Jacksonville, FL (October 9, 2014)

SPINS, the leading information and insights provider for the Natural and Specialty Products Industry, announced that it has joined the IX-ONE™ product data exchange as a founding member. IX-ONE™ is the industry’s new membership-based product information solution. Launched in collaboration with leading partners, it couples rich packaging data and images with a robust member base model to revolutionize the exchange of information within the industry.

The IX-ONE™ solution scans a 360 degree product image and captures all product attributes, organized through the lens of the SPINS category structure, to create a centralized hub for manufacturers to access and share their product information. It captures over 20 images and 500 data points per item, including label-based claims and third party certifications as well as supply chain and logistic information such as weight and dimensions. What’s more, product data and images are royalty free. Members can use, post, and share their information from one centralized database the industry can trust to be complete and accurate.

IX-ONE will closely collaborate with SPINS to leverage its deep understanding of the product attributes unique to the health and wellness market, as well as the SPINS product categorization that has become the common platform and language throughout the industry. The partnership combines the art and science of product classification to provide best in class service, and builds a cohesive bridge between a manufacturer’s product information and the data and insights they can receive from SPINS.
“We were thrilled to have the full support of SPINS early into our venture,” says Troy Benscoter, CEO of IX-ONE™. “As the leading data and insights provider for the Natural and Specialty Industry, they not only have a strong network of partners with which to endorse the service, but also the long-standing expertise in product categorization that will help guide our initiative. It is great to have such strong mission alignment between our companies and complementary services that will work together to further continue to drive our industry forward.”

“SPINS is excited to collaborate with IX-ONE to build the definitive source for both package facts and supply chain information for the Natural, Organic and Specialty Industry,” says SPINS CEO Tony Olson. “Complete, accurate data is critical to remaining competitive in this market, and there is a real need for this type of centralized product information that allows our industry to become more efficient and advance itself. IX-ONE™ has received an exceedingly positive response from leading organizations that will not only help facilitate the collection and validation of data, but also the efficient sharing of this data between a robust member base. We encourage all of our clients and partners to become a part of IX-ONE’s mission so that the entire industry can continue to further progress.”

About SPINS

At SPINS, we believe there’s more than meets the eye to data. As the leading provider of retail consumer insights, analytics and consulting for the Natural, Organic and Specialty Products Industry, we strive to transform raw data into intelligent and actionable business solutions. Our mission is to maximize the value of information for growing the natural products industry. We carry out our mission by providing information, insight and a common language for the industry with which to understand and analyze consumer, retail and broad marketplace dynamics.

About IX-ONE™

IX-ONE™ is the Natural, Organic and Specialty Product Industry’s product data and image exchange, developed by The Data Council, Inc. IX-ONE™ is a membership-based solution that provides independently verified and standardized product information to industry vendors, brokers, distributors, retailers and key partners. The IX-ONE exchange allows its members royalty-free use of all applicable data and images to run their businesses including internal systems, marketing, billing and more. They physically handle and image every product annually including capturing all available data.