Federated Department Stores and WeddingChannel.com Partnership Creates First Fully Integrated Online Wedding Registry

Business Wire, April 13, 2000

Business Editors

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2000

Federated Department Stores, Inc. and WeddingChannel.com today announced the successful completion of their fully-integrated "clicks and bricks" bridal registry.

This online-offline registry combines the best of Internet technology and in-store shopping -- offering engaged couples and their guests simultaneous access to bridal registries in stores and on the web. Couples may create their registries from the broadest registry assortment available on the Internet and add to or monitor their registries either online or in stores. Wedding guests have the online-offline option too, whether browsing through the couple's registered items or purchasing wedding gifts. All gift purchases and registry modifications are continuously synchronized online and in-store, so engaged couples are assured that shopping at one of Federated's department stores, or at WeddingChannel.com, is convenient, easy and fast.

The marriage of WeddingChannel.com, the Internet's most comprehensive wedding planning resource, and Federated's premier department stores -- Macy's, The Bon Marche, Burdines, Goldsmith's Lazarus, Rich's and Stern's -- has created the first bridal registry that reflects purchases and modifications continuously, whether shopping in-store or online.

Uniquely advantageous to this "clicks and bricks" integration is the personal touch possible only through experienced bridal consultants. Whether a bride registers online or in the store, she is assigned to a consultant who will follow up by email or phone to go over common questions couples have as they register.

The online-offline registry is revolutionizing the wedding registry to accommodate today's couples and their guests. Traditionally, a couple selects items for their new home at their favorite store, then visits a store or calls in each time they modify their gift list or request an update of items purchased. Now, couples can log on to WeddingChannel.com and register online or update their list, choosing from thousands of Federated's top registry items in more than 20 merchandise categories. Additionally, brides have access to WeddingChannel.com's complete menu of services including personalized wedding websites, interactive planning tools, shopping, local business directories, online travel planning and the largest database of bridal fashions.

Federated's Gift Registry Alliance of 330 stores in 30 states nationwide assures that relatives and friends who prefer to shop in a store can find a location in their area. It also assures that couples may exchange gifts in a convenient location. Guests who choose to purchase gifts on the Internet also can arrange for shipping and enclose a personal note.

"Federated's seamless, integrated `clicks and bricks' approach to bridal and gift registry offers our customers convenience, options and personalized service," said Ronald Tysoe, Federated vice chairman. "The initiation and maintenance of registries online is a huge differentiator for our stores, plus, the personal touch is still there. Whether the process begins online at the bride's convenience or in-store, she will receive the added benefit of being able to work with a bridal consultant."

"Our partnership with Federated offers brides, grooms and their guests unlimited registry options," said Adam Berger, president of WeddingChannel.com. "It accommodates everyone, from the computer-savvy who enjoy doing everything via the Internet to those who prefer to shop in their local store."

About Federated Department Stores, Inc.

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 $17.7 billion. Federated currently operates more than 400 department stores in 33 states under the names of Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, Burdines, Goldsmith's, Lazarus, Macy's, Rich's and Stern's. Federated also operates the Fingerhut, Bloomingdale's By Mail, bloomingdales.com, Macy's By Mail and macys.com direct-to-consumer catalog and electronic commerce subsidiaries.

About WeddingChannel.com

WeddingChannel.com is the Internet's most comprehensive wedding resource, offering engaged couples a complete menu of services including communication tools, honeymoon planning, wedding gown search and a fully integrated bridal registry. WeddingChannel.com formed a content and marketing partnership with Conde Nast's BRIDE'S magazine. The company is the GO Network premier wedding content partner, a Gold Tenant in AOL Shop and a premier wedding merchant on Yahoo!. Featuring patent-pending integrated technology, WeddingChannel.com is the only online wedding planning site to be endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants. Based in Los Angeles, WeddingChannel.com is a private company whose investors include MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc., Goldman Sachs, MSD Capital, idealab!, RRE Investors, idealab! Capital Partners and Federated Department Stores, Inc.