Premium Cigars International Announces Entrance
into E-Commerce with ProductExpress.com
PCIG Will Partner with VisualCommerce to Develop a Unique Internet Site
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium Cigars International, Ltd. (Nasdaq: PCIG - news) today announced it is
currently developing a unique Internet site, productexpress.com, that will be activated mid-March. The site will
leverage the Company's marketing and distribution expertise with convenience stores to create an Internet distribution vehicle.
ProductExpress.com will feature two sections: a retail site, and a password protected wholesale site geared at marketing products
that are ideally suited for impulse sale to convenience stores (c-stores) and specialty stores.
The retail side of ProductExpress.com will initially offer consumers a variety of cigar-gift packs and multi-brand humidor
assortments using PCIG's proven ability to quickly and efficiently process and ship orders to thousands of locations. The Company
intends to add other products to the site that complement PCIG's order processing and shipping abilities.
The wholesale side of the site is designed to bring a new level of sophistication to the c-store and specialty retail outlets. PCIG will
display and sell its current products, along with future products designed and packaged specifically for convenience stores. The
Company believes that what will make the wholesale side truly unique will be the marketing and sales data that can be provided for
the retailers. Not only will the site allow for online wholesale purchases and 72 hour direct store delivery, PCIG intends to expand
the site to inform the retailer on sales order history, selling techniques, merchandising suggestions, consumer demographics, price
point comparisons, and provide them with the ability to share their experiences with other retailers.
John Greenwell, Premium Cigar's CEO stated: ''We have demonstrated our ability to sell, market and efficiently distribute our
products directly to retail stores as evidenced by our continued relationships with major c-store chains such as 7-Eleven, Circle K,
and Mobil. We have further demonstrated our ability to develop successful niche products for the c-store and specialty retailers
such as PrimeTime and our disposable Humidibox. Through the wholesale side of ProductExpress.com, we will expand on our
successes, and offer a new level of sophistication to c-stores and specialty retail outlets. We feel this will allow us a competitive
advantage over the traditional methods of product distribution and, in turn, increase revenue for PCIG and for our customers. It is
our opinion that through ProductExpress.com, PCIG will provide a much needed service, and should be well received throughout
the industry.''
VisualCommerce, Inc., Seattle, Washington-based developers of e-commerce development tools for the Microsoft Commerce
Platform, has assisted PCIG with the development of their ProductExpress.com site. VisualCommerce will feature
ProductExpress.com at the home page of their web site. As Microsoft Site Builders link through to VisualCommerce from the
Microsoft site, these developers will have near instant access to ProductExpress.com.
Mr. Greenwell went on to comment: ''The relationship with VisualCommerce to create PCIG's Internet 'E-Commerce' presence
will allow PCIG to enter the fast-growing Internet market quickly and easily. We have invested significant time and resources to
develop an integrated order processing, tracking and distribution system for our core business_competencies ideally suited to the
unique conditions of E-Commerce. By using ProductExpress.com for sales and PCIG for distribution, we will be able to ship
products within minutes of taking the order.''
''We are excited that Premium Cigars International Ltd. has decided to use VisualCommerce Constructor to develop their
ProductExpress.com e-commerce site,'' said Dan Stull, President and CEO of VisualCommerce. ''The ProductExpress.com site is
an excellent example of a company that has taken advantage of the capabilities of VisualCommerce Constructor. As such, we will
feature them as our showcase site, giving ProductExpress.com and Premium Cigars International, Ltd. significant exposure to
thousands of web surfers who link to us through the Microsoft web page.''
Premium Cigars International, Ltd. is a leading marketer of premium cigars and accessories to convenience and other high volume
retail stores in the United States and Canada.
The Statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors which would cause or contribute to such differences
include but are not limited to: successful operation of the ProductExpress.com web site; acceptance of e-commerce by the
Company's existing customers and other c-stores and specialty retailers; factors detailed in the Company's Securities and
Exchange Commission filing; downturns in the company's primary markets; disruptions to the company's operations from various
factors, such as transportation difficulties. All company and product names are the trademarks of their respective organizations. |
