Company Information:
Garden Ridge Corporation, based in Houston, Texas operates a chain of more than 30 retail stores scattered throughout the southern and southeastern United States and employs 2,000 individuals. The company has had a tumultuous history from its rapid expansion in the 90’s which took them public. Garden Ridge then later filed bankruptcy and was brought out through acquisition by private equity. Since the re-organization, the company is rebounding and showing a steady growth pattern. Garden Ridge plans to open 5 new stores in the next 12 months. The company sells home accents; silk and dried flowers; pottery; crafts; housewares; candles and scents; baskets; party supplies; pictures and frames; and holiday decorations. Roughly 25 percent of the company's total revenues were derived from silk and dried flower sales. The typical Garden Ridge store measured 125,000 square feet.
Project Information:
Working upon the direction of private equity leadership, Garden Ridge engaged CCG to conduct a HRIS/Payroll system evaluation in an effort to replace their existing ProBusiness system deployed through ADP. CCG was tasked with introducing Payroll/HRIS vendors to the Garden Ridge 4 member evaluation team who were capable of providing greater system functionality than currently available within ProBusiness within a budget set below current spend. CCG worked with Garden Ridge to define the system requirements with weighted values, document gaps in current process flow to streamline inefficiency, document these findings, and develop an extensive RFP. The requirements were complex and included integration capabilities with Garden Ridge’s proprietary Applicant Tracking system and POS system.
CCG conducted the RFP and distributed to SAP, the existing ERP, the ADP incumbent, and 3 additional outsourcers. CCG identified vendors capable of offering greater system functionality and was successful in negotiating terms 25% below budget. Garden Ridge selected PlanSource, a reseller of Ultipro, Ultimate Software’s HRIS application. CCG conducted the evaluation in less than 5 weeks and allowed for a phased implementation timeline which was an unexpected benefit that afforded Garden Ridge the ability to conduct open enrollment in the system.
