Boomerang Kids Becomes First Children's Resale Franchise to Offer Customers In-Store and Online Shopping

OTTAWA, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Boomerang Kids, a Canadian chain of children's resale stores, has become the first resale franchise operation to offer its inventory of high-quality children's, baby and maternity items in store and online.

Boomerang Kids' online store carries over 8,000 unique new and consignment products currently covering over 200 quality brands of children's clothes, baby items, maternity clothes, toys and baby equipment. This inventory will increase rapidly as franchise stores come online and is anticipated to include over 40,000 items within six months.  It is updated daily with the addition of hundreds of items from each Boomerang Kids retail location.  Customers have the choice of picking their order up in the store or having it shipped.

"Our customers love shopping at Boomerang Kids stores because they can count on our quality inventory of items that is refreshed daily, at great prices," said Heather Meek, Boomerang Kids CEO. "We are thrilled to be able to offer everyone the ability to buy the same great merchandise we have in our stores from the convenience and safety of their home."

With the adoption of digital technology, Boomerang Kids is successfully transforming from a traditional bricks and mortar retailer into a technology innovator in the resale franchise space. The Boomerang Kids ecommerce website was built on the Magento software platform with funding and business advisory support provided by the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP). Delivered by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), DTAPP is a component of the Government of Canada's overall strategy to boost the productivity of SMEs and improve Canada's digital economy.

The system was implemented by Toronto-based Demac Media, Canada's #1 Magento Gold Solutions Partner and Gatineau-based Lavablast Inc., which developed and now manages the Boomerang Kids version of Franchiseblast, an innovative franchise management and in-store Point of Sale and inventory software.  These integrated ecommerce and point of sale systems, the first of their kind in the resale industry, let consignors view and manage their accounts online and in Boomerang Kids' stores at self-serve kiosks.

"Implementing Boomerang Kids on Magento's Enterprise version has allowed us to utilize the advanced technology, which gives them ways to serve their customers better," Said Jamie Schreter, Vice-President of Strategy at Demac Media, "Recent sales increases support that Boomerang Kids' customers love having the option of shopping in Boomerang Kids stores and online."

Compared to recent economic data released by Statistics Canada, clothing retailers experienced a 4.1 percent increase in sales from July 2012 to July 2013.  Same-store sales for Boomerang Kids increased over 10 percent during the last six months.

About Boomerang Kids Franchise Corporation

Boomerang Kids is a retailer of high-quality children's, baby and maternity clothing and items.  Based in Ottawa, Boomerang Kids has 9 franchise locations across Ontario and Quebec, including the Greater Toronto Area.   More info at www.boomerangkidsfranchise.ca or www.boomerangkids.com

SOURCE: Boomerang Kids Franchise Corporation

Media Contact:
Danny Starr
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