Dixie Chopper Selects ARI Electronic Parts Catalog

    MILWAUKEE--July 18, 2002--ARI , a leading provider of electronic catalog-enabled business solutions for manufacturers, distributors and dealers, announced that Dixie Chopper of Coatesville, IN has selected ARI's PartSmart(TM) electronic parts catalog software for use by their dealers.
    Under the agreement, all of Dixie Chopper's approximately 440 quality, independent lawn and garden dealers will be able to use ARI's PartSmart catalog to view illustrated parts catalogs and obtain up-to-date, accurate parts and pricing information. ARI and Dixie Chopper are currently working together to publish Dixie Chopper's first PartSmart catalog in time for EXPO 2002 in Louisville, KY this month.
    "We closely examined the top electronic parts catalog software that is available and selected ARI's PartSmart software because we felt it would provide our dealers with the features and functionality they need to be successful," said Jeff Haltom, general manager for Dixie Chopper. "Our goal was to have our catalog available to our dealers by EXPO 2002, which was only two weeks from the time we signed our agreement with ARI. ARI's team of conversion specialists worked closely with us to make it happen. We are confident that our dealers will enthusiastically embrace this new business tool," added Haltom.
    "Dixie Chopper's decision to make their electronic parts catalog available to all of their dealers demonstrates their commitment to providing dealers with the tools they need to succeed," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI.
    "ARI's PartSmart, which is the de facto standard in the Outdoor Power Industry, was developed after many years of experience in electronic parts management. It has always been ARI's goal not only to provide an excellent electronic parts catalog, but also provide solutions that will help both manufacturers and their dealers to be successful and more profitable," added Dearing. "We welcomed the opportunity to work together with Dixie Chopper to produce their first catalog for introduction at EXPO. We are confident that Dixie Chopper's dealers will recognize the same benefits that PartSmart has provided its thousands of current users," concluded Dearing.

    Dixie Chopper of Coatesville, IN, introduced the first belly-mount commercial zero turning radius lawn mower in 1980. Today, the Dixie Chopper dealer network numbers approximately 400 independent lawn and garden dealers, with over 40,000 machines in the field and 95 employees at the manufacturing facility. For more information on Dixie Chopper, visit www.dixiechopper.com.

    ARI is a leading provider of electronic catalog-enabled business solutions for sales, service and life-cycle product support in the manufactured equipment market. ARI currently serves approximately 100 lines of manufactured equipment and 25,000 dealers in more than 100 countries in a dozen segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, power sports, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD and provides expert catalog publishing and consulting services. ARI communications systems provide a global electronic pathway for parts orders, product registrations, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI also provides a template-based dealer website service that makes it quick and easy for an equipment dealer to have a professional and attractive website. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France providing marketing and support of its products and services.