L.L. Bean and IBM Improve Web Shopping Experience for Consumers

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that its Boston Center for Solution Innovation won two prestigious MITX Awards for Best User Experience and Best Consumer Goods experience. IBM received these accolades for the design and development of a new website feature for its client L.L. Bean, a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel.

IBM Global Business Services consultants applied their user experience design and technology development expertise to create a rich internet application for L.L. Bean's outerwear product line. In response to the way consumers find, browse and purchase their products online -- and to help generate excitement over a re-designed outerwear product line -- IBM helped L.L. Bean create this next-generation web experience.

The Holiday Outerwear Guide allows consumers to compare multiple product collections within multiple departments by product specification, color selection, and compare prices, without having to reload the page. This enables consumers to target the products that specifically meet their needs and helps to drive increased sales and strengthened customer relationships.

The annual MITX Awards is the largest awards competition in the country that recognizes achievements in the development and implementation of interactive technologies. Winners were announced in 25 categories, including five "Best of" awards, at a ceremony attended by more than 800 industry professionals held in November at the Boston Copley Place Marriott. Entries were judged by over 100 industry professionals representing various disciplines including creative directors, designers, technologists, online media representatives, investors and business professionals.

"This year's award submissions showed the most impressive elevation of ambition in quality, functionality, creative and technological achievements we've seen to date," said Kiki Mills, executive director of MITX. "These awards provide a forum to showcase the finalists and winners, and acknowledge the sophisticated work that is being created locally for nationally and internationally recognized brands."

"IBM is a driving force in developing and designing innovative Web applications that help companies create easy-to-use online experiences," said Gorham Palmer, User Experience Director, IBM Global Business Services. "Our work for L.L. Bean provided a rich and compelling targeted online experience that helped to drive demand for its redesigned outerwear product line. The MITX Awards is an honor and demonstrates our commitment to provide our clients like L.L. Bean with the most innovative user experience design, tools and resources to drive traffic and sales."

IBM developed the new feature using Macromedia Flash technology to provide a rich, compelling and optimized user interface. The outerwear online component was integrated using IBM's WebSphere Commerce framework and leverages Java Server Pages to generate dynamic XML to feed the Macromedia Flash movie.

About MITX

Established in 1996, MITX -- the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX: "my-techs") -- is the industry and professional organization where technology, marketing and digital media intersect. Reaching more than 6,000 professionals in New England, MITX is a dynamic and growing community for thought leadership, building business relationships and professional training and development. Members of the MITX community take advantage of events, sponsorships, speaking opportunities and networking to make meaningful business connections and exchange innovative leadership, management and technical ideas. With more than 60 events each year, MITX provides its members with the opportunity to promote their companies to targeted audiences. MITX events also provide a valuable forum for networking to source potential business leads, partnerships, ideas, funding and other likeminded peers in the industry. MITX is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information please go to www.mitx.org

About L.L. Bean, Inc.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown substantially, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder and continues his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. Visit L.L.Bean anytime at www.llbean.com or visit its newest store at Wayside Commons in Burlington, Massachusetts.