Fossil.com Recognized with ``Circle of Excellence'' Award by Bizrate.com; Over 1 Million Consumers Select Fossil.com for Superior Online Shopping Experience

Business Wire, Feb 7, 2001

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2001

Fossil.com has recently been recognized with a "Circle of Excellence" Award by BizRate.com as one of the best online merchants for Holiday 2000. Of 1,500 e-tailers, 20 were selected based on exit survey results from over 1 million consumers. Fossil was one of only two online apparel merchants chosen for outstanding performance over the critical holiday season.

"We are proud to induct these merchants into our inaugural "Circle of Excellence" as they represent the best of the best of online shopping," said Chuck Davis, president and CEO of BizRate.com. "Overall shopper satisfaction was high this holiday season, so these merchants reflect an extraordinary commitment to meeting, and exceeding customer expectations."

Fossil launched its web-site, www.fossil.com, in 1995 selling its design-savvy watches and accessories. The web-site has been a critical component in the marketing of the FOSSIL brand and in supporting its various channels of distribution. In July 2000, Fossil used this vehicle to launch its new apparel line. Today, the apparel business accounts for over 50% of its online offerings.

BizRate.com's "Circle of Excellence" Awards are based on direct consumer feedback from point of sale to the delivery of goods. Criteria included ease of ordering, product selection and availability, on-time delivery, loyalty and repurchase intent, customer support, and overall satisfaction.

About Fossil

Fossil is a design, development, marketing and distribution company that specializes in consumer products predicated on fashion and value. The Company's principle offerings include an extensive line of fashion watches sold under the FOSSIL and RELIC brands, as well as complementary lines of small leather goods, belts, handbags, sunglasses and FOSSIL brand apparel. The Company's products are sold in department stores and specialty retail stores in over 85 countries around the world, in addition to the Company's e-commerce web site at www.fossil.com.

About BizRate.com

Founded in 1996 and based in Los Angeles, BizRate.com (www.bizrate.com) is the No. 1 retail mall on the Web (according to Media Metrix, December 2000), connecting millions of buyers to thousands of sellers in a single, organized location. Designed as the ultimate comparison-shopping hub, the site provides the best efficiencies for both buyers and sellers. In BizRate.com's marketplace, shoppers have access to a powerful product search engine, standardized check-out, exclusive deals, "hot" product listings and gift guides to empower consumers to "shop smartly" across 20 popular store categories and more than 1,500 merchants. Through BizRate.com's unbiased consumer rating system, compiled exclusively from point-of-sale and fulfillment surveys of participating merchants, shoppers can compare merchants across 10 service dimensions. BizRate.com ratings appear on Consumer Reports Online and in Consumer Reports magazine.