GSI Commerce and Wilsons Leather Launch New & Improved Online Retail Store
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Sept. 28, 2004 – GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC) and Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. (Nasdaq: WLSN), today announced the successful launch of a new and improved online retail store for Wilsons Leather at www.wilsonsleather.com.
“The new online store has a much more inviting look and feel with better site navigation, an expanded product lineup and several new convenience features all designed to enhance the customer’s shopping experience,” said Linda Angelacci, vice president of marketing for Wilsons Leather.
Wilsons Leather’s new online store was launched on schedule during the last week of August. Earlier in this year’s second quarter, Wilsons Leather selected GSI Commerce to provide the specialty leather retailer’s direct business with a new, single-source solution for e-commerce technology, customer service, Web site design, site hosting, content development, online marketing services and fulfillment.
In addition to an expanded product line, Wilsons Leather customers will discover a variety of exciting new features. The online store now offers customers the ability to purchase gift cards online, which can be redeemed either online or at a Wilsons Leather retail store location. Other new shopping features include the ability to save a customer’s wish list, support of multiple “ship-to” addresses and gift wrapping.
“The new store offers our customers a more elegant presentation and is designed to make their shopping experience easier, more inviting and interesting,” explained Angelacci. “For example, we now provide long and short descriptive product information, more detailed product photography, suggested complementary products and a special section on leather care. With GSI Commerce’s expertise in customization and personalization, we are preparing to offer an embossing capability on selected products and we’re exploring monogramming as another opportunity.”
“Our single-source e-commerce solution is providing Wilsons Leather a better-managed and more appealing online shopping environment for its customers,” said Robert Blyskal, co-president and chief operating officer of GSI Commerce.
About GSI Commerce
GSI Commerce provides an e-commerce solution enabling retailers, branded manufacturers, entertainment companies and professional sports organizations to operate e-commerce businesses. The company’s e-commerce solution includes Web site design and development, e-commerce technology, managed hosting, order fulfillment, customer service, merchandising and order management, online merchandising, customer relationship management, content development and online marketing. The company operates either all or a portion of the e-commerce businesses for approximately 45 partners.
About Wilsons Leather
Wilsons Leather is the leading specialty retailer of leather outerwear, accessories and apparel in the United States. As of April 3, 2004, Wilsons Leather operated 460 stores located in 45 states and the District of Columbia, including 336 mall stores, 107 outlet stores and 17 airport stores.
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,” “confident,” “prospects,” 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 business of GSI Commerce and the industries and markets in which GSI Commerce operates. 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 GSI Commerce’s business, financial condition and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, consumer spending, the financial markets and the industries in which GSI Commerce and its partners operate, changes affecting the Internet and e-commerce, the ability of GSI Commerce to develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers and the timing of its establishment or extension of its relationships with strategic partners, the ability of GSI Commerce to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect its technology and product and service offerings and execute operationally, the ability of GSI Commerce to attract and retain qualified personnel, the ability of GSI Commerce to successfully integrate its acquisitions of other businesses, if any, and the performance of acquired businesses. More information about potential factors that could affect GSI Commerce can be found in its most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports and statements filed by GSI Commerce with the Securities and Exchange Commission. GSI Commerce expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise specifically stated by GSI Commerce.
Contact:
Greg Ryan
Director, Corp. Communications
tel: 610-491-7294
fax: 610-265-2866
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Linda Angelacci
VP, Marketing, Wilsons Leather
tel: 763-391-4207
fax: 763-391-4828
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