NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralph Lauren Media announced today the launch of Polo.com (http://www.polo.com/), the first luxury, designer, e-commerce destination Web site. Polo.com offers comprehensive, online access to the classic, American Ralph Lauren lifestyle with clothing, accessories, fragrances, vintage items, travel, style tips, compelling stories, opt-in video entertainment, world-class customer service and more. Ralph Lauren Media was formed in February 2000 to develop Polo-branded media properties that promise to break new ground on the Internet, in book publishing, television production and feature films. The Polo.com Web site will go live to the public this weekend.

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"Bringing the Polo sensibility to the Internet is the next logical step in our evolution," said Ralph Lauren. "Polo has always been about creating worlds and inviting customers to be part of our dream. We were the first to create multi-page ads that tell a story. We were the first to create stores that enable customers to interact with that lifestyle. Now we're creating another first -- Polo.com -- a Web site that allows people to more fully interact and participate in the dreams and the worlds we've created."

To Mr. Lauren's point, the demand for access to the worlds of Polo is considerable. More than 600,000 new users have registered at Polo.com since Polo Ralph Lauren announced the creation of Ralph Lauren Media and its plans to launch an e-commerce Web site in February.

"The timing couldn't be better for Polo.com," said Jeff Morgan, President & CEO of Ralph Lauren Media. "The Web has matured enough to allow us the opportunity to deliver the richness and beauty that people expect from Polo. The fact that so many people have an affinity for Polo has meant that we've been able to take the time to develop a Web site that's accessible, easy to navigate and shop, seamlessly integrated with the rest of Polo and very innovative."

Polo.com will feature an extensive array of Polo-branded products from Polo Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, Polo Golf, RLX and Polo Jeans for men; Ralph Lauren Black Label, Polo Sport, Polo Golf, RLX and Polo Jeans for women; and a broad selection of items for children, as well as special gifts for the holiday season. For launch Polo.com will be selling Polo-branded products exclusively in the United States.

Woven into Polo.com's streamlined shopping experience is relevant, editorial content and special service-oriented features. Users will find interesting and provocative stories and imagery by well-known and emerging writers, illustrators and photographers. The launch of Polo.com also raises the curtain on "Ask Ralph," Ralph Lauren's ultimate style guide. An ever- increasing database of service-oriented content, Ask Ralph presents Ralph Lauren's unique perspective on tasteful living. Other features like Polo Travel, Polo Radio and Vintage allow people the chance to more fully participate in the Ralph Lauren lifestyle.

"Polo.com allows our customers the opportunity to literally jump into and interact with the world of Ralph Lauren," said David Lauren, Ralph Lauren Media's Chief Creative and Marketing Officer. "Now a person can not only see our lifestyle advertisements, they can buy the beautiful outfit, they can read an interview with the model who's wearing it, watch a video about how to style it -- and even book a trip to the location where the ad was shot."

Polo.com brings the Ralph Lauren lifestyle to life on the Internet with a richness, beauty and level of personal service that sets the standard today, tomorrow and beyond.

Polo.com Navigation Highlights

To ensure comfortable navigation of the worlds of Polo Ralph Lauren, Polo.com has provided a streamlined experience that enables easy, intuitive shopping by item, category or lifestyle, all of which is woven together by relevant editorial content.

Vintage

Polo Ralph Lauren has always incorporated vintage items into its collections. Now, Polo.com takes the vintage concept to the next level. Browse through our collection of antique watches and rare American collectibles. Or take a stroll through our 360-degree American Holiday store and buy items right off the shelves. And for the ultimate second home, starting in December you can bid on a Ralph Lauren exclusive Airstream trailer fully-renewed by our home design team.

Travel

Polo Ralph Lauren has always been more about living as much as fashion. Now you can step into our lifestyle and travel the world with Polo Travel. From The Point, an incredibly exclusive hideaway in the Adirondacks to the sunny luxury of a thatched-roof cottage on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys, Polo Travel offers an opportunity to experience the world of Polo Ralph Lauren through custom-designed travel packages.

Ask Ralph

"Ask Ralph" is Ralph Lauren's compendium of style for men and women. An ever-increasing database of service-oriented content, Ask Ralph epitomizes Polo's commitment to personalize service by counseling consumers on all elements of style -- from garment care, to etiquette, to dressing tips for all occasions. Ask Ralph also features video clips of real Polo employees talking about how to solve the toughest questions about style.

Assistance

If you need some help, have a question or want to speak to someone about a size or an exchange, you won't have to go searching through the site for help. Our customer service email, live customer service chat and toll-free phone number is prominently featured on each and every page at Polo.com. And when you call you can be certain to have your questions answered because all of our phone representatives have the same training and commitment to exemplary customer service as our Polo Ralph Lauren retail sales associates.

Store Locator

Whether it's shopping online at Polo.com or in person at one of our stores, Polo Ralph Lauren is seamlessly integrated. You can find what you want on the Web site or get directions and a map to a store near you. If for any reason you are unable to visit a store, our professional customer service representatives will help you find the item you're looking for and make sure you get exactly want you want.

Polo Radio

Polo Radio offers four channels of streaming audio arranged by genres. It's the kind of music you're accustomed to hearing in our stores and it reflects different aspects of the Polo lifestyle, including Resort, RLX, Evening and Holiday. Users can listen to Polo Radio while shopping on Polo.com, or they can enjoy Polo.com.

About Polo

"About Polo" contains interesting facts about Polo Ralph Lauren and our commitment to philanthropy. There's also information about a few of our flagship stores, employment, investor relations and public relations.

About RL Media

Ralph Lauren Media, LLC was formed to bring the classic, American Polo Ralph Lauren lifestyle to consumers via multiple media platforms, including the Internet, broadcast, cable and print. Under the terms of a 30-year joint venture, Ralph Lauren Media is owned 50% by Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL), 25% by NBC, 12.5% by ValueVision International, Inc. (Nasdaq: VVTV), 10% by NBC Internet, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBCI) and 2.5% by CNBC.com, LLC. In exchange for their interest in Ralph Lauren Media, NBC is contributing $110 million of television and online advertising on NBC and CNBC.com properties, NBCi is contributing $40 million in online distribution and promotion, and ValueVision is contributing a cash funding commitment up to $50 million. Ralph Lauren Media is based in New York and headed by Jeffrey D. Morgan, formerly worldwide publisher of Men's Health, one of the fastest growing magazines in the world. Ralph Lauren Media's managing board has equal representation from Polo Ralph Lauren and NBC, including its affiliated companies.

Polo Ralph Lauren's Role in RL Media

Polo Ralph Lauren will market Polo.com through its annual $100 million print advertising campaign. In addition, the Company will supply its product at initial cost of inventory and provide customer service through returns, exchanges and personal assistance at its 29 full-line Polo Ralph Lauren retail stores and 91 full-line Polo Ralph Lauren outlet stores across the US. Excess inventory will be managed through the Company's outlet stores.

About Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For 33 years, Polo's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include, "Polo by Ralph Lauren," "Polo Sport Ralph Lauren," "Ralph Lauren Collection," "Ralph Lauren Purple Label," "RALPH by Ralph Lauren," "Lauren by Ralph Lauren," "Polo Jeans Co. Ralph Lauren," and "Chaps Ralph Lauren," among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. In April 1999, Polo Ralph Lauren acquired Club Monaco, a vertical lifestyle retailer based in Toronto. In February 2000, Ralph Lauren Media, LLC was formed to bring the Polo Ralph Lauren lifestyle to consumers via multiple media platforms, including the Internet, broadcast, cable and print. SOURCE Polo Ralph Lauren

CONTACT: Jackson Lynch for Polo.com, 212-318-7104/