Microsoft, National Retail Federation Host National Seminar Series To Bring
New Technology Solutions to Small and Medium-Sized Retailers

Program Provides Practical Information on How Retailers Can Use Technology
For Competitive Advantage, Improved Store Operations, Higher Profits

REDMOND, WASH. - APRIL 16, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. and the National Retail
Federation (NRF) today announced a nationwide seminar series to bring new
technology solutions to small and medium-sized retailers around the
country.

The 38-city 1996 Small Store Technology Tour will give retailers tools to
assess their technology needs and to maximize their return on investments
in store and back-end systems. They will learn about new retail systems
and how these systems can give them a competitive advantage in their
businesses. The tour will also provide insights into the Internet and how
retailers can use it today to increase and enhance their businesses.

The series of daylong workshops will be presented by nationally known
technology speaker Jim Dion, senior consultant of J.C. Williams Group.

"Retailing is all about connecting with customers, suppliers,
manufacturers, sales staff and - in today's environment - technology,"
Dion said. "A cash register, a quick mind and a great business plan aren't
enough to guarantee your future anymore. To become a front-runner, you
need to know how available technology can make your business stronger.
That's what the 1996 Small Store Technology Tour is all about."

"Microsoft is committed to working with Microsoft Solution Providers
focused on the retail industry and to providing them with the technologies
and tools to deliver outstanding solutions to small and midsized
retailers," said Judy Dulcich, retail industry marketing manager at
Microsoft. "Microsoft Windows and Windows NT Server have become the
operating systems of choice in the retail industry. The technology seminar
series will help small and medium-sized retailers take advantage of the
tremendous business benefits that Windows-based solutions offer them."

The technology series brings together the NRF, the world's largest retail
trade association, Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software for
personal computers and Compaq Computer Corp., the world's largest personal
computer technology provider. Other sponsors are Epson America and
Comshare. The seminar series is designed for store owners and operators,
regional managers, corporate executives and nontechnical merchandising
executives.

The seminars will cover the retail uses of electronic data interchange
(EDI), point-of-sale systems, database management, back-end software,
desktop publishing, relational databases, inventory management, time
management and scheduling, e-mail and Internet solutions.

Seminar attendees will be briefed on software designed by winners of the
1996 Microsoft Retail Application Developer (RAD) Awards. The RAD Awards
will be announced June 10 at the Dallas Convention Center at the Retail
Systems 96 show. RAD Awards go to developers who best use Microsoft
technology to provide tangible business benefits to small and medium-sized
retailers. Winning solutions will be evaluated on the following criteria:
their ability to reduce costs and increase sales, to integrate with other
applications and legacy systems, and to be easy to adopt and maintain.

The seminars will also feature a Solutions Fair with exhibits, booths and
demonstrations by additional Microsoft Solution Providers offering
technology solutions and services for the retail industry.

Seminar leader Jim Dion has extensive background in retail selling,
training, marketing, buying, operations and administration. He consults
with retail organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Dion is
a Microsoft developer and recognized computer expert, having designed and
installed hundreds of retail systems.

The Small Store Technology Tour will be held at these locations:

 JUNE 25, PHILADELPHIA;
 JUNE 26, PITTSBURGH;
 JUNE 27, WASHINGTON,D.C.;
 JULY 2, BALTIMORE;
 JULY 9, SAN JOSE, CALIF.;
 JULY 10, SAN FRANCISCO;
 JULY 11, RIVERSIDE, CALIF.;
 JULY 16, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF.;
 JULY 17, LOS ANGELES;
 JULY 18, SAN DIEGO;
 JULY 30, SEATTLE;
 JULY 31, DENVER;
 AUG. 1, PHOENIX;
 AUG. 3, CHICAGO (MERCHANDIZING MART);
 AUG. 5,BOSTON;
 AUG. 6, FAIRFIELD, CONN.;
 AUG. 7, NEWARK, N.J.;
 AUG. 8, BERGEN COUNTY, N.J.;
 AUG. 13, CHARLOTTE, N.C.;
 AUG. 14, GREENSBORO, N.C.;
 AUG. 15, MIAMI;
 AUG. 20, TAMPA, FLA.;
 AUG. 21, ORLANDO, FLA.;
 AUG. 26, SAN ANTONIO;
 AUG. 27, DALLAS;
 AUG. 28, SALT LAKE CITY;
 SEPT. 9, KANSAS CITY, MO.;
 SEPT. 10, ST. LOUIS, MO.;
 SEPT.11, DETROIT;
 SEPT. 12, INDIANAPOLIS;
 SEPT. 24, ATLANTA;
 SEPT.17, MILWAUKEE;
 SEPT. 18, CLEVELAND;
 SEPT. 19, COLUMBUS, OHIO;
 SEPT. 25, CINCINNATI;
 SEPT. 26, MINNEAPOLIS;
 SEPT. 28, CHICAGO (RISCON);
 AND OCT. 8, HOUSTON.

Retailers interested in seminar registration information should contact the
National Retail Federation, Small Store Technology Tour at (202) 783-7971
or (fax) (202) 783-0581, or write to the NRF at 325 Seventh St. N.W., Ste.
1000, Washington, D.C. 20004.

Additional information on Microsoft solutions for the retail industry is
available on the Microsoft Web site at
HTTP://WWW.MICROSOFT.COM/INDUSTRY/.

The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade
association, with membership that includes the leading department,
specialty, discount, mass-merchandise and independent stores as well as 32
national and 50 state associations. NRF members represent an industry that
encompasses more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, employs more
than 20 million people, one in five American workers, and registered 1995
sales of $2.3 trillion. NRF's international members operate stores in more
than 50 nations.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
 
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