PORTLAND, OR — National hvacr distributor Johnstone Supply, Inc., has launched a custom-designed online ordering and local store website program, enabling its customers nationwide to search catalog information and place orders over the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With this program, each Johnstone store now features its own website, providing local information and retaining local customer service and relationships.

Each of the cooperatives’ 248 stores will register their own customers for online ordering, and orders will be tracked and fulfilled by the local store. Each store has been provided an “electronic storefront” which can be customized to provide online customers information specific to their location, including general store information, store-specific product offerings and availability, and notices of in-store sales, promotions, or customer training and demonstrations.

The traditional Johnstone catalog can now be viewed online, with images and descriptions of each of the more than 17,000 products found in the printed catalog. The online version provides the ability to search by product category or specific part.

Gary Daniels, president of Johnstone Supply, said, “Our unique cooperative model is so successful because of the relationships these local stores have with their customers. This new system keeps those Johnstone customers who prefer to order online in touch with their local store and staff, and keeps the e-commerce business and profits for that store as well.”

Customers logging onto the corporate website (www.johnstonesupply.com) are now directed to their closest or preferred store’s individual website.

Publication date: 04/16/2001