Company to create over 300 new jobs
MAUMELLE, Arkansas (December 22, 2010) - Little Rock-based Dillard's, Inc. ("Dillard's" or "the Company") (DDS: NYSE) today announced it will locate an Internet fulfillment center in Maumelle, Arkansas to support the continuing growth of its online store at www.dillards.com. The Company has signed an agreement to purchase the former Target distribution facility and will create over 300 new jobs in the Central Arkansas area.
Dillard's President Alex Dillard, stated, "We are tremendously pleased to announce our new Maumelle Internet Fulfillment Center. This new high-tech facility will be optimally equipped with advanced distribution and fulfillment capabilities to support the growth of our Internet store at www.dillards.com. There are many positive changes currently underway at Dillard's, and the enhancement of the online shopping experience at dillards.com is a major focus of our efforts. Our new Maumelle facility will provide the capacity, the technology and the people to support the growth of our Internet business. We carefully considered several different locations in other cities and states for our new fulfillment center and there were many possible outcomes of this extensive review process. However, many people worked with us in making our home state of Arkansas, and specifically Maumelle, the obvious choice for this high-tech facility. We sincerely thank Governor Mike Beebe and his team along with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission as well as Mayor Mike Watson and the City of Maumelle and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce for their efforts which largely enabled us to make today's exciting announcement."
Dillard's new Maumelle Internet Fulfillment Center will utilize the latest in fulfillment and distribution technology including the highly advanced use of robotics combined with improvements in ergonomics, noise reduction and safety. The environmentally-friendly features of the new facility include less power consumption due to reduced conveyor usage as well as advanced, energy efficient lighting systems.
Dillard's, Inc. ranks among the nation's largest fashion apparel, cosmetics and home furnishings retailers with annual revenues exceeding $6.2 billion. The Company operates 294 Dillard's locations and 14 clearance centers in 29 states. Currently, Dillard's employs approximately 2,300 people in Arkansas.
"Dillard's has decided to put its new Internet fulfillment center close to home, further bolstering the Central Arkansas economy," Governor Mike Beebe said. "As one of Arkansas's homegrown Fortune 500 companies, Dillard's has played an important business role in our state for more than 70 years, and I hope that this facility will add to the Company's success."
Dillard's currently operates six distribution centers, including one in Mabelvale, Arkansas, and an Internet fulfillment center in Nashville, Tennessee.
"We are excited that Dillard's has selected Maumelle as the site of their new Internet fulfillment center," said Maumelle Mayor Mike Watson. "We are extremely grateful to the team of professionals from AEDC, Metro Little Rock Alliance, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, and of course, the Governor's Office, who have helped us make this opportunity a reality. And I want to thank the Dillard's team for their hard work in putting this deal together!"
Dillard's expects the Maumelle internet fulfillment center to be fully operational in late 2012. The 850,000-square-foot former Target distribution center was constructed in 1980 and expanded in 1990 and is surrounded by approximately 100 acres of land.
Additional information about Dillard's, Inc. can be found at www.dillards.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements made above regarding Dillard's intentions to purchase, equip, staff and open an Internet fulfillment center in Maumelle, Arkansas as well as management's hopes and expectations regarding the growth of the Company's Internet business are forward-looking statements within the definition of federal securities laws. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements contained in this releases are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and information available to management at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of those factors include, without limitation, general retail industry conditions and macro-economic conditions; changes in the timing and completion of proposed transactions; availability and timing of equipment purchases and installation; the availability of consumer credit; and the impact of competitive pressures in the department store industry and other retail channels including specialty, off-price, discount and Internet retailers. The Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2010, contain other information on factors that may affect financial results or cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made above.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Julie Johnson Bull, Director of Investor Relations
Dillard's, Inc.
501-376-5965, [email protected]
Scott Hardin
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
501-682-7306, [email protected]