The Cobalt Group Introduces DesignGallery
14 February 2000
The Cobalt Group Introduces DesignGallery to Streamline Web Site Design Process for Auto Dealers
SEATTLE--Feb. 14, 2000---- Dynamic Suite of Professional Web Site Layouts and Graphics Helps
Auto Dealers Build Effective Online Presence --
The Cobalt Group , a leading provider of Internet solutions and business-to-business services to the automotive industry, today introduced DesignGallery, an Internet-based showroom of Web site layouts and graphics developed to streamline the process of designing dealer Web sites.
"Cobalt has created thousands of dealer Web sites over our five-year history. DesignGallery leverages this experience and offers our most popular and effective Web site features in one Web-based location, giving dealers greater choice up front about the look of their Web site and ensuring they maximize the return on their Web site investment," said John Holt, president and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "DesignGallery works in tandem with our premier Web site applications creating a robust, integrated Internet solution for dealers."
Dealers can choose from a wide variety of professional Web site designs to achieve a custom look, at a non-custom price. At launch, DesignGallery includes an initial collection of layouts with nearly 100 style and color variations, along with an extensive selection of splash page options and graphics. Dealers can complement the designs by providing photos and other images that are specific to the dealership. Cobalt will be continually updating the layouts and navigation options.
"Recognizing that auto dealers want robust Web sites with professional-looking layouts, DesignGallery allows Cobalt to build dealer Web sites in a fraction of the time that it traditionally takes," said David Potts, Cobalt's vice president of business development and product management. "By having dealers choose a site layout from DesignGallery at the outset of the design process, they can pre-approve the look of their Web site, minimizing design rework and making it a more satisfying experience for the dealer."
DesignGallery is one of the ongoing enhancements to Cobalt's proprietary Web site publishing system which currently serves over 5,200 dealers and allows them to manage their Internet marketing platform individually while providing manufacturers with the means to manage their brands and Internet standards across Cobalt's network. Twelve OEMs currently leverage the Cobalt network to provide consistent brand and standards presence across their franchised dealer networks.
To preview DesignGallery, dealers should send email to sales@cobaltgroup.com or call a Cobalt sales consultant to set up a dealer on-site visit.
ABOUT THE COBALT GROUP
The Cobalt Group(TM) , based in Seattle, is a leading provider of Internet-based products and services for the automotive industry. Through Internet-based application development and hosting, data management, and online referral services, Cobalt helps dealers, dealer groups and automobile manufacturers harness the power of the Internet to realize new efficiencies, win new prospects and better serve their customers.
With approximately 5,200 dealer Web site clients, over 10,000 dealers using its parts locating system, and relationships with 16 automotive manufacturers and more than 50 of the 100 largest dealer groups in the United States, Cobalt is one of the leading technology companies serving the automotive industry. Cobalt operates MotorPlace.com(TM) (www.motorplace.com), a business-to-business vertical portal for the automotive industry; DealerNet(R) (www.dealernet.com), one of the best-known automotive destination sites on the Web; and PartsVoice(R) (www.partsvoice.com), a leading OEM auto parts locating and data management service. The Cobalt Group also owns IntegraLink, Inc, the auto industry's premier provider of advanced data extraction and reporting services.
Cobalt offers Web site services that are endorsed by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
For more information, please visit The Cobalt Group at www.cobaltgroup.com.