GSI e-commerce to expand iRobot's direct to consumer business

GSI Commerce Inc, a leading provider of e-commerce and multichannel solutions, announced that iRobot is utilizing GSI’s e-commerce platform to power its direct-to-consumer business in Europe through online stores in the U.K. and Germany.

“We are pleased with the full-service GSI e-commerce platform,” said John Elordi, interim general manager of the Home Robots division for iRobot Corp. “GSI has been involved in iRobot’s online business growth in the United States, and we expect our e-commerce partnership to continue to flourish as we look to build on new opportunities presented by our international direct-to-consumer business.”

iRobot replaced its U.S. e-commerce operation with a GSI e-commerce solution in January 2006 when the Bedford, Mass.-based robotics manufacturer launched a completely re-designed U.S. e-commerce store (www.irobot.com). The multiyear international agreement provides iRobot with e-commerce technology, order processing, and integration to third-party fulfillment and customer care services.

“We’re proud to provide the e-commerce platform and services that meet iRobot’s needs as they expanded into the direct to consumer business internationally. As international e-commerce becomes more of a strategic priority for our partners, we are committed to helping them grow and expand the reach of their direct-to-consumer businesses,” said Steven Davis, executive vice president, international, and president and managing director of GSI Commerce Solutions International, S.L.

“There are complexities to international e-commerce that present challenges for brands and retailers. GSI’s e-commerce platform supports major European currencies, payment systems and tax collection, which helps to ease our partners’ expansion into international e-commerce.”

GSI Commerce Inc

Aggregated Tech and Business News

We have often thought about how convenient it would be to be able to search the most active and respected blogs and news sites covering Web 2.0, search and the hottest technological discussions.

Search engines don't provide us with results updated to the minute, yet, but that day may come sooner than later. We have the news search engines at our disposal, but then a lot more is included.

The Web community is answering this need with clever link lists; RSS search engines, rolling links lists or whatever it is called. The need for specialized desktop feed readers is diminishing since RSS feed reading and management can be done entirely in the Web browsers.

We recently found a very useful new Web site that publish aggregated results from some of the most popular and recognized tech and business blogs. A simple and clear presentation of constantly updated headlines makes it easy to use and accessible for anyone with a browser.

Review/Article by B2BToday.com

B2B Trust and AIM Trimark Investments

B2B Trust and AIM Trimark Investments enter an agreement to distribute investment and RRSP loan programs

TORONTO, Jan. 2, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- B2B Trust and AIM Trimark Investments have signed agreements for the distribution of investment and RRSP loan programs. With these newly signed agreements, B2B Trust has reached a key milestone of 50 loan program distribution alliance arrangements with clients spanning the Canadian mutual and segregated fund manufacturing sectors, as well as the mutual fund dealer community.

B2B Trust, the leading third-party supplier of investment and RRSP loan programs in Canada, offers distribution alliance programs for investment loans exclusively through investment fund manufacturers like AIM Trimark, one of the country's largest investment management companies. B2B Trust serves 100% of the top 25 mutual fund companies who do not have an in-house lending capability and who prefer to partner with a leading loan provider such as B2B Trust. Furthermore, B2B Trust now offers loans at preferred rates on over 80% of the top 25 long-term fund assets. This provides financial advisors with even more choice when selecting investments for purchase with borrowed monies.

"It is with great excitement that we welcome the addition of such a prestigious firm as AIM Trimark to the B2B Trust client roster," says Francois Desjardins, President and Chief Executive Officer of B2B Trust. "This brings the total number of funds that are eligible for purchase with borrowed monies from B2B Trust to well over 1,100, thus representing another milestone in B2B Trust's successful focused approach".

The Investment and RRSP loan programs for AIM Trimark's mutual funds are available starting now.

About AIM Trimark

AIM Trimark Investments is one of Canada's largest investment management companies providing support to advisors in helping them build and protect their clients' wealth. AIM Trimark offers a diversified suite of investment solutions to institutions, organizations, companies and individual investors across Canada and around the world. A subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., which is among the world's largest independent investment managers, AIM Trimark leverages the global expertise of Invesco investment professionals worldwide.

About B2B Trust

B2B Trust provides financial advisors, planners and brokers with superior financial products and services for distribution to their clients. B2B Trust is the premier third-party supplier of investment and RRSP lending programs and the leading provider of broker deposits, banking and self-directed accounts, as well as Laurentian Bank broker mortgages to the Canadian financial advisory community. B2B Trust's products and services are available nationally with the head office located in Toronto and regional sales representation in Halifax, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. The company is a federally chartered trust company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Laurentian Bank of Canada. The website address is b2b-trust.com.

SOURCE: B2B TRUST

SOURCE: AIM TRIMARK INVESTMENTS