toysmart.com Wins Accolades From Patricia Seybold Group, eMarketer, Hurwitz Group, U.S. News & World Report, Time, Parents and InformationWeek

Business Wire, Dec 22, 1999

Business/Technology Editors

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 22, 1999

Internet's Leading Site for "Good Toys" Recognized

as One of the Best E-Commerce Sites

toysmart.com, the Internet's leading site for "good toys," has won accolades from leading e-commerce industry analysts and national publications as one of the best online stores. The site has recently been recognized as a leader in various Internet shopping polls including those from the Patricia Seybold Group, eMarketer and the Hurwitz Group, as well as in major consumer and industry publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Time, Parents and InformationWeek. In addition, BizRate.com, the Internet's leading customer evaluation tool, continues to compile information showing that toysmart.com rates high in customer satisfaction as well.

According to a report issued on December 16 by the Patricia Seybold Group, a leading analyst firm, toysmart.com ranks in the top 10 of all Internet retailers in a pre-Christmas survey and is the only specialty toy retailer on the list. The Seybold report notes tremendous customer service, ease of use, international shipping, advanced search capabilites, gift finders, high quality content and broad product selection as highlights of the toysmart.com shopping experience. The Seybold report calls toysmart.com "the place to go to find the exact right toy for any child."

toysmart.com is the highest rated specialty/educational toy retailer on eMarketer's list of top online toy stores and ranks third overall, earning 4.8 out of five possible points. According to eMarketer's review of toysmart.com, the company is one of the few retailers that fulfill noble promises: "While many toy hucksters argue that they have a child's best interests in mind, [toysmart.com] really delivers on the promise with an intelligent selection of quality wares." The poll recognizes toysmart.com's site design and its "Schoolhouse," a section dedicated to curriculum and school products for teachers, as specific features that make toysmart.com stand out from the crowd of online toy retailers.

toysmart.com is also acclaimed as one of the best e-businesses in the 1999 e-Business 100 list published on December 13 by the Hurwitz Group in conjunction with InformationWeek magazine. Ranking number 50 overall, toysmart.com is noted for its ability to personalize visits to the site based upon past shopping patterns.

In addition to being recognized by leading e-commerce and e-business analysts, toysmart.com has also received praise in major national consumer publications. Since the beginning of December alone, toysmart.com has been recognized as one of the best online shopping sites in Time, U.S. News & World Report and Parents. Time's Rebecca Winters writes, "This site will leave grown up shoppers feeling virtuous about what`s under the tree." Anna Mulrine, U.S. News & World Report, says, "toysmart.com is packed with 75,000 choices, including art supplies, blocks and puzzles." Parents' Aminda Jacobs agrees, calling toysmart.com "great for specialty and educational toys," and gives the retailer three stars, the highest possible rating.

BizRate.com, a leading Internet evaluator, confirms what industry leaders are saying -- that toysmart.com is the place to go to for good toys this holiday season. BizRate.com's data, compiled from point-of-sale customer surveys, reveals that customers are pleased with their toysmart.com experiences. "High satisfaction in on-time delivery, privacy policies, accurate product representation, and quality shipping and handling mean toysmart.com is a 'very reliable' online store," reads the review posted on the BizRate.com site. toysmart.com was awarded four out of five possible stars in each category it was judged.

"We are very proud to offer the best e-shopping experience," said David Lord, president and CEO of toysmart.com. "Our enormous selection of good toys, outstanding customer care, efficient order fulfillment and last minute holiday shipping guarantees clearly place us among the best online retailers. It is an honor to be recognized by these industry polls and publications for all of our hard work."

toysmart.com has been preparing for this year's holiday blitz since January 1, with highlights including opening a 150,000-square-foot company-owned fulfillment center in Worcester, Mass., and hiring over 200 employees to satisfy the needs of online shoppers. The company takes pride in its ability to provide the best e-commerce experience, from the original purchase online to the moment the package arrives on the doorstep.

About toysmart.com

toysmart.com celebrates the joys of childhood, parenting and learning through play. We believe learning is an interactive process enriched through the use of "good toys" - the ones that inspire, enlighten and endure in a child's mind. Building awareness and community around good toys, toysmart.com is the online champion of kids. Based in Waltham, Mass., toysmart.com provides thousands of toys, children's products, learning tools and invaluable resources for parents, caregivers and educators through our interactive website. For more information, visit http://www.toysmart.com or call (781) 663-2700.