4imprint Maximizes Eprocurement

4imprint Maximizes Eprocurement of Custom Promotional Products with Hubspan Service

SEATTLE, Wash. (March 26, 2002) – Hubspan, a provider of real-time trading partner connectivity services, today announced that 4imprint Group plc, the world’s leading direct marketer of imprinted promotional products, has selected Hubspan to provide broad, real-time connectivity capabilities between 4imprint’s web-based storefront and a broad range of 4imprint customers. 4imprint’s blue-chip roster of clients includes BT, British Airways, Microsoft, BMW, DaimlerChrysler UK, Hitachi Data Systems, Crawford, Amec, Raley’s and Saturn and other leading companies who use promotional products to build their brand and increase customer loyalty. 4imprint’s connectivity initiative will begin immediately with US-based customers and will rapidly be deployed to international customers by mid-year. 4imprint joins Hubspan’s growing list of valued customers including companies such as PC Connection, Office Depot, and ImageX.

The Hubspan service will provide mutually beneficial results for both 4imprint and their customers by enabling customer enterprises to leverage their existing eProcurement systems to procure 4imprint customized promotional products online, in real time. 4imprint’s ability to directly integrate with their customers will expand their value proposition to their customers while garnering tighter customer relationships and increased competitive differentiation. Through a single connection to Hubspan, 4imprint will be able to globally integrate with a broad range of domestic and international customers. “As the global leader in the imprinted promotional products industry, we needed an integration solution that was fast, flexible, scalable and reliable to address the diversity of our client’s connectivity requirements,” said Kevin Lyons-Tarr, 4imprint CIO. “Hubspan’s approach completely satisfies all our integration requirements and surpasses them by additionally providing us with all the necessary network services, tools and infrastructure needed for successful trading partner connectivity. With a single connection to the Hubspan network we’ll be able to quickly, easily and cost-effectively integrate with multiple trading partners worldwide.”

“Hubspan is very excited that 4imprint, an innovative leader in the imprinted promotional products industry has joined the Hubspan network,” said Al Higginson, Hubspan CEO. “4imprint’s selection of Hubspan for both their national and international trading partner integration needs demonstrates their service commitment to their customers and validates the speed, flexibility and value of the Hubspan service.” Hubspan, a pioneer in the emerging Transaction Delivery Network space, provides a complete solution for companies to cost-effectively and conveniently create and maintain electronic connections with their trading partners. The Hubspan service integrates business processes ranging from PunchOut and Round Trip, to real-time exchange of static documents such as purchase orders, time sheets and invoices, as well as provides network infrastructure for private and public trading communities.

About 4imprint Group plc

The 4imprint Group plc is a leading international network of wholly owned companies in the highly fragmented $30 billion promotional products industry. Globally, the Company is the largest direct marketer of imprinted promotional products, and the fourth largest distributor. The Company’s blue-chip roster of clients includes BT, British Airways, Microsoft, BMW, DaimlerChrysler UK, Hitachi Data Systems, Crawford, Amec, Raley’s and Saturn and other leading companies who use promotional products to build their brand and increase customer loyalty. The Company operates in four distribution channels: direct marketing, corporate programmes, premium and incentive promotions and partner services.

The Group headquarters is in Manchester with other UK facilities in, Whitefield, London and Bristol. The 4imprint US offices are located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Quincy, Massachusetts. In addition, 4imprint has operations in France, Germany, Canada and China. 4imprint has worked closely with clients for over 25 years in the use of branded promotional products to support customers’ marketing and branding efforts. The
Company offers the only global solution in the industry in the areas of product sourcing and services.

The Company has developed proprietary systems that provide the easiest way to order imprinted promotional products. Its full e-commerce enabled online solutions provide customers with 24/7 access. 4imprint has 700 employees and currently provides services to more than 200,000 customers, including all of the Fortune 100? companies. 4imprint is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol FOUR. The company has established an American Depositary Receipts (ADR) programme in the US for US-based investors.
Websites:
4imprint
4imprint UK
4imprint Canada

About Hubspan

Hubspan connects businesses with their trading partners. The Hubspan service is a comprehensive solution for managing all the complex and time-consuming tasks of trading partner integration – beginning with understanding individual business and technology requirements through configuration, deployment and on-going support. A single connection to the Hubspan service gives businesses the fastest and most convenient way to connect to multiple trading partners. Hubspan and the Hubspan logo are trademarks of Hubspan, Inc.