ClearlyContacts.ca, a division of Coastal.com ("Coastal")
(Nasdaq:COA) (TSX:COA) (Stockholm:COA), the leading online provider
of eyewear announced today that it has signed a partnership
agreement with the British Columbia Human Resource Management
Association (BC HRMA). The two parties will work together to offer
enhanced vision benefits to all employees of BC HRMA and its member
organizations. The new plans enable employers to provide superior
vision benefits to their employees at the same or lower cost than
current vision benefit offerings. Options exist to customize
the new vision benefits to meet the needs of members and their
families.
"The vision plans we have developed in consultation with BC HRMA
are truly innovative and appeal to its member organizations seeking
to enhance their employee benefits while at the same time reducing
costs," commented Greg Lechner, Coastal's VP of Business
Development. "ClearlyContacts.ca is Canada's leading eyewear
company and it is partnerships like this that are changing the way
people buy vision products, providing members and their families
with the highest quality eyewear at tremendous savings.
Simon Evans, BC HRMA's CEO, commented, "We are very excited
about the options and savings that this partnership offers our
membership and staff."
About HRMA
The BC-based Human Resources Management Association (BC HRMA) is
a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing professional
people practices through professional development opportunities
such as conference, workshops, symposiums, mentorship and volunteer
programs.
The association provides leadership to more than 5,500 members
and 3,000 affiliates that collectively represent CEOs, directors of
HR, consultants, educators, students, HR generalists, and
small-business owners. Established in 1942, BC HRMA is a founding
member of the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations
(CCHRA) and the exclusive grantor of the Certified Human Resources
Professional (CHRP) designation in British Columbia and Yukon.
www.bchrma.org
About Coastal.com
Coastal.com is one of the largest online retailers of vision
care products in the world. Coastal empowers customers to easily
browse, try on and buy eyewear—saving time, money and sanity. With
every pair of qualifying frames purchased, Coastal donates a pair
to someone in need through its Change the View project. Founded in
2000, Coastal designs, produces and distributes the largest
selection of glasses and contact lenses on the Internet, including
a unique combination of designer glasses, contact lenses,
sunglasses, and vision care accessories. Coastal serves customers
in more than 150 countries through the Coastal Contacts family of
websites including: Coastal.com, ClearlyContacts.ca, Lensway.com,
Lensway.co.uk, Lensway.se, Lensway.com.br, ClearlyContacts.com.au,
ClearlyContacts.co.nz, Contactsan.com, and
Coastallens.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This News Release may contain "forward-looking statements" as
defined in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning
the business, operations and financial performance and condition of
Coastal. Statements that are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements. The words "may", "would", "could",
"will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate",
"expect", "goal", "target", "should," "likely," "potential,"
"continue," "project," "forecast," "prospects," and similar
expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking
statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements
include statements relating to: Coastal's perception of the contact
lens and eyeglasses industry or market and anticipated trends in
that market in any of the countries in which Coastal does business;
its anticipated ability to procure products and supplies, or the
terms under which it procures products and supplies; Coastal's
anticipated business operations, inventory levels, ability to
handle specific order and call volumes, ability to fill and ship
orders in a timely manner, ability to achieve greater marketing
efficiency or similar statements; ability to increase its
production; plans for capital expenditure plans; relationships with
suppliers; anticipated results of operations, including but not
limited to anticipated sales, revenues, earnings, tax benefits or
similar matters; the effects of seasonality; sufficiency of cash
flows; and Coastal's perceptions regarding volatility in and impact
of foreign currency exchange rates.
Forward-looking statements are based on the then current
expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about
Coastal's business and the industry and markets in which it
operates. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions
which are difficult to predict. Assumptions underlying Coastal's
expectations regarding forward-looking statements or information
contained herein include, among others: that Coastal will maintain
its position in the markets it operates in and will expand into
other markets in a favorable manner; that it will have sufficient
capital to continue making investments in advertising, inventory,
property, equipment and leasehold improvements as well as personnel
to support its business and new product lines, including its
eyeglasses business; that Coastal will be able to generate and
maintain sufficient cash flows to support its operations; that it
will be successful in complying with industry regulatory
requirements in British Columbia and other jurisdictions; that
Coastal will be able to establish and/or maintain necessary
relationships with suppliers; and that it will retain key
personnel. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements or
information are only predictions, and that Coastal's actual future
results or performance may be materially different due to a number
of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:
changes in the market; potential downturns in economic conditions;
consumer credit risk; Coastal's ability to implement its business
strategies; competition; limited suppliers; inventory risk;
disruption in its distribution facilities; mergers and
acquisitions; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
regulatory requirements; demand for products Coastal sells;
competition and dependence on the internet as well as those risks
described in the securities filings of Coastal.
Although Coastal believes that its plans, intentions and
expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially
from a projection or assumption in any of its forward-looking
statements. Coastal's future financial condition and results of
operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject
to change and inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking
statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof.
Coastal does not have, or undertake, any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless otherwise
required by law.
CONTACT: Terry Vanderkruyk
Vice President, Corporate Development
Coastal.com
604.676.4498
terryv@coastal.com
or
Liolios Group Inc.
Scott Liolios or Cody Slach
949.574.3860
COA@liolios.com