Retail Alliance, Inc. &RATEX Business Solutions, Inc.

An overview of the synergistic partnership between thecompanies and their clients…By Larry G. Daniels

RA & RBS Relationship…

The RA organization exists to assist independent college and university bookstores to leverage collective member interests.

RA programs often leveragesystem integrations betweenclients and vendor partners.

RA is the parent/owner but RBS remains stand-alone and leading provider of independent store systems.

RBS values and welcomes all clients regardlessof their choice of affiliation with the RA.

RA/RBS Leadership & Structure… RA/RBS leadership/permanent board of directors:

Rich McDaniel, CSP – President/Chair; Cornell Univ. Pam Mills, CSP – Vice-Chair

University of Colorado – Boulder Bill Simpson – Secretary/Treasurer

University of Connecticut John Turk, CSP – Director

University of California – San Diego Roger Reynolds, CSP – Director; Brigham Young Univ.

RA membership includes ~forty-four independent college stores participating on voluntary basis.

Staffing to provide support of operations andclient needs of both RBS and the RA.

Retail Alliance’s Stance… RA core priorities remain

committed to the supportingthe missionof independentoptions for stores.

Independent Stores

Vendor Program

s

VisualRATEX Capabilities

Peer-To-Peer Interaction

CorePriorities

Retail Alliance’s Stance… RA remains focused on core member

programs and peer-to-peercooperative member efforts.

Growing existing hallmarkpartnership programsFollett Higher EducationGroup MillenniumPartnership,Ingram Book Company,and NACSCORP programs.

Retail Alliance’s Stance…

The addition of new partnership programs - Baker & Taylor/J.A. Majors andKudzu Remainder Books.

Increased opportunities formember metrics andbest practice applicationthrough peer-to-peermeetings andvendor feedback summits.

Retail Alliance’s Stance… RA entrenched as, and plans to remain, active

and participative ownerof RBS committed toprovide ongoing supportof RBS and its mission.

RA has, and continues to,invest substantially toenhance the futurecapabilities and success of clientproduct and service offerings.

Retail Alliance’s Changes… Updates on staffing changes occurring since

2004 RUG Conference - since October 2004.

RA operationsand program developmentby yours truly.

RBS management andproduct development thruaddition of Jere Warnerin Philadelphia office.

Other new faces onboard.

Retail Alliance, Inc. &RATEX Business Solutions, Inc.

Watch for new informationcoming soon to theRA/RBS Web sites: www.retailalliance.org www.ratex.com www.visualratex.com