At Hayneedle, our dynamic team of innovative, committed, and hardworking professionals has led to remarkable success over the past several years. These press releases highlight some of our recent accomplishments, and we're proud to share them here.
November 11, 2010 -- PR Newswire
Hayneedle Announces Daily Flash Sale Site The Foundary
Online Home Furnishings Retailer Launches Members-Only, Daily Flash Sale Site with Prices Up to 70 Percent Off Retail
Hayneedle, Inc., a leading online retailer of home furnishings and lifestyle products, today announced the debut of The Foundary, an exclusive, members-only, daily flash sale site that offers members home furnishings, decor and accessories from established and emerging designers and brands at unprecedented savings, up to 70% off retail.
The Foundary focuses its sales events on "products of substance" for the home — distinctive products that inspire, share a story or define a point of view. The Foundary scours the globe to introduce members to designers and brands whose products are not only stylish and of lasting value, but that spark the mind and help turn a house into a home. By visiting thefoundary.com, shoppers will be invited to enjoy a free membership that allows them to receive daily emails featuring new, limited-time sales events.
With Hayneedle's unparalleled knowledge of the home products marketplace, and a keen insight into both established and emerging designers and brands, The Foundary will offer flash sales items from trusted brands, such as Dyson and Riedel, luxury brands, such as Nancy Koltes and Jura Capresso, eco-friendly brands like Recycled Relics, and one-of-a-kind creations from artisans like The Weld House.
"At Hayneedle.com, customers can find what they need for their home by shopping any of our 200-plus categories with unmatched variety", said Doug Nielsen, CEO, Hayneedle, Inc. "For members of The Foundary, we're doing the shopping for them with limited-time sales events of exclusive collections of distinctive products at up to 70% off retail prices. Both offer the thrill of discovery and help consumers express their personal style."
Exclusive sales events are announced daily, typically starting at 11 a.m. ET at thefoundary.com. Each announcement includes four or more different events, offering selections of products from a variety of home living categories. The majority of The Foundary sales events last three days (72 hours) or while limited supplies last.
"The Foundary team enjoys a love of design in all its styles, and we can't wait to personally share how and why a particular collection or designer inspired us to bring their stories to your home," said Jason Goldberger, Chief Merchandising Officer. "We built thefoundary.com to create a space where we and our members can share and fuel a passion for 'products of substance' for every room of the home at exceptional prices."
Discovering New Designers:
As part of its mission to help members discover new designers and "products of substance," The Foundary is looking for emerging talent through The Foundary Designer Search. Through November 22, 2010, by entering on The Foundary Facebook page, up-and-coming designers have the chance to be found and have their home furnishings creations featured in sales events on the site. Members of The Foundary will vote for their favorite, yet-to-be-discovered designers and their inspired products on the site. To learn more visit http://www.thefoundary.com and click to follow The Foundary on Facebook.
October 19, 2010 -- PR Newswire
Executivse Switch Roles at Hayneedle
Doug Nielsen Named President and CEO; Carter Cast to Chairman
Hayneedle, Inc., one of the leading online retailers of home furnishings and lifestyle products, today announced that Doug Nielsen, Chairman, and Carter Cast, President and CEO, will exchange their executive management roles. Nielsen, a co-founder of Hayneedle, will become President and CEO, while Cast will assume the role of Chairman.
Nielsen co-founded the company, then known as NetShops, in 2002 along with business partners Mark Hasebroock and Julie Mahloch. He served as President and CEO from February 2002 to October 2007, at which time Cast joined the company. Hayneedle employs more than 400 people and has quickly grown into a leader in ecommerce, ranking #69 in Internet Retailer's Top 500 Guide.
"Carter has worked tirelessly for the past three years to strengthen and grow our organization, leading us through an incredibly successful evolution from NetShops to Hayneedle," said Nielsen. "Carter has moved to the Chairman position in order to concentrate on expanding strategic opportunities for the Hayneedle brand and to drive the long-term strategy for our business. I look forward to doing what I think I do best -- pouring my heart and soul into day-to-day operations as we continue to redefine how consumers shop for home furnishings and deliver a superior customer experience."
Nielsen has over 20 years experience as an entrepreneur and Internet pioneer. Prior to co-founding NetShops, Nielsen co-founded and served as CEO of GiftPoint.com, which merged with GiftCertificates.com in March 2000. Following the merger, he was President and served on the Board of Directors of GiftCertificates.com. Earlier, Nielsen founded two direct marketing companies.
"The past three years have been extraordinarily satisfying and I'm confident this exchange of roles with Doug will position Hayneedle for continued growth and success," said Cast. "Doug and I, supported by the talent and dedication of our entire team, share a clear vision and significant aspirations for the company. Together, we will build on our momentum and continue to expand the Hayneedle brand and business."
Before joining Hayneedle, Cast helped launch Walmart.com, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing, Merchandising and Site, and, ultimately, as President and CEO. During this time, he led the division to profitability, as it became one of the highest volume ecommerce sites in the world. Prior to Walmart.com, Cast was a member of the start-up team for Blue Nile Inc., the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry. He earlier served as Vice President of Product Marketing and Marketing Communications for Electronic Arts, launching products such as The Sims. Cast began his career at PepsiCo, Inc., holding a variety of marketing positions over a 10-year period.
October 18, 2010 -- PR Newswire
Arbor Day Foundation and Hayneedle Partner to Help Plant Trees
Online Home Furnishings Retailer Partners With the Arbor Day Foundation This Holiday Season To Help Plant 15,000 Trees
Hayneedle.com, the Omaha-based, leading online retailer of home furnishings and lifestyle products, announced today the launch of its holiday campaign, Buy a Tree Today & We'll Plant One for Tomorrow, featuring a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to further their mission and truly celebrate trees this holiday season.
For every Christmas tree purchased on Hayneedle.com between October 15th and December 25th, a live tree will be planted in the nation's forests by the Arbor Day Foundation. When consumers choose to celebrate the holidays with one of the hundreds of trees available at Hayneedle.com, they will be helping to plant a live tree in our nation's forests that have been damaged by wildfires, insects and disease. Hayneedle.com hopes to plant 15,000 new trees by sponsoring a live tree for every Christmas tree sold this season.
"Hayneedle.com is demonstrating how companies can make a positive impact on our world by planting trees," said Tiffany Thompson, Corporate Partner Manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees planted by Hayneedle.com will help clean the air we breathe, clean drinking water for millions of Americans and will provide habitat for countless wildlife species."
Hayneedle.com boasts one of the largest selections of artificial trees, whether it's pre-lit, frosted, fiber optic, or just a classic full faux pine. And with more than 200 online retail and specialty stores, Hayneedle.com offers its customers a true variety to help them find everything needed to trim the tree, deck the halls, and prepare for their homes for the holidays.
"Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit more than giving, so we are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to give to our nation's forests," said Jason Goldberger, Hayneedle Chief Merchandising Officer. "It's wonderful to know that by decorating with a reusable, artificial Christmas tree in our homes each holiday, we can celebrate nature by planting and nurturing live trees for all to enjoy for many years to come."
For more information on the Buy a Tree Today & We'll Plant One for Tomorrow campaign, please visit www.hayneedle.com.
July 28, 2010 -- Internet Retailer
Opportunity knocks for merchants who embrace optimization
Savvy retailers can knock information sites out of top search results.
Natural search is the land of opportunity for online retailers. One big opportunity is to learn how to displace content sites holding down key positions in natural search. And another exists for smaller retailers to use natural search to compete with much bigger retailers.
Of 297 keywords tested for Internet Retailer’s 2011 Search Marketing Guide, 219 of 930 top keyword positions—24%—were held by informational web sites or other non-merchants. That’s a mirror image of last year’s data: content-based sites held 24%, or 223, of 927 top positions.
The challenge for retailers is to get ahead of the content providers who show up at the top of the lists on many of the terms that users search on when they are shopping. For example, web merchants held 20 of 45 top positions among 15 keyword places in the Consumer Electronics merchandising category in this year’s study. The other 25 slots were held by informational web sites, such as Wikipedia.org, HowStuffWorks.com and ConsumerSearch.com. By comparison, retailers held 22 of 45 positions in last year’s study indicating there is plenty of room to improve.
"Informational web sites appear so frequently in the top search results for high-value keywords in so many merchandising categories because Google believes users are best served when natural search results are devoted to editorial content," says Larry Becker, an e-commerce marketing analyst. That doesn’t mean retailers can’t compete for strong natural search placements in those categories. "But it does emphasize the value of retailers developing abundant relevant content for their own sites," he says. "Smart retailers in info-rich categories like consumer electronics can win strong search result positions with articles, videos and reviews that address consumer questions like 'how to choose’ and ‘how to use.'"
That content should be written for the user, Becker says. "If content answers a question or solves a problem other sites will link to it, increasing its relevance in the eyes of the search engines," he says. "Proper formatting of this content—for humans and search engines alike—makes a difference, too."
Retailers can compete with content providers in commodity products categories such as consumer electronics by targeting the staples in a product line, not the hot new items, says Amanda Watlington, president of Searching for Profit, a natural search marketing firm. "Retailers have a lot more keyword real estate they can cover. Because many of the products are not highly specialized, there are more keywords open." For example, most retailers shouldn’t optimize for terms such as "4G iPhone" because the technology is so new, she says. There’s more to say about digital cameras and DVD players. They stand a better chance of getting noticed by search engines in commodity markets by creating objective product reviews, organizing customer reviews and joining forces with or establishing links to external equipment ratings organizations.
Links to social media sites, such as Facebook "Likes" that Google is now tracking and blogs also can increase exposure, experts say.
One retailer that’s been committed to natural search since its launch in 2002 is Hayneedle Inc. 69 Hayneedle Inc. Mass Merchant Online Sales:$241,500,000 (IR estimate) Growth:15.0% See More , No. 69 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, which operates 220 niche sites and is the top-ranked retailer in the Home Furnishings merchandising category. The company has increased its exposure to search engines through its Facebook page, which has more than 6,000 friends, and by posting product and company videos on YouTube. Hayneedle also posted consumer product review videos on YouTube. All help increase its exposure to search engines.
Hayneedle, formerly named NetShops, operates many web stores in the home and garden market and has relied on natural search to establish itself as a centralized location for many related products, as well as to help spread the word about its new name, says Ash ElDifrawi, chief marketing officer.
Internet retailers held 41 of the top 45 keyword spots in the Home Furnishings category and also were dominant in the Accessories category where they held 46 of 48 top keyword spots.
In addition to competing with content sites for top keyword positions, natural search enables the smaller retailer to take on the big guys, the study shows. Good examples of small retailers beating out their bigger competitors include Wild Attire Inc., parent of WildTies.com, in the Accessories category. The company held the second position after eBags.com in the top five rankings of web retailers in each of 20 merchandising categories. And in the Apparel category, Fresh Pair Inc. held down the second position.
Fresh Pair, a retailer of underwear for men and women showed its savvy with natural search terms by tying with much larger retailers Gap Inc. Direct (No. 23) and The Men’s Wearhouse Inc. with 77 points. In the Hardware category, niche web retailer Direct Door Hardware LLC managed its natural search terms well enough to hold down fourth place, behind Amazon (No. 1), Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (No. 81) and ToolBarn.com Inc.
Natural search is a key opportunity for many small retailers to best their bigger competitors in the search marketing arena, says Nathan Safran, senior research analyst at SEO research firm Conductor Inc. Conductor analyzed SEO effectiveness for this report and found that 67% of 250 retailers scored excellent or good. Conductor’s rating is based on a combination of retailers’ resources devoted to SEO, use of analytics tools and keyword visibility. But there’s room to improve, Safran says.
One way to get better at search engine optimization is to gather non-branded keyword terms for a particular market. Google’s AdWords Keyword tool is a good place to start, Safran says. Another is reviewing the global monthly search volume for those search terms from Google’s Keyword tool, and then testing those keywords. Those tactics work in both paid and natural search marketing.
June 16, 2010
Hayneedle launches first brand awareness campaign
Niche store e-retailer consolidates backyard offerings.
June 16, 2010 / Internet Retailer/ -- For the first time, niche store web retailer Hayneedle Inc. has consolidated its outdoor furniture, accessories and décor in a single web location. Hayneedle.com/backyard is part of a new brand awareness campaign labeled Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer. The campaign, which runs throughout the summer, includes promotions on radio and television as well as online contests.
"Outdoor is one of our strongest categories and where our value proposition of variety in depth and breadth of products really shines," says Ash ElDifrawi, chief marketing officer of Hayneedle, No. 69 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide. "As a business, we've made strategic investments in our customer experience including customer service, product quality, our site, technology infrastructure and distribution. Now, it's time to introduce customers to our brand."
The strategy to improve brand awareness aims to also increase repeat buyers and reduce costs through paid acquisition channels such as search engine marketing, he notes.
Since launching the campaign May 17, Hayneedle, which operates 220 online stores, has started seeing results from radio contests and giveaways that it has conducted in eight markets, including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, through the CBS RIOT network.
"In markets where we've advertised on the radio, we're seeing a double-digit lift in visitor sessions," says ElDifrawi, who declined to release any specific sales information. "We're also seeing our brand recall numbers go up by double-digits as well. Before when people bought from us, they didn’t realize that they were buying from Hayneedle, but rather from a stand-alone niche site like Hammocks.com."
On Facebook, the company has launched the Hayneedle Hustle contest. Shoppers can enter to win a $15,000 gift certificate by uploading video of themselves dancing with a picture of a product that they purchased on Hayneedle. The company also gave away a $15,000 gift certificate as part of a segment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show where five contestants had to play blindfolded musical chairs to vie for the gift certificate. The runners-up received $500 gift certificates and the show’s audience members each received $100 Hayneedle gift certificates.
The company also enlisted Eduardo Xol, a designer on ABC-TV network’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show, as a celebrity designer. As part of the campaign, Xol has been tweeting on Twitter and posting comments on Facebook with outdoor design ideas and special product discounts. He has also been featured on videos posted on YouTube.
Jun 17, 2010 -- PR Newswire
Hayneedle.com Continues Growth, Opening Expanded Omaha-Based Customer Care Center This Summer
Leading Online Home Furnishings Retailer's "Variety Experts" Help Drive Growth by Focusing on Customer Experience; 28,000-Square Foot Facility Doubles Capacity
OMAHA, Neb., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayneedle.com, a leading online retailer of home furnishings and lifestyle products based in Omaha, today announced plans to open a new, expanded and state-of-the-art Customer Care Center on June 28, 2010. The new Hayneedle.com Customer Care Center will be located at The Chalco Tech Center, 13831 Chalco Valley Parkway, Omaha, NE 68138.
The new, 28,000 square foot Hayneedle.com Customer Care Center doubles the company's sales and service capacity, which is currently located at Hayneedle.com's Corporate Headquarters on I Street in West Omaha. The new facility will feature the industry's most advanced technology and optimal working environment, marking a significant investment by Hayneedle.com in both the infrastructure of its Customer Care Center as well as a long-term commitment to its hometown of Omaha.
"Hayneedle.com has experienced tremendous growth over the past 12 months and our new 100% Omaha-based Customer Care Center will ensure we remain focused on delivering an exceptional experience with our brand," said Tammy Van Donk, Customer Care Center Director, Hayneedle, Inc. "We continue to invest in the local economy because we believe in the strength of the Omaha employment market. Strong customer satisfaction ratings have been key to our growth and as we work to help our customers furnish and decorate their homes, we are very proud to continue to invest and grow in the city that we call home."
Hayneedle.com recently hired 40 new summer associates for its Customer Care Center. When operational in late June 2010, the new Hayneedle.com Customer Care Center will flex from non-peak season employment of 100 sales and service associates— dubbed "Hayneedle.com Variety Experts" — to more than 250 full-time and seasonal associates during the company's historically busy fourth quarter holiday shopping season. Unlike other retailers who outsource some or all of their contact center operation, Hayneedle.com operates a 100% Omaha-based Customer Care Center, centered in the city the company has called home since its founding in 2002. The service provided by Hayneedle.com's dedicated Variety Experts enabled the Customer Care Center to achieve a greater than 50% increase in revenue contribution last year as the company continued its tireless commitment to deliver an exemplary customer experience.
The Chalco Tech Center building is owned and managed by Lincoln, NE-based NEBCO Realty Group, a subsidiary of NEBCO, Inc. CB Richard Ellis|Mega negotiated the lease on behalf of Hayneedle.com and NEBCO.
About Hayneedle.com
Hayneedle.com offers "variety, sweet variety" for the home and more through its 200-plus online specialty retail stores. Established in 2002, Hayneedle.com offers an extensive variety of high quality home and lifestyle products, far surpassing what is available in the traditional retail world or from other online retailers. By providing a rewarding shopping experience, exceptional service, true product variety and the right content to buy with confidence, Hayneedle.com helps customers find what they love and love what they find. The company has been recognized by Internet Retailer and Inc. Magazine as one of the top online retailers and fastest growing companies in America. With more than $200 million in sales, Hayneedle.com is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.hayneedle.com.
Jun 4, 2010
Kathie Lee Gifford Joins Hayneedle.com to Help Americans 'Accomplish Nothing' This Summer to Benefit Top Children's Charity
Summer Campaign Encourages "Hammock Lifestyle" to Ease Stress and Promote Peaceful, Positive Parenting; Supports Childhelp's Mission to Help Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect
OMAHA, Neb., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic entertainment personality, Kathie Lee Gifford, has joined forces with Hayneedle.com, the popular online home furnishings retailer, to put a hammock in every backyard in America as a means of reducing stress and finding some moments of peace from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In the spirit of reducing stress among families and promoting peaceful parenting, a portion of every hammock sold via the Hayneedle.com and Kathie Lee Gifford partnership will support the mission of Childhelp®, a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Learn more at www.hayneedle.com/hammocks.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100604/NY15476)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100604/NY15476)
Hayneedle.com, the leading source for outdoor hammocks, hammock stands and hammock chairs, will be donating a portion of every hammock sold as part of its partnership with Kathie Lee Gifford to Childhelp. To support Childhelp, customers can use the special promotional code "FORKIDS" at checkout when placing their order for a hammock or hammock accessories. A special section of the Hayneedle.com website has been created to raise awareness of the campaign at www.hayneedle.com/hammocks.
"In our high-stress nation, we are accustomed to always being on-the-go. We go to work, we go to the gym, we go to the supermarket, we make dinner, we clean the house and we just keep going. When do we stop and relax?" said Kathie Lee Gifford. "Lying in a soft hammock, rocking slowly in the fresh breeze as cold drops of water slide down your lemonade glass, is the height of affordable luxury. It offers a backyard island of peace and serenity to escape from the stress and pressures of life. And hopefully, by being a little less stressed and a little more relaxed, we can enjoy and appreciate more precious time with our families and children this summer."
"We are excited that Kathie Lee Gifford has joined Hayneedle.com in our mission to help people Accomplish Nothing to help them accomplish something … and it's as easy as getting into a hammock," said Hayneedle Inc. Chief Executive Officer Carter Cast. "The hardest thing for adults to accomplish is nothing – we forget that rest and relaxation are essential for good health and well-being. While we long for peace and relaxation, we don't make room for it in our daily routines. We look forward to working with Kathie Lee this summer to spread the peace of a hammock lifestyle while supporting the essential efforts of Childhelp."
"Financial frustrations and economic uncertainty can lead to stressed-out parents and caregivers, and the potential for abuse can rise," said Sarah Rodriguez, Vice President of Corporate Relations, Childhelp. "Childhelp's programs to prevent child abuse from ever happening in the first place become even more vital during such stressful times. Kathie Lee is such an incredible advocate for Childhelp and the kids we serve and we are thrilled to be part of her partnership with Hayneedle.com to create a peaceful hammock oasis as one more step in promoting positive parenting."
To learn more about living the "hammock lifestyle" or for more information on the Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer, please visit www.hayneedle.com.
About Childhelp®:
Childhelp® exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. Founded in 1959 by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp® is a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Childhelp's approach focuses on prevention, intervention and treatment. The Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. Childhelp's programs and services also include residential treatment services (villages); children's advocacy centers; therapeutic foster care; group homes; child abuse prevention, education and training; and the National Day of Hope®, part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month every April.
About Hayneedle.com:
Hayneedle.com offers "variety, sweet variety" for the home and more through its 200-plus online specialty retail stores. Established in 2002, Hayneedle.com offers an extensive variety of high quality home and lifestyle products, far surpassing what is available in the traditional retail world or from other online retailers. By providing a rewarding shopping experience, exceptional service, true product variety and the right content to buy with confidence, Hayneedle.com helps customers find what they love and love what they find. The company has been recognized by Internet Retailer and Inc. Magazine as one of the top online retailers and fastest growing companies in America. With more than $200 million in sales, Hayneedle.com is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.hayneedle.com.
May 17, 2010 -- PR Newswire
Hayneedle.com Kicks Off Multi-Million Dollar Campaign to Bring Variety to America's Homes...One Backyard at a Time
Eduardo Xol, Star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Named Celebrity Designer for Hayneedle.com, One of America's Largest Online Home Retailers
OMAHA, Neb., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayneedle.com, the Official Sponsor of YOUR Backyard, announced today the launch of the Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer, a multi-million dollar, integrated marketing campaign aimed at bringing true variety to America's homes...one backyard at a time.
A leading online retailer of home furnishings and lifestyle products, Hayneedle.com is on a mission to provide Americans with unparalleled variety for a summer filled with endless backyard relaxing and entertaining. The Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer campaign launches nationwide prior to Memorial Day and continues throughout the summer featuring advertising, celebrity spokespersons, entertainment partnerships, contests, giveaways, events and more.
"Customers have told us time and again how frustrating it is to create their dream summer backyard, given the lack of variety at retail stores," said Carter Cast, Chief Executive Officer, Hayneedle, Inc. "They're tired of encountering the same sleepy, green patio umbrella or the same dusty, rickety patio furniture set. Hayneedle.com will show people that they don't have to compromise their personal style and with our great prices, they don't have to compromise their budget either."
Eduardo Xol Joins Hayneedle.com as Celebrity Designer
Helping America get "backyard ready" will be Eduardo Xol, star designer from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Eduardo has joined the team as Hayneedle.com Celebrity Designer. An established and trusted voice in outdoor design and landscaping with a passion for outdoor living, Xol will provide his expertise and advice for Hayneedle.com customers. A series of online videos featuring Xol will launch in late May on Hayneedle.com. Xol will also be consulting with some of the nation's most popular radio personalities and their listeners through a partnership with CBS Radio that will give away Hayneedle.com Backyard Makeovers in Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and San Francisco.
"I design for all of the senses and believe there is a designer inside all of us," said Xol. "I'm thrilled to be working with Hayneedle.com to guide people through the steps of creating their own outdoor sanctuary, entertainment space, lounge, dining room or play area. Hayneedle.com is truly a designer's dream and with such a wide variety of products, it's a one-stop-shop for every corner of your backyard and your home."
"We are thrilled to kick off the Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer campaign with Eduardo Xol as our Celebrity Designer," said Ash ElDifrawi, Chief Marketing Officer, Hayneedle, Inc. "Eduardo's expertise will help our customers create backyards that reflect their personal style with Hayneedle.com's tremendous selection of outdoor and home furnishings and decor. At Hayneedle.com, you'll discover true variety, a fun, easy shopping experience, and a whole team of people ready to help you find what you love and love what you find."
Hayneedle Hustle: $15,000 Backyard Shopping Spree
Hayneedle.com's mission is to provide true variety so consumers can find the perfect item to express their individual style. The company's Hayneedle Hustle online promotion launching this week is aimed at celebrating the excitement of finding that perfect item and giving people a chance to show off their individual style and self-expression. Hayneedle.com invites people to show off their best backyard dance moves by uploading a video of their personal version of the Hayneedle Hustle for a chance to win a $15,000 Backyard Shopping Spree. The lucky winner, selected by a team of judges at Hayneedle.com, will see their backyard transformed from ordinary to extraordinary this summer.
Peter Pan: The Hayneedle.com Neverland Garden
Hayneedle.com is bringing variety to America's backyards... even Peter Pan's. Hayneedle.com has partnered with the San Francisco premiere of J.M. Barrie's PETER PAN to outfit the Hayneedle Neverland Garden - a 17,000 square feet enchanted area that will be filled with modern and whimsical backyard furnishings available exclusively from Hayneedle.com. Open now and running through the summer, audiences can begin their theatrical journey before the performance commences by enjoying refreshments on-site in one of the many Hayneedle.com Neverland Garden hospitality and VIP areas. Guests can relax in a gazebo, lounge on a couch, eat at a picnic table, or feel the magic of Peter Pan from a park bench.
For more information on the Hayneedle.com Backyard Summer, please visit www.hayneedle.com.
About Hayneedle.com
Hayneedle.com offers "variety, sweet variety" for the home and more through its 200-plus online specialty retail stores. Established in 2002, Hayneedle.com offers an extensive variety of high quality home and lifestyle products, far surpassing what is available in the traditional retail world or from other online retailers. By providing a rewarding shopping experience, exceptional service, true product variety and the right content to buy with confidence, Hayneedle.com helps customers find what they love and love what they find. The company has been recognized by Internet Retailer and Inc. Magazine as one of the top online retailers and fastest growing companies in America. With more than $200 million in sales, Hayneedle.com is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital.
May 5, 2010
Hayneedle.com Partners with the San Francisco Premiere of Peter Pan to Outfit the Neverland Backyard
America’s favorite online home retailer creates a fully furnished outdoor experience for The Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Hayneedle.com is kicking off the Hayneedle.com Backyard summer campaign by furnishing the "Hayneedle Neverland Backyard" at J M Barrie’s Peter Pan. The U.S. production of the classic play, debuting on San Francisco’s historic waterfront, is surrounded with outdoor pieces specially selected from, and exclusive to, Hayneedle.com’s variety of online specialty stores.
Open now and running through the month of September, San Francisco is hosting the U.S. premiere of a spectacular new stage production of Peter Pan performed in the world’s first 360-degree CGI theatre pavilion, designed for London's Kensington Gardens last summer and shipped 6,000 miles to San Francisco. This remarkable and beautiful structure will be an iconic destination located inside a magical setting at Public Ferry Park aptly called the Hayneedle Neverland Backyard – a 17,000-sq. ft. enchanted area outfitted with more than $65,000 worth of modern backyard furnishings, exclusively from Hayneedle.com.
"This wondrous, outdoor experience seamlessly fits in with our core values of family time, summer entertaining and providing customers with the opportunity to create their dream backyard," said Hayneedle, Inc. President and CEO Carter Cast. "Hayneedle.com brings variety to America's backyards, so why not Peter Pan's?"
Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., park-goers and audiences can begin their theatrical journey before the performance commences by enjoying refreshments on-site in one of the many Hayneedle Neverland Backyard hospitality and VIP areas. They can relax in a gazebo, lounge on a conversation set, eat at a patio dining set, or feel the magic of Peter Pan from a park bench.
In addition to experiencing the captivating outdoor scene at the Hayneedle Neverland Backyard, listeners of KCBS 740 AM and 106.9 FM can enter to win a chance to create their own Hayneedle.com Neverland Backyard. Throughout the summer, the radio stations will be giving away $100 Hayneedle.com gift certificates, along with tickets to see the performance.
Aug. 12, 2009
NETSHOPS CHANGES BRAND NAME, LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE SITE
Leading Online Retailer Brings Over 200 Specialty Stores Together Under One Consumer Site
OMAHA, Neb. (August 12, 2009) – Today, shoppers buying for their home and lifestyle can take advantage of a revolutionary online retail experience: Hayneedle.com. Formerly known as NetShops, Hayneedle is a collection of more than 200 specialty stores, each dedicated to a single product line where selection is often limited in retail stores. Hayneedle features an industry-leading site navigation and global checkout cart that works across all Hayneedle stores, offering consumers an innovative shopping experience for discovering home, work and leisure products.
The company has been recognized by Internet Retailer as a Top 100 site and by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing companies.
A candid look at the world of retail reveals that consumers feel they lack choices when shopping for their home. Brick and mortar retailers are limited by available shelf space, and online retailers typically don’t provide product depth and breadth within single categories. Addressing these needs, Hayneedle was created to offer people an extensive selection of home and lifestyle products, far surpassing what is currently available.
"Consumers deserve choice in categories where retailers can’t provide it. For example, most retailers would carry about three hammocks, but with Hayneedle, you get over 100. Plus, customers can easily shop all Hayneedle specialty stores for indoor and outdoor living with the ease and convenience of just one shopping cart," explains Carter Cast, CEO of Hayneedle. "By offering niche stores dedicated to a specific line of products and connecting them together under Hayneedle, we'll make it easier for our customers to find what they want for their home and lifestyle."
Hayneedle’s online stores carry merchandise for the living room, bedroom, bath, kitchen, office, garage, yard and garden, as well as for sports and hobbies. These stores focus on specific products where options are often limited, such as bar stools, patio sets or bird baths, and even hard-to-find products like compost bins and dog houses. New stores open almost weekly to fulfill customer needs.
According to company research, many consumers seek not only individual products, but an array of items to complete a living area in their home.
"We’ve talked to thousands of consumers who have told us that they’re buying products for their home based on an occasion such as redecorating an outdoor patio or creating a recreation room in the basement," says Ash ElDifrawi, Chief Marketing Officer of Hayneedle. "With Hayneedle, customers get the benefit of shopping our extensive collection of specialty stores where they can find everything they need, but they only have to check-out once."
Over the last two years, a new executive team was assembled to draw upon decades of online retail experience and build a world-class shopping experience. Hayneedle is the culmination of years of innovation and leadership combined with powerful tools that make shopping and buying better. Highlights of the new site include:
• An intuitive online purchasing experience with an industry-leading universal shopping cart that works across all stores.
• An easy-to-use navigation system that makes it simple for customers to move between related stores with just one click.
• The right content and product information that empowers customers to shop and buy with confidence.
Doug Nielsen, Mark Hasebroock and Julie Mahloch founded NetShops in 2002 and launched its first store, hammocks.com. NetShops has since been recognized by industry leaders for its rapid growth and extensive consumer offering. With over $200 million in annual revenue, the company now known as Hayneedle is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital.
About hayneedle.com
Hayneedle (hayneedle.com), a leading online retailer of more than 200 specialty stores, recently unveiled its new Web site, which offers consumers an extensive variety of home and lifestyle products far surpassing what is available in the retail world. By providing a rewarding shopping experience, exceptional service, true product variety and the right content to buy with confidence, hayneedle.com helps customers find what they love and love what they find. The company was originally established in 2002 as NetShops, Inc. and has been recognized by Internet Retailer and Inc. Magazine as one of the top online retailers and fastest growing companies in America. With over $200 million in sales, Hayneedle is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.hayneedleinc.com. www.hayneedleinc.com.
2009
Why Was Hayneedle Created?
A candid look at the world of retail reveals a lack of variety when it comes to certain home and lifestyle products. Where do people go to buy a hammock like the ones at vacation resorts, or the perfect baby crib for a new nursery? Due to limited shelf space, brick and mortar retailers are unable to offer broad choice. Major online retailers have many items, but typically not a large variety of one specific item. That’s why Hayneedle was created – to give consumers a new world of choice in products for home, work and leisure, and an incredibly easy way to shop all of them. Hayneedle offers a collection of more than 200 specialty stores, each dedicated to a single product line - from patio umbrellas and clocks to dollhouses and hammocks. In fact, according to consumer research, customers seek an array of products to complete an occasion or area in their home, whether it’s the bedroom, basement or backyard. With this in mind, Hayneedle’s universal shopping cart allows consumers to shop across all stores using one cart so they need check-out only once. In addition, navigation between Hayneedle stores is easy with its proprietary concierge bar, which offers suggestions from related stores based on what the consumer is shopping for at the time. By combining intuitive shopping tools with niche stores dedicated to specific products, Hayneedle is able to offer true variety and a rewarding shopping experience that ensures customers find what they love and love what they find.
How Does It Work?
Go to hayneedle.com to shop an extensive variety of home and lifestyle products, many never previously accessible online, and far surpassing what is available in the offline retail world.
Consumer Benefits:
• True Product Variety: Hayneedle was founded to meet the needs of people who want better variety of products for their home and lifestyle. hayneedle.com offers an incomparable selection of products within underserved categories such as patio and garden, baby and kids, sports and games, home furnishings and more, so customers can discover unique items that meet their individual needs. While the site’s inventory is broad, it’s also distinctive. Hayneedle is selective about the products it sells in order to ensure a satisfying shopping experience. The company opens new specialty stores almost weekly to stay aligned with customer requests.
• Unparalleled Customer Experience: By offering specialty stores dedicated to a specific line of products and connecting them together under Hayneedle, the company provides the most sophisticated online purchasing experience. Hayneedle is one of the industry’s first sites to offer a universal shopping cart that works across all stores and a friendly navigation that makes it easy for customers to find and buy exactly what they want.
• Shop and Buy with Confidence: Hayneedle was built one store at a time to offer the right content and product information, making it easy to shop and buy with confidence. From bar stools to binoculars, Hayneedle offers an intuitive way to shop that ultimately connects customers with the products that best suit their tastes and lifestyles. In addition, because Hayneedle is an online retailer, the company is able to quickly update and tailor its offerings to accommodate a dynamic marketplace. Hayneedle has longstanding manufacturer relationships, which often allow for the development of exclusive products.
Corporate History:
Hayneedle was originally established in 2002 as NetShops, an online retailer that first launched with Hammocks.com. The founders recognized a tremendous opportunity in developing multiple niche ecommerce stores, each offering a single line of products. In August 2009, NetShops brought its collection of more than 200 stores together under one branded consumer site known as Hayneedle. The company, recognized as one of online retail’s fastest growing companies by Internet Retailer and Inc. Magazine, is privately held and funded by Insight Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital.
Chief Executive Officer: Carter Cast
Founders: Doug Nielsen, Mark Hasebroock, Julie Mahloch
Web site: www.hayneedle.com
Corporate Office: 12720 I Street, Ste 200, Omaha, NE 68137
Employees: 300+
Media Contact: press@hayneedle.com
June 2007
NetShops, Inc. has been ranked #104 on Internet Retailer magazine's Top 500 guide of the largest retail Web sites in the country. This is the second consecutive year in which NetShops has made the Top 500 list, having been ranked #120 in 2006. Each year, Internet Retailer highlights the nation's leading Web retailers based on annual sales. According to the magazine, companies ranked in the Top 500 guide account for 60% of all online sales. "Our company is growing rapidly in terms of specialty product offerings and employees," said Doug Nielsen, co-founder and chief executive officer of NetShops, Inc. "It's nice to see that our efforts are being reflected in our sales numbers and we're pleased to be ranked among the top Web-based retailers in the nation." Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., NetShops currently owns and operates over 150 online specialty stores, including hammocks.com, binoculars.com and barstools.com. NetShops was named the 13th fastest growing company in America by Inc. magazine in 2006 and has served over 1 million satisfied customers.
Omaha, Neb. - For the third consecutive year, major online retailer NetShops ranked among Inc's. Top 500 companies based on revenue growth. In 2006, NetShops generated $114.5 million in total revenue. Entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors look to Inc. magazine and its website, Inc.com, as a resource for successful businesses. Inc.'s annual Top 500 list was expanded in 2007 to include America's top 5,000 fastest growing companies. "We're very proud to receive such validation of our growth and promise for the future," said Doug Nielsen, co-founder and CEO of NetShops Inc. "It's satisfying to see how far we've come, but the real excitement is in what lies ahead." Nielsen credited the implementation of new site enhancements such as customer reviews, through Calif.-based PowerReviews Inc., as one of the many factors responsible for the continued success of NetShops. "Providing customer interaction has made a big impact on our sites. Combining that with a dedicated team of product experts really gives us a powerful edge for our customers," Nielsen said. Based in Omaha, Neb., NetShops currently owns and operates over 150 online specialty stores, including Hammocks.com, Binoculars.com and Barstools.com. Each store focuses on a specific product category, and all can be shopped at Netshops.com. In 2007, NetShops also ranked #104 on Internet Retailer's Top 500. NetShops received the "2007 Excellence in Business Award" from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in May and has twice been recognized as one of the top five places to work in Omaha.
August 2009
Under a new name, Hayneedle, the company connects its online stores and sees sales pick up.
By Christine Laue (WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER)
NetShops Inc., an Omaha based company that operates more than 200 retail Web sites, is connecting all its online retailers under a new company name, Hayneedle, as part of a major rebranding effort.
The changes include new technology to better guide customers, company executives said.
For example, shoppers previously had to go through a checkout process at each site. Now a new navigation system and global checkout cart work across all Hayneedle stores.
The company, with headquarters at 12720 I St., started in 2002 with three employees selling hammocks at hammocks.com. It now sells products nationally, with coastal cities such as New York and Los Angeles among its key markets, and also ships some products internationally.
It had about 330 employees in early February when it laid off 42 people, said CEO carter cast. It has hired 10 to 15 people since March to address a rebound in sales and needs related to the rebranding, company officials said.
"Hayneedle is an evolution of what NetShops was, based on what consumers told us," Cast said. "NetShops was basically a holding company with a collection of stores. ... Hayneedle is a consumer brand that connects all of these stores."
Company research showed that consumers like to buy more than one item at a time and that many consumers didn't realize that NetShops operated the different sites, said Ash ElDifrawi, chief marketing officer.
That revealed a missed opportunity, Cast said.
"So it’s a good business move for us. We realized we could help them a lot more than we were."
Cast, who previously was a marketing executive at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and helped launch WaI-Mart.com, said he identified the opportunity shortly after arriving at NetShops as president and chief executive officer in October 2007. He began assembling a team of online experts, including Google executive ElDifrawi in April 2008.
The name Hayneedle, which plays off the term "finding a needle in a haystack," also is the result of months-long consumer research with one of the best naming firms in the country, ElDifrawi said. It is meant to convey the Web site's helpfulness, he said.
"It's about trying to find that hard-to-find product that is perfect," he said.
Cast and ElDifrawi said their timing, despite the recession, is "actually very good." The company started its rebranding before the recession, and it remained a priority, they said.
Internet Retailer and Inc. magazine have recognized the company as one of online retail's fastest-growing companies.
Before the fourth quarter of 2008, sales had grown about 25 percent annually, Cast said. The crisis in the credit and financial markets that started last fall affected NetShops as it did other retailers, he said.
November and December sales were flat compared with the previous year.
Hayneedle is privately owned and does not disclose sales and profit figures.
Cast said the numbers of searches and of sales have increased in the last few months.
"We're seeing double-digit revenue growth over the previous year since February," Cast said. "And it's accelerating."
That has reinforced, rather than caused them to second guess, their timing and decision to stay the course with the original plans, they said.
"It's never a bad time to launch a better customer experience," ElDifrawi said.