Elie Tahari deploys business intelligence technology from IBM to help gain greater visibility into customer buying habits, merchandising and supply chain to make better use of information and become more responsive to customer needs. Since implementing the system, the retailer has been able to more effectively target new customers and boost sales by more than 10 percent, while cutting operation costs.

As a fashion designer with global operations, Elie Tahari's collection changes from season to season throughout the year. It was critical for the retailer to get better visibility into their supply chain to keep up with customer demand for changing clothing line based on season's trends and geography. With business intelligence from Elie Tahari, the retailer has been able to achieve more than 30 percent savings in managing their supply chain and transfer of merchandise from warehouse to the stores.

To date, the software has helped Elie Tahari employees gain better visibility into business information, such as trends around customer orders. The software helps identify best selling sizes across product lines, popularity and demand for a particular item, or colors in fashion for the season. For example: based on gaining visibility into previous operations they are now able to predict upcoming demands - the retailer can now anticipate a high demand for "yellow halter dress" for the spring season in New York and would now be able to get the right amount of dresses with the right sizes available in stores in New York.

In addition, the IBM software also helps reduce the risk of manual reporting errors by moving to a new electronic system. In the past, it would take days for information to be manually compiled, that information is now updated every 5 minutes and can be viewed by all departments across the company, irrespective of location in any part of the world. With real-time access to information across their stores worldwide, channels and supply chain, retail managers, designers and merchandisers have detailed information on buying patterns in different parts of the world, so they can ensure they have the optimal assortment of merchandise to satisfy customer needs.

"The IBM business intelligence system has significantly helped us gain visibility into our customers' needs," says Nihad Aytaman, director of business applications, Elie Tahari. "With efficiencies that have been brought into our day-to-day transactions, this system has saved Elie Tahari several millions of dollars annually and has paid for itself many times over. IBM technology has helped us bring the kind of innovation in the high fashion industry that is helping us position ourselves better than the competition by creating brand loyalty for our products."

Borders Group announces that as part of its effort to drive further expense reductions, the company is consolidating its corporate management structure at the vice president and director levels, eliminating six vice president and 10 director positions. The majority of the affected positions are based at the company's headquarters in Ann Arbor.

Specifically, Borders Group has eliminated the role of Executive Vice President of U.S. Stores held by Ken Armstrong, who joined the company in 2007. Steve Davis, Senior Vice President of Borders Group Operations, who has been with Borders Group for 15 years in a variety of operations management positions, will take on leadership of the store operations group. In addition, the post of Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer held by Susan Harwood, who joined Borders Group in 2007, has been eliminated as the company recently shifted information technology under the leadership of Dan Smith, a 14-year Borders Group veteran who was appointed Chief Administrative Officer one month ago.

Within the Borders.com team, the position of Senior Vice President, E-Business held by Kevin Ertell has been eliminated as the company will now consolidate its online presence - including e-commerce and its popular Borders Media video programming - under the leadership of Rich Fahle. Fahle will now serve as Vice President, Borders.com. He has been with Borders Group for 10 years, most recently serving as Vice President, Content. Fahle is the originator of the Borders Media online video programming and has e-commerce experience with Borders, holding leadership positions beginning in the late 1990s within the company's initial Borders.com organization.

Other changes at the vice president level include the elimination of the following positions: Vice President, Real Estate; Vice President, Human Resource Services and Vice President, Creative. In addition, Fred Boehler, Senior Vice President, Logistics, has announced he will be leaving Borders Group. These business areas will continue to be supported by existing personnel as functions are consolidated under the revised business structure.

At the director level, the 10 eliminated positions include posts based outside the corporate office - such as the roles of Sales Director and Waldenbooks Specialty Retail Regional Director - as well as director posts at the corporate office within various departments including Paperchase gifts and stationery, merchandise strategy, merchandise planning and replenishment and national event marketing.

"As we address the immediate priority of getting our company's financial house in order, one of our goals is to more aggressively reduce annual expenses," said Borders Group CEO Ron Marshall. "It is difficult to make the decision to eliminate jobs, especially those of talented and dedicated leaders who have significantly contributed to our organization, yet streamlining our leadership and eliminating management layers will help us be more agile and at the same time advance us toward our expense reduction goals."