Illuminations, Waldenbooks(tm), Helzberg Diamonds, and Restoration Hardware Choose Return Path ECOA(tm)

-- Return Path`s E-mail Change of Address service helps retailers update customer e-mail addresses and preserve online customer relationships --

New York, September 17, 2002-- Return Path, Inc., the leading provider of e-mail change of address services, announced today that Illuminations, Waldenbooks, Helzberg Diamonds, and Restoration Hardware are among 40 retailers that have chosen Return Path ECOA to help update their customer e-mail address lists.

"Our e-mail marketing efforts to customers are wasted without a current e-mail address," said Clay Lingo, Director - Direct Channel Sales & Operations, Illuminations. "Return Path provides us with a simple, cost-effective way to update our list, helping us retain contact with customers who haven`t had an opportunity to update us directly."

According to a recent consumer e-mail study sponsored by DoubleClick, 86 percent of consumers who have purchased from the same online merchant more than once cited ongoing e-mail communications as a primary reason for doing so.

"Repeat buyers accounted for more than half of all online retailing sales in 2001," said Matt Blumberg, Return Path chief executive officer. "Given our current economy, retailers continue to look for easy-to-implement solutions that help them retain and maintain profitable customer relationships. We`ve responded with Return Path ECOA, enabling clients to quickly convert customers who provide an e-mail address update into repeat buyers."

More than 9 million consumers have registered an e-mail address change with Return Path to help facilitate e-mail address updates with personal and commercial contacts. Approximately 1 million new e-mail address changes are added to the Return Path database each month.

Upon registering an e-mail address change with Return Path, consumers choose how they`d like Return Path to handle their e-mail address updates. They either grant Return Path permission to update anyone who has their old e-mail address with their new e-mail address, or they request that Return Path notify them each time someone with their old e-mail address requests their new e-mail address, so they have the opportunity to approve or decline the request.

"Our service gives consumers control over who gets access to their new e-mail address," said Blumberg. "This ensures we provide clients with accurate e-mail address updates from highly responsive consumers. That`s a key reason our service has been so successful in the retail and catalog sector."

According to an NFO World Group study, 32 percent of U.S. e-mail users change their e-mail address each year. For businesses that rely on e-mail to communicate with their customers, e-mail churn represents a significant threat to their online marketing efforts.

"With the holiday shopping season rapidly approaching, online marketers are getting their customer e-mail address lists prepared for fall campaigns," added Mr. Blumberg. "Return Path ECOA offers retailers a simple, effective strategy to re-activate online customer relationships, which increases revenue more rapidly and more profitably than standard customer acquisition programs."

About Return Path, Inc.

Founded in 1999, Return Path helps businesses retain customers and reduce the costs of undeliverable e-mail with Return Path ECOA and Return Path E-mail List Hygiene. Return Path ECOA is the industry standard for e-mail change of address services. More than 1,000,000 consumer-registered e-mail address changes are submitted to Return Path monthly. Return Path, a member of the Direct Marketing Association, is also the e-mail change of address service for the United States Postal Service`s online moving portal. Return Path serves more than 120 clients. Return Path investors include Sutter Hill Ventures, Mobius Venture Capital (formerly SOFTBANK Venture Capital), Flatiron Partners, JP Morgan Partners, and DoubleClick Inc. (NASDAQ:DCLK). For more information visit www.returnpath.net/business, e-mail info@returnpath.net, or call 1-866-362-4577.

Corporate Contact:
Tim Dolan
Return Path, Inc.
212-905-5500, ext. 230
tim.dolan@returnpath.net

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