, and relationship marketing to sell private label and name-brand PC hardware, related computer products and industrial products to businesses in North America and Europe. With annual sales at a rate of more than $1.5 billion, Systemax is a Fortune 1000 and Inter@active Internet 500 company.
Contact:
TigerDirect, Inc., Miami
Lonny Paul, 305/415-2239
lonny.paul@tigerdirect.com
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may include certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of revenue, income or loss and capital expenditures, statements regarding future operations, financing needs, plans relating to products or services of the Company, assessments of materiality, predictions of future events and the effects of pending and possible litigation, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. In addition, when used in this discussion, the words “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans” and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including but not limited to (i) the Company’s ability to manage rapid growth as a result of internal expansion and strategic acquisitions, (ii) the effect on the Company of volatility in the price of paper and periodic increases in postage rates, (iii) the operation of the Company’s management information systems, including the costs and effects associated with the year 2000 date change problem, (iv) the general risks attendant to the conduct of business in foreign countries, including currency fluctuations associated with sales not denominated in U.S. dollars, (v) significant changes in the computer products retail industry, especially relating to the distribution and sale of such products, (vi) competition in the PC, notebook computer, computer related products and industrial products markets from superstores, direct marketers, the Internet and other retailers, (vii) the potential for expanded imposition of state sales, use or other taxes and additional government regulation on direct marketers, (viii) the continuation of key vendor relationships, including the ability to continue to receive vendor supported advertising, (ix) timely availability of existing and new products, (x) risks involved with e-commerce, including the possible loss of business and customer dissatisfaction if outages or other computer-related problems should preclude customer access to the Company, (xi) risks associated with delivery of merchandise to customers by utilizing common delivery services such as UPS, including possible strikes, (xii) risks due to shifts in market demand and/or price erosion of owned inventory, (xiii) borrowing costs, (xiv) changes in taxes due to changes in the mix of U.S. and non-U.S. revenue, (xv) pending or threatened litigation and investigations and (xvi) the availability of key personnel, as well as other risk factors. These factors are discussed in greater detail in “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
