NEW YORK, N.Y., January 16, 2001 --
Retail Options LLC, the New York-based alliance formed by a consortium of global industry leaders, announced today that selection of the Rosetta Stone(TM) fit technology from Silicon Valley-based TheRightSize, Inc. as the most promising solution to the estimated $50B worldwide problem of size-related returns.

Retail Options has studied the fit/sizing technologies, specifically as it pertains to reducing retail returns and reviewed more than a dozen companies that promise to help consumers find their correct size. "We are looking for best of breed not only in the technology, but in the technology that best addresses consumer interface," says Kenneth Walker, Managing Director of Retail Options.

"The apparel industry is looking for a fit solution that is effective, inexpensive to implement and able to scale to meet the demands of billions of apparel consumers. TheRightSize approach is unique. We've watched their technology develop over the past six months and are convinced they are delivering a key element of the fit puzzle. With their Rosetta Stone technology about to launch, we are pleased to recommend TheRightSize to the retail community" said Kenneth Walker, in the affirmation of TheRightSize as the leading fit technology.

Ernesto Aguirre CEO and Co-Founder of TheRightSize, was pleased, "We have tremendous respect for Retail Options. The firm represents a powerful blend of traditional and online experience, contacts and global reach. Our goal is to partner with Retail Options and other companies offering visualization services to create a broad spectrum, consumer-friendly range of services that unlock the potential of returns-free online, wireless and catalog retailing. Nobody likes returns. We're ready to help retailers eliminate them, starting this month.

Retail Options LLC is a strategic alliance that was formed earlier this year among retailers Federated Department Stores, Inc., Sears, Roebuck & Co., and Carrefour, St. Paul Venture Capital and international Internet professional services firm Organic, Inc. The company was formed to identify, invest in, develop and distribute retail brands and technologies that present innovative opportunities in integrated bricks-and-mortar and e-commerce retailing.

TheRightSize, Inc. is a leading provider of profit-enhancing software for multi-channel retailers. The company's patent-pending Rosetta Stone technology uses consumers' feedback on what fits them now to predict what other items they'll also like. Developed by PhD's and graduate students from MIT and Carnegie-Mellon University, the software is hosted and maintained by TheRightSize and appears on retailers' web sites with its branding, apparel database, promotions, merchandising, look and feel customized for the retailer.