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SANTA ANA, Calif.--Jan. 24, 2002--E-commerce outsource solutions provider Pierpoint-Martin (www.pierpoint-martin.com) today announced that it has been selected by direct marketing leader Encore Marketing International Inc. to develop and operate an online superstore for fitness and wellness-related products.
The new e-commerce site, which will go live the first week of February, will be part of Encore's existing Premier Fitness & Wellness Club (www.pfwc.com) as well as Encore's new Health & Beauty Club (www.healthandbeautyclub.com).

Pierpoint-Martin will utilize its proprietary e-commerce technology and infrastructure to provide site design and hosting, customer service, order processing, order fulfillment and merchandising for the e-commerce site. The site will feature more than 2,000 fitness-related products including fitness equipment, videos, books, clothing and footwear.

"Encore wanted to enhance the value of its clubs by providing club members with access to a premier online fitness and wellness superstore," said Pierpoint-Martin Vice President Ed Gaut. "With our infrastructure and experience as a leader in fitness-related e-commerce, it was natural for Encore to come to us to design and operate the site."

Encore is the latest in a string of companies to turn to Pierpoint-Martin for help boosting e-commerce revenue. Pierpoint-Martin now runs e-commerce operations for more than a dozen companies including nutritional supplement manufacturer and retailer General Nutrition Corp., magazine publisher Women's Fitness International and fitness apparel makers T. Micheal and HotSkins Bodywear.

"More and more companies are outsourcing Web operations to us," said Gaut, "because we know how to do e-commerce quickly, efficiently, and -- most importantly -- profitably." In fact, in spite of the recent tough holiday season for many retailers, Pierpoint-Martin actually saw a substantial increase in same-site holiday sales over the previous year.

"We believe that this new fitness store will be a great new benefit for our members," said Laura Dickson, Encore product manager for both clubs.

About Pierpoint-Martin

Pierpoint-Martin (www.pierpoint-martin.com) is an e-commerce outsource solutions provider. Pierpoint-Martin runs e-commerce operations, including site design, merchandising, inventory, order fulfillment and customer service, for major consumer product manufacturers, retailers and media companies under exclusive, long-term agreements.

About Encore Marketing International

Encore Marketing International (www.encoremarketing.com) is the nation's premier membership marketing company. For more than 23 years, Encore has specialized in the marketing and management of lifestyle-centered membership programs (travel, shopping, fitness and wellness, etc.) for a variety of businesses and financial clients.