Liz Claiborne Implements 7thOnline COLLABORATE^SM to Achieve Collaborative Assortment Planning with Key Retail Partners

NEW YORK, September 25, 2003 /PRNewswire-Firstcall/ -- 7thOnline™ Inc., the global leader in providing collaborative assortment planning and order placement solutions to the apparel, accessories and footwear community, today announced that Liz Claiborne Inc. has deployed 7thOnline COLLABORATE^SM assortment planning and order placement tools for use with key retail partners including Federated Department Stores, Inc., Saks, Inc., and May Department Stores Company. 

Louise Chazen, president of 7thOnline, noted, "We are excited that Liz Claiborne selected 7thOnline COLLABORATE^SM as the platform for joint assortment planning with their key retail partners.  Their early results indicate improvements for Claiborne in matching their inventory production to retailer demand.  7thOnline has worked hard to ensure COLLABORATE is easy to use and delivers real business results.  As such, it has been particularly gratifying to hear the Buyers and Account Executives telling us we hit the mark." 

Liz Claiborne has deployed 7thOnline's standard COLLABORATE^SM application within its new LizPlanning process, which combines Liz Claiborne Inc.'s micro-merchandising initiative with 7thOnline's assortment planning software.  7thOnline COLLABORATE^SM allows Liz Claiborne Account Executives and their retail Buyers to visualize merchandise assortments, develop supporting financial plans and convert the plans to executable orders.  7thOnline's platform enables them to work together on a single set of data before, during and after market, maximizing efficiency and improving business focus. 

Use of COLLABORATE has allowed Liz Claiborne Account Executives to focus valuable time and energy on business opportunities and challenges instead of clerical work.  It has allowed the merchants to collaborate with department store buyers on the creation of optimal assortments since all product (line sheet) information and visual images are accurate, up to date, and accessible 24x7.  True partnership during the process is enhanced through the tracking and archiving of all changes to assortments.  In addition to the sophisticated yet user-friendly assortment planning capabilities, COLLABORATE'S robust financial summaries ensure final agreement on the buy comes far more rapidly and occurs more efficiently for the parties than in the past. 

Commenting on the announcement, John Sullivan, Chief Information Officer of Liz Claiborne Inc., said: "Utilizing 7thOnline COLLABORATE enables us to drive profitable sales through customer specific assortments.  The software contributes to Liz Claiborne's micro-merchandising capabilities and facilitates improved order placement." 

"This will be a terrific benefit for our customers, and since satisfying the customer is what our business is all about, we think this collaboration offers the potential for significant positive impact on Federated's business over time." said Terry J. Lundgren, Federated's president and chief executive officer. 

7thOnline COLLABORATE^SM, creates an interactive relationship between partners that helps them to drive top line sales, reduce expenses and jointly maximize business potential.  7thOnline is committed to driving the adoption of collaborative relationships in the Apparel, Accessories and Footwear industries.  Today collaboration provides competitive advantage; tomorrow it will become the de facto standard.  7thOnline is currently facilitating collaboration with retailers including: Bon-Macy's, Burdines, Rich's-Macy's, Lazarus-Macy's, Goldsmith-Macy's, Macy's East, Macy's West, Foley's, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Proffitt's, Younkers, Carson Pirie Scott, The Boston Store, McRae's, Herberger's, and Bergner's. 

7thOnline Inc., headquartered in New York City, provides web and application based demand chain solutions targeted to the buying and planning processes in the global retail industry.  The Company's core applications, COLLABORATE and eSHOWROOM include collaborative assortment planning, visual merchandising and order management technology.  The COLLABORATE application currently serves over 770 department stores.  Further information can be found at www.7thOnline.com. 

Liz Claiborne Inc designs and markets an extensive range of women's and men's fashion apparel and accessories appropriate to wearing occasions ranging from casual to dressy.  The Company also markets fragrances for women and men.  Liz Claiborne Inc.'s brands include Axcess, Bora Bora, Claiborne, Crazy Horse, Curve, Dana Buchman, Elisabeth, Ellen Tracy, Emma James, First Issue, J. H.  Collectibles, Juicy Couture, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Liz Claiborne, Lucky Brand, Mambo, Marvella, Mexx, Monet, Monet 2, Sigrid Olsen, Trifari and Villager.  In addition, Liz Claiborne Inc. holds the exclusive, long-term license to produce and sell men's and women's collections of DKNY® Jeans and DKNY® Active, as well as CITY DKNY® better women's sportswear in the Western Hemisphere.  The Company also has the exclusive license to produce women's wear under the Kenneth Cole New York, Unlisted and Reaction Kenneth Cole brand names. 

Federated, with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's leading department store retailers, with annual sales of more than $15.4 billion.  Federated currently operates more than 450 stores in 34 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, under the names of Macy's, Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, Burdines, Goldsmith's, Lazarus and Rich's-Macy's.  The company also operates macys.com and Bloomingdale's By Mail. 

The May Department Stores Company currently operates 446 department stores under the names of Lord & Taylor, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as well as 191 David's Bridal stores, 259 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 10 Priscilla of Boston stores.  May operates in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

Saks Incorporated operates Saks Department Store Group (SDSG) with 241 department stores under the names of Parisian, Proffitt's, McRae's, Younkers, Herberger's, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, and Boston Store and 11 Club Libby Lu specialty stores.  The Company also operates Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), which consists of 60 Saks Fifth Avenue stores and 53 Saks Off 5th stores.