Free Open Source Software Powers Luxury Retailer

“Free” and “luxury” usually don't mix, but this holiday season, one luxury retailer is betting on free open source software.

Gracious Style, an online retailer which specializes in luxury and custom linens, is relying on an open source software package called “Sequoia Open Source ERP,” to run its online business.

“We knew open source was an unusual choice,” says Carolina Con, owner of Gracious Style, “but it was the best way for a small company like us to get on a level playing field with much larger competitors.”

Unlike commercial software, open source software can be freely downloaded, used, and modified, without paying licensing fees. Gracious Style started with the open source package and had its partner Open Source Strategies, Inc. customize and extend it. A different online store was created to fit its brand image, and new features such as gift registries, custom orders, and monogramming were added. The completed solution was then deployed using only open source technologies: the Linux operating system, the PostgreSQL database, and Sequoia ERP.

With the success of its open source software, Gracious Style has embarked on an even more ambitious goal: to run its whole business with open source software, including customer service, manufacturing, warehouse management, shipping, and marketing. It is currently testing and extending its open source package with the goal of implementing it in early 2006.

“With its low cost and flexibility, free open source software opens up a unique opportunity for smaller companies to leapfrog past their larger competitors,” comments Si Chen, Principal of Open Source Strategies, Inc. and one of the producers of Sequoia ERP.

Gracious Style (http://www.graciousstyle.com) is an online retailer of luxury linens and home décor products. Open Source Strategies, Inc. (http://www.opensourcestrategies.com) is a consulting firm specializing in open source enterprise software. Sequoia ERP can be downloaded from http://www.sequoiaerp.org

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