Gerber to Dress Carter's Babies
Atlanta-based babywear maker Carter’s Inc. will manage product development for its lines, distributed to more than 4,500 stores, using the WebPDM (product data management) application from Tolland, Conn.–based Gerber Technology Inc.
WebPDM allows retailers and manufacturers to manage data and specs and keep all players in the product development process up-to-date, regardless of where they are based. Its purpose is to make product development fast and efficient.
Bob Papirner, Carter’s chief information officer, said the company looked for reliability, experience and depth in a PDM product.
Carter’s is the world’s leading producer of apparel for infants and young children. The company distributes its products to 400 department stores and 159 company stores. It also sells products under the Tykes label in 1,100 Target stores and under the Child of Mine brand in 2,900 Wal-Mart stores.
Sabrena McBride, Gerber’s director of software product management, said demand for product lifecycle management tools is strong as retailers and apparel manufacturers continue to diversify their supply chains to keep prices competitive.
More than 1,000 companies in more than 60 countries use WebPDM. Gerber recently signed on Farmington, Conn.–based ICICI Infotech Inc. to distribute the product in India. ICICI will also provide offshore development services for the WebPDM product line, complementing Gerber’s sizable software development team in Dallas. For two years, ICICI has provided integration and customization services for WebPDM in the United States. —R.M.
