Claire's Stores Granted Exclusive Rights to Launch Product LinePEMBROKE PINES, Fla., April 12, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Claire's Stores,
Inc. (NYSE: CLE) is proud to announce its participation in the Handbag of
Hope(TM) project, as it launches an exclusive line of products designed to
benefit The Make-A Wish Foundation(R).
Eighteen-year-old Ali Spizman, a national teen volunteer ambassador for
The Make-A-Wish Foundation(R), has designed the "Handbag of Hope(TM)", a
captivating new line of handbags and accompanying accessories sure to be the
next craze for dedicated purse lovers everywhere.
The Handbag of Hope(TM) got rolling when Ali traveled to New York with her
mom, Robyn Spizman, an Atlanta gift-giving reporter who was appearing on a
national talk show. Ali met Seth Goldberg, CEO of S.B. Cornerstones, a
licensing and manufacturing company, which at the time had just completed an
accessory line for pop singer Mariah Carey. Ali discussed her ideas for a
handbag line with Seth and they were a hit. Goldberg and S.B. Cornerstones
President Bennett Kaye assembled a manufacturing team, created prototypes and
shared them with key buyers.
Ali didn't just want to become a designer; she also wanted to use this
opportunity to support a cause. While researching non-profit organizations,
Ali learned about courageous 12-year-old Hope Stout who had passed away from a
rare form of bone cancer. When The Make-A-Wish Foundation offered Hope her
wish, she asked that all the other children in the Charlotte Make-A-Wish
chapter be granted their wishes, putting the requests of 155 other wish kids
before her own. After a syndicated radio show interview, response to Hope's
wish resulted in more than $1.1 million in four short weeks. Inspired by
Hope's mission and generous heart, Ali resolved to carry on Hope's voice to
raise funds with her new creation the Handbag of Hope(TM), which will benefit
The Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) to help grant wishes for children with
life-threatening medical conditions.
"The Handbag of Hope(TM) is a product line that exemplifies the vision of
how teens can impact the world in a beautiful way, and we are so thrilled with
Ali and the excitement this handbag line is generating in the retail
community," commented Goldberg, whose company S.B. Cornerstones was
instrumental in bringing the Handbag of Hope(TM) to life.
Goldberg continued, "International retailer Claire's Stores, Inc. has made
a commitment to the handbag and the cause, and will be exclusively launching
the Handbag of Hope(TM) line in mid-May." Marla Schaefer and Bonnie Schaefer,
Co-Chairmen and Co-CEO's of Claire's Stores, Inc. noted that, "Claire's is
exceedingly pleased and proud to be a partner in the Handbag of Hope(TM)
program. We have participated in other Make-A-Wish events on a local basis,
but have never before had the opportunity to do something with national reach.
A program of this magnitude can significantly further the organization's
objective of fulfilling the dreams of children suffering from life-threatening
illnesses."
"We are extremely grateful to benefit from Ali's commitment to our
mission," said David A. Williams, president and chief executive officer for
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. "Her efforts are truly a labor of love,
and will have a tremendous impact not only in providing funds to grant wishes,
but also in sharing the compelling effect of our work on the many people
involved in the wish experience." The Make-A-Wish Foundation is holding its
25th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday April 19, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, at
which the Handbag of Hope will be unveiled. The event is taking place at
Madame Tussauds, 234 West 42nd Street, New York, NY.
About Claire's Stores, Inc.
Claire's Stores, Inc., is a leading international specialty retailer
offering value-priced costume jewelry and accessories to fashion-aware tweens,
teens and young adults through its two store concepts: Claire's and Icing by
Claire's. In total, more than 3,000 Claire's and Icing by Claire's stores can
be found throughout the world.
For more information, visit Claire's teen oriented website at
http://www.claires.com and its corporate website at
http://www.clairestores.com, or contact Marisa Jacobs, Esq., Vice President of
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, by phone at (212) 594-3127 or
by email at marisa.jacobs@claires.com.
About Ali Spizman:
As an award-winning author of The Thank You Book for Kids, Ali Spizman is
no stranger to success. She has been featured by CNN, Time Magazine for Kids,
Southern Living, Boston Herald, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Woman's Day, Cosmo Girl, and American Girl and on The Cartoon Network as a
member of The Cartoon Gang. As the national teen volunteer ambassador for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Ali has also been contracted to write her
second book, titled The Power of a Wish: A Celebration of Hope, Love and
Gratitude, in honor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation's 25th Anniversary. For more
information about The Handbag of Hope(TM) line or to interview Ali Spizman,
please contact The Spizman Agency at 770.953.2040.
About The Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with
life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,
strength, and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a
young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is
now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 74 chapters in the
U.S. and its territories and 28 international affiliates on five continents.
Granting more than 11,500 wishes a year and 127,000 wishes worldwide since
inception, The Make-A-Wish Foundation celebrates "25 Years Making Dreams Come
True" in 2005. For more information about The Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit
http://www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish(R).
About S. B. Cornerstones
Marketing entrepreneurs Seth Goldberg and Bennett Kaye created S.B.
Cornerstones as a collaborative partnership to introduce cutting-edge product
trends directly to the fashion-conscious market. Specializing in the
acquisition of trademarks, patents and licenses through purchase or
self-invention, this innovative company provides an elite client base with
high quality products and remarkably creative results. S.B. Cornerstones
coordinates and manufactures signature product launches for a star-studded
client list that features Hollywood's hottest celebs including Mariah Carey,
Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson and Ryan Cabrera. In addition to being the
master licensor for Make-A-Wish Foundation International, S.B. Cornerstones is
also involved in other philanthropic efforts including Fashion
Philanthropy(TM), Carry A Cause(TM), Wear A Cause(TM) and Celebri-T (TM).
NBC's Today Show, CNN, InStyle Magazine, Esquire, New York Magazine, and other
media outlets have featured their products.
SOURCE Claire's Stores, Inc.
Marisa Jacobs, Esq., Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor
Relations of Claire's Stores, Inc., +1-212-594-3127, marisa.jacobs@claires.com
