Finalists for 2008 MCM Awards Announced; Awards Set for May 21 at ACCM

April 8, 2008 — MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT today announced the 120 finalists for its 2008 MCM Awards. Winners will be announced during a May 21 luncheon ceremony at the Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants (ACCM). Co-produced by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT, the 2008 ACCM will be held May 19-22 at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL.

The 120 MCM Awards finalists, who comprise both business-to-business (B-to-B) and business-to-consumer (B-to-C) marketers, were culled from a total of 180 entrants. Finalists now vying for awards represent print (67 finalists), Web (39), and cross-channel (14).

Gold and Silver Awards are given annually for quality in both print and Web, and the Cross-Channel Awards honor multichannel merchants for synergy across the print and Web channels. Last year, MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT presented 55 accolades in all.

MCM Awards finalists and winners are evaluated by a panel of experts through a series of three judging sessions: pre-screening, in-home evaluations, and a final judging session. Print and Web channel entries are evaluated on creative, merchandising, copy, customer service/navigation, and marketing execution. Cross-channel entries are evaluated on the synergy between channels and results.

“The future is here — we’ve seen it from these amazing MCM Awards finalists,” said Angela Eastin, Penton group show director. “The impressive creativity and multichannel integration that these finalists demonstrate merit across-the-board praise. But we must choose the best of the best to honor on May 21 in Orlando.”

2008 MCM AWARDS FINALISTS

Apparel: Print Finalists

· Cutter & Buck — Holiday 2007

· L.L. Bean, Inc — Guide to Christmas Gifts 2007

· L.L. Bean, Inc. — Christmas 2007

· Patagonia, Inc — Patagonia 2007 Spring, Yosemite

· Patagonia, Inc. — Patagonia 2007 Fall, Artic National Wildlife Refuge

· SanMar Corp — District Threads 2007

· Sundance Catalog — Sundance Catalog, Winter 2007

Apparel: Web Finalists

· L.L. Bean, Inc — www.llbean.com

· The Working Person’s Store — www.workingperson.com

· Sundance Catalog — www.sundance.com

Business Specialty Products: Print Finalists

· BHC — Chief 2007 Buyer’s Guide

· Edmund Optics — Edmund Optics 2007 Master Source Book

· L.L. Bean, Inc — L.L. Bean Direct to Business Holiday 2007

· Newark — Catalog 125, 2008

· New Pig Corp — The Big Pigalog Buying Guide 2008

· Tessco Technologies Incorporated — TESSCO The Wireless Guide

· WESCO Distribution, Inc — WESCO Buyers Guide 2007

Business Specialty Products: Web Finalists

· BHC — www.chiefsupply.com

· Edmund Optics, Inc. — www.edmundoptics.com

· ePromos Promotional Products, Inc. — www.epromos.com

· Tessco Technologies, Inc — www.tessco.com

· Wasp Code Technologies — www.waspbarcode.com

Children’s Products: Print Finalists

· Army & Air Force Exchange, The Baby Book 2007

· FAO Schwartz, Fall 2007

· One Step Ahead, Summer Preview 2007

· Hanna Andersson, Winter 2007

· Learning Resources, Holiday 2007

· L.L. Bean, Kids Spring 2007

· Sensational Beginnings, Holiday 2007

Children’s Products: Web Finalists

· Learning Resources — www.learningresources.com

· Chelsea & Scott, LTD — www.onestepahead.com

· Sensational Beginnings — www.sensationalbeginnings.com

Computer and High Tech: Print Finalists

· Black Box Corporation — Black Box Network Services 2007

· Crutchfield Corporation — Crutchfield Fall 2007/Winter 2008

· L-com Connectivity Products — L-com Connectivity Products 2007 Master Catalog 2.0

Computer and High Tech: Web Finalists

· Black Box Corp — www.blackbox.com

· L-Com Connectivity Products — www.L-com.com

· Musician’s Friend — www.musiciansfriend.com

Consumer Specialty Product: Print Finalists

· Country Walkers — Country Walkers 2008

· King Arthur Flour — Bake & Give, Holiday Preview 2007

· Mayfire — Long Beach BMW Motorcycles

· Musician’s Friend, Inc. — Holiday Gift Issue 2007

· The Orvis Company — Orvis The Dog Book, Summer 2007

· Vitacostcom — Vitacost.com Fall 2007

· Wilderness Travel — Journeys For The Year 2008

Consumer Specialty Product: Web Finalists

· Benefit Cosmetics — www.benefitcosmetics.com

· eBags.com — www.ebags.com

· King Arthur Flour — www.kingarthurflour.com

· Notable Holdings, Inc — www.sheetmusicplus.com

· Musician’s Friend, Inc. — www.musiciansfriend.com

Food: Print Finalists

· Fairytale Brownies — Fairytale Brownies Winter 2007

· Harry & David — Harry & David Cool Fruit 2007

· Harry & David — Harry & David Spring 2007

· Harry & David — Harry & David Summer Celebration 2007

· Mrs. Beasley’s — Holiday 2007

Food: Web Finalists

· Harry & David — www.harryanddavid.com

Gifts: Print Finalists

· Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Holiday 2007

· L.L. Bean, Christmas Favorites 2007

· L.L. Bean, Christmas Gift Guide 2007

· Harry & David, January-February 2007

· Harry & David, Holiday Preview 2007

· The Orvis Co., Sporting Gifts, Holiday 2007

· Williamsburg, Holiday 2007

Gifts: Web Finalists

· The Orvis Company — www.orvis.com

· L.L. Bean, Inc. — www.llbean.com

Hardware, Tools, and Automotive: Print Finalists

· Buggies Unlimited — Fall 2007 #113

Hardware, Tools, and Automotive: Web Finalists

· JC Whitney & Company — www.jcwhitney.com

Home and Gardening: Print Finalists

· Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) — Outdoor Living 2007

· Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) — Home Décor Summer 2007

· Jackson & Perkins — Jackson & Perkins Wholesale Roses for 2008

· L.L. Bean, Inc. — L.L. Bean Home Summer Living

· The Orvis Company — Summer Home, Summer 2007

Home and Gardening: Web Finalists

· The Orvis Company — www.orvis.com

New Catalog/Web: Print Finalists

· Edmund Optics, Inc. — Edmund Optics 2007 Master Source Book

· Harry & David — America’s Favorite Business Gifts

· Beretta — Beretta Volume XXV 2007

Office Supplies, Furniture and Stationary: Print Finalists

· Office Depot — The Big Book

· Office Depot — The Green Book

· Raymond Geddes & Co., Inc. — Geddes, August 2007-July 2007

Office Supplies, Furniture and Stationary: Web Finalists

· Alexander Interactive/Action Envelope — www.actionenvelope.com

Small Catalog/Web: Print Finalists

· Action Bag Company — Action Bag Company Spring 2007

· Fairytale Brownies — Fairytale Brownies Winter 2007

· Melissa Data — Melissa Data Your Partner in Data Quality - Catalog 2008

· The Republic of Tea — The Republic of Tea - Catalog No. 98

Small Catalog/Web: Web Finalists

· Alexander Interactive/Pet Care RX — www.petcarerx.com

· Birthday in a Box — www.birthdayinabox.com

· Fairytale Brownies — www.brownies.com

· HomeWetBar.com — www.homewetbar.com

· Melissa Data — www.melissadata.com

· PlumberSurplus.com, LLC — www.plumbersurplus.com

Sporting Goods: Print Finalists

· The Fly Shop, Inc — The Fly Shop 2007 Catalog & Travel Digest

· L.L. Bean, Inc. — Hunting Fall 2007

· The Orvis Company — Orvis Fly Fishing 2007

· Patagonia, Inc. — Patagonia Surf 2007

Sporting Goods: Web Finalists

· L.L. Bean, Inc. — www.llbean.com

· Mack’s Prairie Wings — www.mackspw.com

· The Orvis Company — www.orvis.com

International: Print Finalists

· Crutchfield Corporation Holiday 2007 — Canada

· Orvis — The Dog Book Autumn 2007 — UK

· The Big Pigalog 2008 Buying Guide — UK Edition

· The Big Pigalog 2008 Buying Guide — German Edition

International: Web Finalists

· Crutchfield Corporation — www.crutchfieldcanada.com

· Wasp Barcode Technologies — UK — www.waspbarcode.co.uk

· The Orvis Company — www.orvis.co.uk

· The Timberland Company — www.timberlandonline.co.uk

· Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) — www.aafes.com

Consumer Cross Channel

· Crutchfield

· Fairytale Brownies

· King Arthur Flour

· L.L. Bean, Inc.

· Musician’s Friend, Inc.

· One Step Ahead

· The Orvis Company — Fly Fishing 2007 & www.orvis.com

· Sensational Beginnings

· Sundance Catalog

B-to-B Cross Channel

· Black Box Corporation

· Edmund Optics, Inc.

· L-com Connectivity Products

· Melissa Data

· Tessco Technologies Incorporated

For more information on the 2008 MCM Awards, click here or contact Tim Parry at tim.parry@penton.com.

To register or to learn more about ACCM 2008, please visit www.accmshow.com.

About Multichannel Merchant

MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT helps executives manage all facets of their businesses by providing superior analysis of successful strategies across all areas of multichannel marketing — print, catalogs, e-commerce, merchandising, operations, retail and more. It’s the one source that helps professionals capitalize on opportunities in their core businesses, and integrate strategies to maximize their successes in each channel. MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT’S franchise includes MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT magazine; the Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants (ACCM); MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT Weekly, List & Data Strategies, and Searchline e-newsletters; www.multichannelmerchant.com; the Annual Multichannel Merchant Awards; and much more.

# # #