Shipwire Storage and Shipping Solution Changes the Game for Eco-Friendly Mattress Retailer Keetsa

SAN FRANCISCO (Business Wire EON) January 22, 2008 -- If you've seen all the sleep aid commercials on television, it's obvious that getting a good night's sleep is a major problem. So when Keetsa introduced a revolutionary, eco-friendly memory foam mattress that can help people sleep better for less, the demand for the product was clearly there. In keeping with the company's environmental and cost-saving commitment, Keetsa had also developed a unique packaging solution that allowed the mattresses to be boxed for easy shipping to buyers, reducing transport costs and overall carbon emissions.

According to sales director Joe Alexander, what Keetsa didn't anticipate was the sleepless nights trying to find a warehouse to store and ship its mattresses. Keetsa found itself stuck in a classic small business box. Joe needed a warehouse that would fit his storage needs, but traditional warehouses wouldn't work with the company. Keetsa's patented packaging is designed within the carrier specifications so that they could be uniquely delivered through the mail. Despite that, traditional warehouses either didn't want to deal with mattresses or demanded long-term contracts, upfront fees, and a credit check that would have been hard for a newly established business to pass.

"For awhile, it seemed like the only option was to pay for our own 10,000 square-foot warehouse in Oakland, California," said Joe. "That was not a choice we wanted to make. Not only would the added costs force Keetsa to raise retail prices, but we would have to spend a lot of time managing the warehouse - time we needed to spend tending to retail sales and educating people about Keetsa's products."

Just as Joe and the Keetsa team were getting ready for more sleepless nights away from home, they found out about Shipwire and it's game-changing storage and shipping solution for Web retailers ready to focus on growth. It was exactly what they knew Keetsa needed but never thought they would find. Shipwire's easy plug-and-play online store order fulfillment solution eliminates the hassle of storage and shipping for growing retail companies.

"Shipwire's model was a perfect fit," Joe says. "There were no annual commitments or credit checks - just a low monthly fee, and Shipwire customized a pricing plan for us quickly." Using Shipwire.com, Keetsa was able to put inventory into East and West coast warehouses and automate mattress shipments to its growing list of online buyers from the Keetsa.com online store.

"We chose the Shipwire warehouse and order fulfillment service for its flexibility. It gave us storage and delivery features that we needed at a price we appreciated." Joe says. Keetsa estimates that using Shipwire saved them at least 35 percent versus the Oakland warehouse alternative - a savings that enables Keetsa to maintain the lowest retail prices on its mattresses. "Shipwire.com combined with our unique packaging is a huge advantage that allows us to compete against established players."

In addition to saving money, Shipwire's solution gives Keetsa other powerful advantages to help stay competitive.

         Receiving and Delivery the way Keetsa wants it

         Shipwire does not require Keetsa to deliver product on

          pallets, which allows the company to pack import containers

          with an estimated one-fourth more product. Shipwire's

          warehouse professionals handle Keetsa's container unloads.

         The power of multiple warehouses

         "Shipwire listened to our needs and then customized a pricing

          plan that gave us features, like multiple warehouses, that

          we never even dreamed possible," says Joe. "Using Shipwire's

          East and West Coast warehouses lets us move inventory closer

          to our customers, keeping our delivery costs low. Less

          travel also means less fuel, lowering the carbon footprint

          of our mattresses."

         80 percent less time

         "It takes us about an hour to ship a mattress from our

          flagship retail store in San Francisco -- pulling the box

          from inventory, labeling it, and waiting for the shipper,"

          explains Joe. "It takes just a couple of minutes to log into

          Shipwire.com and schedule a mattress for shipping from our

          Shipwire warehouses."

         Eliminate the Headaches of the warehouse, freight movement

          and order fulfillment

         Shipwire is Keetsa's warehouse and shipping expert. If

          something goes wrong, Keetsa can turn to Shipwire and get

          answers quickly. "We move a lot of inventory around the

          world and sometimes things go wrong with a freight shipment

          or a specific customer delivery," states Joe. "Sending

          through Shipwire reduces shipping mistakes. If a shipment is

          lost, Shipwire's team and tools make tracking down the error

          and resolving it quick, easy and typically in our favor.

          That is a nice change."

          Taking back control

          Instead of Keetsa bowing to the demands of warehouses,

           hoping they would do business with the innovative company,

           Joe has put the power back in Keetsa's hands by using

           Shipwire. He doesn't need to lease warehouses. Now the

           Keetsa team can manage inventory and delivery in a way that

           is convenient and affordable for them while gaining a

           competitive business advantage.

          Even the fact that they didn't have to sign an annual

           contract with Shipwire gave Keetsa more control. "It means

           Shipwire has to keep proving itself to us everyday," Joe

           notes. Although he quickly adds, "But believe me, we have

           no intention of leaving Shipwire." Especially since working

           with Shipwire, the entire Keetsa team sleeps a whole lot

           better.

For more information on how your business can leverage Shipwire to save shipping costs and lower your company's carbon footprint please see the Shipwire Blog posting -- Environmentally Friendly Storage and Shipping Practices.

Keetsa brings an eco-friendly, sustainability orientation to sleep products with amazing new items such as mattresses, pillows, and toppers that deliver comfort night after night. Keetsa also brings safer sleep environments by using everyday, natural ingredients that deliver anti-bacterial benefits. These products come together in one of the most efficient business models that produces a much lower carbon foot print than typical mattress stores...and every day cost savings to consumers in the range of 50 to 75 percent. To learn more, visit http://www.keetsa.com.

Shipwire, Inc. allows Web retailers to focus on growth by eliminating the hassle of inventory storage and order fulfillment. Plans start at just $29.95 a month. Shipwire is changing the game for businesses that sell merchandise online - offering a growing warehouse network, simple bundled pricing, a developer network, and Web store integration. Today, more than 30,000 online stores have Shipwire built-in. Shipwire has warehouses located in Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto. Shipwire can be contacted at 1-888-SHIPWIRE or http://www.Shipwire.com.

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