DRAPER, Utah, and CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
1-800 CONTACTS, INC. (Nasdaq: CTAC) and Cole National Corporation (NYSE: CNJ)
today announced they have signed an agreement under which 1-800 CONTACTS'
customers can receive eye exams at a discount from a network of doctors
contracted with Cole Managed Vision and associated with more than 1,500 Pearle
Vision, Pearle VisionCare, Sears Optical, and Target Optical stores in the
U.S. Additionally, Cole's Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical
stores will offer 1-800 CONTACTS' customers value pricing on eyeglasses,
sunglasses and other vision products. 1-800 CONTACTS will retain the contact
lens business of customers recommended to Cole National stores.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990917/1800CONTACTS )
Jonathan Coon, 1-800 CONTACTS' Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are
excited about entering into this relationship with the premier retail optical
chain in the country. While Cole National is one company, this relationship
gives our customers three well-known retail optical brands to choose from to
meet their other eyewear needs. Cole's broad network of highly professional,
independent doctors of optometry will give our customers excellent care as
well as value pricing."
Larry Pollock, Cole National's Chief Executive Officer, noted, "We are
pleased to offer 1-800 CONTACTS' 3 million customers a network to meet their
eye exam needs through the doctors associated with our more than
1,500 company-owned stores and hope our Pearle Vision franchisees, who
currently own and operate approximately half of the 859 Pearle Vision
locations, will join us as members of the network and in marketing to
1-800 CONTACTS' customers. We will work with 1-800 CONTACTS on a variety of
cross marketing promotions in select test markets over the coming months and
will continue to offer the doctor network for at least one year."
About 1-800 CONTACTS
1-800 CONTACTS offers consumers an attractive alternative for obtaining
replacement contact lenses in terms of convenience, price and speed of
delivery. Through its easy-to-remember, toll-free telephone number,
"1-800 CONTACTS" (1-800-266-8228), and its Internet web site,
http://www.contacts.com , the Company sells all of the popular brands of contact
lenses. 1-800 CONTACTS offers products at competitive prices, while
delivering a high level of customer service.
About Cole National
Cole National Corporation's vision business is one of the world's largest
retailers of eyewear and optometric services, operating 2,180 locations in the
U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its Pearle Vision chain,
which includes 394 company-owned and 465 franchise locations, is one of the
strongest brands in the optical industry. Cole National also includes Cole
Managed Vision, one of the largest managed vision care benefit providers and
owns a 21% interest in Pearle Europe, which has 1,166 optical stores in
11 countries overseas. Cole's personalized gift business, Things Remembered,
serves customers through 761 locations nationwide, catalogs and the Internet
at http://www.thingsremembered.com .
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements about the companies'
future business prospects. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including general
economic conditions, the health of the contact lens industry, operational
factors, the actions of Pearle Vision's franchisees and regulatory
considerations.
SOURCE 1-800 CONTACTS, INC.
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Related links:
http://www.thingsremembered.com
http://www.contacts.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990917/1800CONTACTS
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Rob Hunter, Interim Chief Financial Officer,
1-800 CONTACTS, INC., +1-801-924-9800; or Joseph Gaglioti, Vice
President and Treasurer of Cole National Corporation,
+1-440-449-4100
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