AE Direct Makes NewRoads Its Long-Term Provider of Fulfillment Solutions; Hip Clothing Brand Signs Multi-Year Contract to Outsource Customer-Facing Critical Business Processes

Business Wire, August 5, 2002

Business Editors/High Tech & Fashion Writers

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2002

NewRoads, the leading business process outsourcer of fulfillment and customer care services, today announced that American Eagle Outfitters (Nasdaq: AEOS) has signed a multi-year contract that will enable it to outsource its most critical direct-to-consumer fulfillment processes.

NewRoads will manage all aspects of order fulfillment for AE Direct's direct-to-consumer programs, including its Web site (www.ae.com) and catalog distribution, to give consumers the high-quality shopping experience they expect from such a recognized brand. Specific details of the contract were not disclosed.

NewRoads will provide AE Direct with:

-- Customer care services, including telephone and online support

-- Order processing of all incoming orders via the phone and the Web

-- Order fulfillment

-- Product warehousing

-- Returns processing

"NewRoads' driving mission is to provide cost-effective, brand-enhancing fulfillment and customer-care solutions for our clients," said L. Michael Shelton, NewRoads' executive vice president for sales and marketing. "Our role as a fulfillment process outsourcer puts us at the heart of business initiatives like AE Direct, helping well-known brand names get their products to market in new and creative ways. Everything we do is built around helping innovative companies like AE be successful."

"With NewRoads, we found a business process outsourcer with long-term stability, proven apparel expertise and a reputation for quality service," said Heather Yerage, director of operations for AE Direct. "NewRoads has the total outsourcing package to maintain our brand experience and grow to match our needs as our direct-to-consumer business expands."

About American Eagle Outfitters

American Eagle Outfitters (Nasdaq: AEOS) is a leading lifestyle retailer that designs, markets and sells its own brand of relaxed, versatile clothing for 16- to 34-year-olds, providing high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. AE's lifestyle collection includes casual basics like khakis, cargos and jeans, fashion tops like rugbys, polos and graphic Ts, and functional items like swimwear, outerwear, footwear and accessories. AE's Canadian subsidiary, Thrifty's/Bluenotes, targets a slightly younger demographic, offering a more urban/suburban, denim-driven collection for 12- to 22-year-olds. American Eagle Outfitters currently operates 660 AE stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, 51 AE stores in Canada, and 112 Thriftys/Bluenotes stores in Canada. AE also operates via its Internet business, www.ae.com.

About NewRoads

NewRoads provides business process outsourcing solutions of fulfillment, customer care and supply chain execution to deliver products, information requests and rebates to customers who order over the telephone, via the Internet, and by mail or catalog. By combining best-practices solutions and services with its nationwide network of more than 20 distribution and call centers, NewRoads efficiently and cost effectively delivers it clients' products and enhances their customers' brand buying experience. Based in Greenwich, Conn., NewRoads serves more than 200 clients, including Restoration Hardware (Nasdaq: RSTO), Godiva, American Eagle Outfitters (Nasdaq: AEOS), Avon (NYSE: AVP) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG). For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.newroads.com.