Egghead.com Selects Be Free to Build and Maintain Affiliate Sales Channel
Wednesday, March 10, 1999 08:30 AM
VANCOUVER, Wash. and MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1999--
Extension of Egghead's Online Marketing Strategy
Egghead.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGGS), a leading Internet-based retailer of personal computers, software and computer-related products, announced today that it has chosen Be Free, Inc., the leading provider of affiliate sales channel technology and services, to build and maintain the Egghead.com affiliate sales channel.
"The agreement with Be Free is an important strategic move for the company," George Orban, Egghead.com chairman and CEO said. "The development of an affiliate program is an extension of Egghead.com's online marketing strategy. We believe that Be Free will enable Egghead to reach tens of thousands of new affiliates."
Egghead (www.egghead.com) operates two Internet superstores (Egghead Computer and Egghead Software), a SurplusDirect liquidation center and Egghead Auctions, one of the largest auction sites on the Web.
Be Free merchant clients establish "virtual storefronts" on affiliate sites, targeting specific merchandise to complement both the merchant and affiliate web sites. Through this solution, affiliate sites earn commissions for each product sold through the affiliate referral network. The Be Free solution also provides real-time market intelligence on the effectiveness of each affiliate storefront.
"While traditional CPM banner advertising works for name branding, it has become apparent that banner advertising does not work as well to drive sales," says Gordon Hoffstein, president and CEO of Be Free, Inc. "Be Free offers a better solution by placing product offerings in context, presenting Internet users with products affiliated with their interests. Egghead offers such a wide variety of quality products that they will be a natural complement to a vast number of affiliate web sites."
About Be Free, Inc.
Be Free, Inc. is the leading provider of online affiliate sales channel technology, services and knowledge. Be Free's branded affiliate sales channels help online retailers capture revenue by selling products in context on affiliate web sites. With more than 145,000 affiliates in their networks, Be Free's clients include the Internet's leading merchants such as barnesandnoble.com (NYSE:BKS), American Greetings (NYSE: AM), Electronic Newsstand, Reel.com (NASDAQ:HLYW) and Network Solutions (NASDAQ:NSOL). The company's product offerings include the BFAST(TM) affiliate sales channel technology and the BFIT(TM) targeted advertising delivery system. Founded in 1996, Be Free has offices in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Marlborough, Mass. Be Free's investors include Charles River Ventures and Matrix Partners, whose previous investments include Excite, Abacus, Parametric Technology, Sybase, Atria, Cascade and Ciena. For more information, visit Be Free's web site at befree.com.
About Egghead.com
Egghead.com is a leading Internet-based retailer of computer hardware, software, peripherals and accessories. In 1998, Egghead.com became the first significant traditional retailer to close all of its retail stores and shift its primary business emphasis to online retailing. Recent Media Metrix surveys indicate that Egghead.com ranks among the top 10 shopping sites on the Web and is in the top 50 most frequently visited sites.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements about Egghead.com that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Egghead.com limited online operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in operating results, systems failures, business interruptions, capacity constraints, systems development, management of growth, the intensely competitive nature of the electronic commerce industry and reliance on third parties, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers. More information about factors that potentially could affect Egghead.com financial results is included in Egghead.com Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 26, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Egghead Communications John Hough, 206/448-7631 jdhough@ibm.net or Be Free, Inc. Anne Radley, 508/357-8888 ext. 4039 aradley@befree.com or Schwartz Communications Jennifer Aprile, 781/684-0770 japrile@schwartz-pr.com
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