Ferguson Vendor
Data Collection Initiative

Who is Big Hammer Data?
Big Hammer Data is a 3rd party data solutions provider that Ferguson has partnered with to obtain and maintain supplier data.  Big Hammer already maintains supplier data for Lowe’s, The Home Depot and HD Supply.  Big Hammer maintains the largest and richest data pool in the hardlines industry serving thousands of suppliers and provides both GDSN and Marketing Data Pools therefore providing one source to manage all product content. 

How does the program work?
Suppliers will need to enroll in the Big Hammer Marketing Data Pool (MDP) and will also have the option to enroll in GDSN.  Suppliers will pay an annual base fee to maintain their data in the respective data pools and also a fee per item and digital asset entered.  Once enrolled suppliers will need to enter their data in the MDP and this data will become available for Ferguson to use in multiple selling channels.  The data can also be leverage to other retailers and trading partners.

What is the deadline for enrollment with Big Hammer?
Vendors should enroll now. There is a 20% Enrollment Discount if enrolled by December 31, 2009.

Is participation in the program mandatory?
While participation in the program is not a requirement it is critical for doing business with Ferguson.  In order to achieve the mutual objective of more product sales across all channels, Ferguson must have the supplier’s support.

What is Ferguson’s expectation?
Ferguson would like for suppliers to enroll with Big Hammer and enter their data into the Marketing Data Pool (MDP) where the supplier can provide robust product marketing content including images and specifications that will help Ferguson sell supplier products. Ferguson’s expectation is that suppliers enroll with Big Hammer and maintain their data in the MDP.

How does Ferguson plan to leverage or use the data?
Ferguson plans to use the data in Ferguson Online, Ferguson’s transactional website that allows Ferguson to sell to its traditional trade professional customer base – contractors, plumbers, builders, etc….  Ferguson will also leverage the data to support the Stock Market catalog and Ferguson is exploring ways to leverage the information for the ProVisons website (which creates product portfolios for builders and customers).  Long term Ferguson also hopes to leverage the data in an internal search engine and Ferguson is exploring other channels where the information can help facilitate sales of supplier products.

Who will see the information or data that I provide to Big Hammer?
The website is for our trade professionals only and login is required.  It is tied to their default Ferguson branch and their account. It is NOT a direct sell to consumers.  We may at some point show these products on Ferguson.com as available through our showrooms, but no direct sell.

What is the cost associated if I sign up with Big Hammer?
The cost is a base fee plus and item and digital asset fee per sku item.

Which items should be provided?
By now you should have received the list of items Ferguson is requesting from Big Hammer.  If you have not received the item list then please contact Big Hammer directly per the contact information listed at the end of this FAQ.  If you have received the item list and have questions about it then please contact Ferguson per the e-mail address listed for Ferguson at the end of this FAQ.

What are the benefits of Big Hammer to Suppliers?

• Supply content once to a central repository where FEI will receive the data to support Ferguson Online, print catalogs, ProVisions and other initiatives
• Keep data current for these initiatives as it changes, rather than on an event basis as Ferguson would request for a particular initiative
• With the entry of your product content in Big Hammer’s data pools, you will immediately see benefits through:

• Increased velocity of sales, more efficient sales calls, and reduction of returns and disputes through richer, more accurate product content
• Increased speed of new product introduction time (concept-to-shelf) by utilizing the same processes
• Reduction in data requests from Ferguson for print catalogs and other promotional activities.
• Increased opportunities to have your products included in Ferguson’s selling tools – both online and in the store.
• Increased awareness and accountability though product content collection, tracking, and reporting
• Increased operational efficiencies through the reduction in error rate, in error resolution, and in manual data entry time
• Maximized shipping and receiving capabilities through the reduction in material costs by standardizing specifications and utilizing the correct size and weight of products.