Multiple Zones, Inc. Changes Company Name to
Zones, Inc.; Ticker Symbol to ZONS
Business Editors, Technology Writers
Change Reflects Continued Focus on SMB Market and Expanded Offering
Of IT-Based Products and Services
RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2001--Effective today,
Multiple Zones, Inc. (the "Company"), (Nasdaq:MZON), the single-source
direct reseller(SM) of name-brand information technology products and
services to the small to medium sized business (SMB) market, changes
its company name to Zones, Inc., and has a new Nasdaq trading symbol
(Nasdaq:ZONS).
The change reflects the Company's single point of contact strategy
and services-led approach, creating unity across its divisions and
continued focus on the SMB and enterprise marketplace.
The Company previously operated several divisions targeted to
specific market segments, including Zones.com, PC Zone, Mac Zone and
Zones Business Solutions, among others. As of today all divisions,
with the exception of Mac Zone, are consolidated into Zones, Inc. The
Company will preserve its Mac Zone legacy as a sub-brand and continue
to serve its loyal Mac customer base under that name.
"The change simplifies our name, and assists us in communicating
the Company's increased focus on the SMB market and service-supported
approach," said Zones president and CEO Firoz Lalji. "It also takes
advantage of the informal brand equity that the Company has; Zones is
the name by which our customers and suppliers customarily refer to
us."
Beyond the name change, Zones' deliberate shift in primary focus
to the SMB market and expansion into IT services has resulted in a
strong Company. On April 26 Zones announced its Q1 2001 results,
revealing profitability in a tight business climate.
The executive management team, led by Lalji, engineered Zones'
turnaround. The Company began its transition to a single-source
supplier of IT products to business using the Account Executive
relationship model in 1999. The Company extended its portfolio from
pure product to include reselling IT-related services in 2000. Today,
Zones serves the SMB and enterprise business markets via almost 300
Account Executives and a robust e-commerce website offering a broad
range of IT-based services and products.
"In 1999 we identified emerging IT trends in the SMB marketplace
that continue to develop," said Scott Koerner, EVP and COO of Zones,
Inc. "The SMB market wants a single-source for all IT product and
services. Over time we have adjusted our business focus to meet that
need. This capability requires a large investment and is a multi-step
process that does not happen over night. We are well on our way to
being a true single-source supplier to our customers at Zones, and the
results thus far are most encouraging."
About Zones, Inc.
Zones, Inc. is the single-source direct reseller(SM) of name-brand
information technology products and services to the fast growing
small- to medium-sized business market. Zones sells these products and
services through specialty print and e-catalogs, inbound and outbound
account executives and the Internet. Zones offers more than 150,000
products from leading manufacturers including Apple, Compaq,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft and Toshiba.
Incorporated in 1988, Zones, Inc., is headquartered in Renton,
Washington. Company and buying information is available at
http://www.zones.com , or by calling 800/258-2088.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking.
These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based on current expectations that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from historical results or those anticipated. These risk factors
include, without limitation, future growth, dependence on revenue of
products, vendor support, competition, pressure on margin, variability
of operating results, changing methods of distributions, potential
disruption of business, potential increased in postage, shipping, and
paper costs, reliance on vendor relationships, state revenue or use
tax uncertainties, dependence on personnel, reliance on outsourced
distribution, and rapid technological change and inventory
obsolescence, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the
Company's filings with the SEC.
--30--APS/se*
CONTACT: Zones, Inc.
Ronald McFadden, 425/430-3000
or
atomic tech PR
Adam Sherk, 503/471-1331
adam@atomicpr.com
KEYWORD: WASHINGTON
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: E-COMMERCE RETAIL
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