GREENVILLE, Wis., Dec. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO) (“School Specialty”, “SSI” or “the Company”), a leading distributor of supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources to the education marketplace, today announced the launch of Soar Life Products™, a new division focused on meeting the needs of the healthcare industry through innovative educational solutions.
Soar Life Products provides thousands of innovative products that improve well-being, from early childhood to adults in senior care. The Company’s offering includes proprietary School Specialty brands, including Childcraft®, Classroom Select®, Sax Arts & Crafts®, Sportime®, Abilitations®, and a host of others, as well as third-party brands from well-known industry leaders including 3M, Crayola and Champion, among others. Products span the gamut and are tailored to address the needs of healthcare organizations around the world, focusing on Arts & Crafts, Physical Activity and Recreational Sports, Furniture, Therapeutic Needs and general supplies, all of which are used by healthcare facilities on a daily basis. Soar Life Products will now be sold to the healthcare industry, including acute and non-acute settings such as hospitals, long-term care, therapeutic facilities, home care, surgery centers, early childhood and day care centers, physical offices and clinics, both on a direct basis and through 3rd-parties.
In conjunction with the launch, the Company also announced today, a new agreement with Amerinet, a leading healthcare solutions organization. Amerinet’s mission is to deliver customer-focused supply chain solutions, built on value, innovation, quality and ease of use, to drive operational excellence. Founded in 1986, Amerinet focuses on reducing healthcare costs and improving healthcare quality by providing flexible and customized solutions to a wide-array of related healthcare facilities. Today, Amerinet services more than 80,000 facilities in the U.S., collaborating with acute and non-acute healthcare providers – hospitals, surgery centers, long-term care facilities, clinics and doctors’ offices – to create and deliver unique solutions. From clinical and operational efficiency improvements to quality and safety promotion, from cost-reduction strategies to legislative support, Amerinet helps its customers overcome every challenge by engineering a precisely tailored solution that enriches healthcare delivery for its members and the communities they serve.
“Our expansion into the healthcare market is a natural progression for our Company and represents a significant growth opportunity,” stated Joseph M. Yorio, President and Chief Executive Officer of School Specialty. ”We have thousands of products that can be used by healthcare professionals, and the administrators responsible for outfitting facilities. From general office supplies and furniture, to physical education equipment and accessories, we have a broad assortment that can be administered in virtually any healthcare setting. We also have tailored solutions that address occupational, therapeutic and special needs, which further enhances the offering we can provide to help healthcare professionals focus on what matters most – mental, physical and emotional health and wellness. We look forward to working with our partner Amerinet, one of the most respected healthcare solutions organizations in the world. Together, through their reach, our nationwide sales force and our enhanced distribution capabilities, we will offer a reliable, one-stop resource to meet industry needs.”
Randy Piper, vice president, non-acute contracting for Amerinet, added, “We are all excited to be working with an organization such as School Specialty as we share similar values, and our missions are very much aligned. The addition of their offering, coupled with our reach into the healthcare market should be a win-win for our members, who demand the very best.”
Soar Life Products provides thousands of items that improve an individual’s well-being from children to adults. By sharpening cognitive skills and building physical and mental strength in fun and creative ways, individuals will live life to the fullest – engaged, happy and well. For more information on Soar Life Products and the Amerinet relationship and offering, please visit us online at www.soarlifeproducts.com/Amerinet.
About Amerinet, Inc.
As a leading national healthcare solutions organization, Amerinet collaborates with acute and non-acute care providers to create and deliver unique supply chain solutions through performance improvement resources, guidance and ongoing support. With better product standardization and utilization, new financial tools beyond contracting and alliances that help lower costs, raise revenue and champion quality, Amerinet enriches healthcare delivery for its members and the communities they serve. To learn more about how Amerinet can help you successfully navigate the future of healthcare reform, visit www.amerinet-gpo.com.
About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential. For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.
@SchoolSpecialty
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CONTACT: Company Contact:
Diana Brokaw
Director of Sales
Tel: 410-382-0073
Email: diana.brokaw@soarlifeproducts.com
Media Contacts:
Glenn Wiener and Dionne Manchester
GW Communications (for School Specialty)
Tel: 212-786-6011 / 212-786-6068
Email: gwiener@GWCco.com / dionne@GWCco.com
