Variable Markup

Variable Markup is my personal blog and scratch pad for analyzing the retail space and how retail companies can affect customer experience and profitibility through the use of technology trends like social networking, mashups, and RIA.   

I’m Michael Julson, a technologist with 17 years of experience creating software for retail.  I am currently Chief Technology Officer for Escalate Retail, an enterprise software company focused on retail systems. Over the past three years Escalate Retail(Formerly Ecometry) has gone through tremendous growth doubling in size each of the past two years. In 2005 we acquired Blue Martini and ADS Retail and in 2006 we completed the aquisition and merger of GERS based in San Diego.  Our product portfolio includes the order entry touch points of POS, ecommerce, and call center as well as the back end systems including OMS(Order Management System), Merchandising, and WMS(Warehouse Management System). 

Prior to ER, I have been a developer, development manager, executive and entrepreneur of small startups through Fortune 500 companies. 

I am on the Board of Directors for NRF ARTS - National Retail Federation Association for Retail Technology Standards and also serve on technical work commitees for the  SOA Blueprint for Retail and Retail Transaction Interface. 

I currently reside in south Florida with my wife and two children.

Views I express on this weblog are mine. My views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer, my clients or anyone else for that matter. My opinions are my own.