Gloss.com and ELC Online Enter into E-Commerce Agreements with Global Sports
Gloss.com, the home of the premier brands in beauty, and Global Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSPT), a leading outsource solution for e-commerce, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to outsource certain aspects of technology and fulfillment for Gloss.com. ELC Online, a wholly owned subsidiary of Estée Lauder Companies Inc., and Global Sports have also entered into an e-commerce agreement. ELC Online operates Web sites for Estée Lauder Companies’ brands, including Estée Lauder, Clinique, Origins, M•A•C and Bobbi Brown.
Under the terms of the agreements, Global Sports will be responsible for hosting and operating the technology platform that serves the ELC Online and Gloss.com sites, as well as for fulfillment and aspects of customer service. Gloss.com and the ELC Online brands will handle all aspects of design, marketing and merchandising for their respective sites.
Peter Hirshberg, President of Gloss.com says, “The agreement with Global Sports will help move us closer to our objective of becoming the premier site for beauty on the Internet by allowing us to add many of the site merchandising capabilities and features that our customers want. This evolution will help us work smarter, faster and more closely with the brands we support.”
William P. Lauder, Group President of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., commented on the alliance, “We previously announced our intention to outsource certain aspects of our Internet operations. After evaluating potential alternatives, we determined that Global Sports was the right partner based on their strong track record of providing comprehensive e-commerce solutions.”
Michael G. Rubin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Sports, Inc., said, “We are excited to be selected by Gloss.com and Estée Lauder Companies to help them continue to build on their online success.”
Created in 1999, Gloss.com was purchased by The Estée Lauder Companies in April 2000. Now owned jointly by Chanel, Clarins and The Estée Lauder Companies, Gloss.com is a multi-brand beauty destination that operates the nine boutiques for its owners’ brands including: Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Clarins, Clinique, Estée Lauder, M.A.C, Origins, Prescriptives and Stila.
Global Sports (NASDAQ: GSPT) is a leading outsource solution provider for e-commerce. The company develops and operates e-commerce businesses for retailers, manufacturers, media companies and professional sports organizations. The Global Sports’ platform includes Web site design and development, e-commerce technology, customer service, fulfillment, buying and merchandising, content development and management, online and database marketing and product development and sourcing. Global Sports has announced its intention to change the company’s corporate name to GSI Commerce, Inc. and its NASDAQ Stock Symbol to GSIC effective in May 2002, pending shareholder approval at its annual meeting.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 120 countries and territories under well-recognized brand names, including Estée Lauder, Clinique, Aramis, Prescriptives, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, jane, Donna Karan, Aveda, Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble and Kate Spade.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements made in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “would”, “should”, “guidance”, “potential”, “continue”, “project”, “forecast” and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the businesses of Global Sports and The Estée Lauder Companies and the industries and markets in which the companies operate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors which may affect Global Sports’ and The Estée Lauder Companies’ businesses, financial conditions and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, consumer spending, the stock market and the industries in which they operate, changes affecting the Internet, online retailing and direct response marketing, the ability of the companies to maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers, the ability of the companies to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect their technology and product and service offerings and execute operationally, and the ability of the companies to attract and retain qualified personnel. More information about potential factors that could affect Global Sports and The Estée Lauder Companies can be found in their most recent Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports and statements filed by Global Sports and The Estée Lauder Companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of Global Sports and The Estée Lauder Companies expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise specifically stated by it.
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Contact:
GLOSS.COM Contact:
Geri Schachner
(212) 572- 4453
gschachn@clinique.com
Global Sports Contact:
Patricia Henderson
(610) 491-7013
hendersonp@globalsports.com
