Video: Rachel Roy Announces the Launch of e-Commerce Shopping on rachelroy.com

New Website Offers Rachel Roy Apparel, Footwear and Accessories Online
NEW YORK, September 1, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Rachel Roy, a designer known for her signature aesthetic of effortless glamour and sophistication, today announced the launch of a dedicated e-commerce website where shoppers can access the full range of the brand's collections: http://www.rachelroy.com. Rachel Roy is a division of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY).

The new rachelroy.com features the Rachel Roy New York designer clothing collection and the new diffusion line, Rachel Rachel Roy, which consists of sportswear, footwear, handbags, and jewelry.

In addition to online shopping, rachelroy.com also gives visitors an inside look at the Rachel Roy brand through videos, editorial pages, and an Everything Rachel section. The site is launching with social media integrated features that allow visitors to post to their Facebook pages from the site as well as share products they like with their friends. The buzz section of the site contains a feed from Rachel's Facebook and Twitter pages. Visitors to the site can also sign up to receive email updates from Rachel about seasonal trends and new products.

"The Rachel Roy project was exciting for us as we were able to create a site that houses both Rachel's designer and diffusion collections within a singular brand voice. The integration of social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter along with 'share with a friend' functionality really addresses how Rachel's customers live their lives and interact with brands online," said Ron Offir, President of Jones Apparel Group E-Commerce.

Founder and artistic director Rachel Roy said, "I'm excited about our new online home and the opportunity for people to be able to view and shop both of my collections. It was important to me to integrate all the different facets of the brand onto the site, from my Facebook and Twitter pages to charity initiatives to brand videos."

Separately today, Rachel Roy announced a partnership with Vogue magazine for a special iPhone™ initiative.

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About Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, footwear under the Dockers Women brand licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

About Rachel Roy's Collections
Launched in spring 2005, the Rachel Roy New York collection embodies effortless glamour, and is sophisticated with a modern edge. In 2007, Rachel Roy was inducted as a new member to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The Rachel Roy New York collection is available at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, rachelroy.com and select specialty stores worldwide. The affordable contemporary Rachel Rachel Roy collection debuted in August 2009 and includes sportswear, footwear, handbags and jewelry. The collection is available exclusively at select Macy's stores, macys.com and rachelroy.com. For more information, please visit www.rachelroy.com.

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding the Company's expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "expect," "plans," "intends," "anticipates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include representations of the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including:

those associated with the effect of national, regional and international economic conditions;
lowered levels of consumer spending resulting from a general economic downturn or lower levels of consumer confidence;
the tightening of the credit markets and our ability to obtain credit on satisfactory terms;
given the uncertain economic environment, the possible unwillingness of committed lenders to meet their obligations to lend to borrowers, in general;
the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment;
customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines;
the Company's reliance on a few department store groups for large portions of the Company's business;
consolidation of the Company's retail customers;
financial difficulties encountered by customers;
the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which the Company operates;
the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified executives and other key personnel;
the Company's reliance on independent foreign manufacturers;
changes in the costs of raw materials, labor, advertising and transportation;
the general inability to obtain higher wholesale prices for the Company's products that the Company has experienced for many years;
the uncertainties of sourcing associated with an environment in which general quota has expired on apparel products but litigation and political activity seeking to re-impose quotas have been initiated;
the Company's ability to successfully implement new operational and financial computer systems; and
the Company's ability to secure and protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights.
A further description of these risks and uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including, but not limited to, the Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure and Item 1A-Risk Factors therein, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may prove to be incorrect. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For Jones Apparel Group
Investor Contacts:
John T. McClain,
CFO, Jones Apparel Group
212-642-3860
Media Contacts:
Joele Frank and Sharon Stern
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
For Rachel Roy
Debra Thom
HL Group
212-529 5533

How Christmas Can Impact the Culture!

4 Dec 2007 11:10 Africa/Lagos


How Christmas Can Impact the Culture!

BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ --

We often worry that Christmas has become routine. Many communities across the country have settled for mere "holiday" celebrations focused on the secular side of the season. It seems that our culture is rapidly becoming ignorant about the real purpose of the holiday.


According to Phil Cooke, who has a Ph.D. in theology, and works specifically with non-profit and religious clients, producing national advertising for some of the largest companies in the country, "One of the reasons we are losing our focus is the way the media depicts the holiday, constantly focusing on the secular more commercial side of the holiday. In fact, it doesn't take much to see that the media's influence in our lives is pervasive, and today, education, business, religion, leisure, science, even family-life are all measured against that influence."


Cooke believes that the key to change is cutting through the overwhelming media clutter, and sharing the key elements of faith through casual conversations, the pulpit, and even through the media itself. "Essentially, it's about getting the real Christmas message heard. It's about telling the story of Christ's birth, and making that story connect," he says.


Although the true reason for Christmas has taken a beating, it's far from gone, and this year, we have the opportunity once again to remind the culture what Christmas is all about. Cooke has some tips for sharing the real Christmas message:


Don't be afraid to express your faith in the community or public square. Because of recent court rulings Christians shy away from anything remotely religious at Christmastime -- especially in public. Ask Christian attorneys for advice, or contact the American Center for Law and Justice (http://www.aclj.org/) for information on how to share your faith appropriately in a public forum.


Be confident but courteous at your office or school about expressing your faith. Stop arguing with people, and begin developing a relationship of compassion and trust.


Finally, it's not Santa's fault. Too many Christians blame Santa for distracting people from the story of the incarnation. Obviously Santa Claus isn't the reason for the season, but don't rob your children the joy of giving and experiencing the wonder and excitement of the big guy in the red suit.


"Give gifts, it is a fantastic way to develop a discussion with a non-Christian about God's ultimate gift," Cooke says. "Let's all lighten up and enjoy the North Pole, the reindeer, and the anticipation of the sound of hooves on the roof at midnight. But let's not forget to teach children and grandchildren the story of how God gave us the greatest gift of all."


Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Phil Cooke http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=69701


Source: Phil Cooke

CONTACT: Jackelyn Viera Iloff of End Results, Inc., +1-713-254-2284, for
Phil Cooke


Web site: http://www.endresultsinc.com/
http://www.brandingfaith.com/
http://www.philcooke.com/
http://www.aclj.org/


NOTE TO EDITORS: Cooke is available for interviews or to write columns on media and culture, branding, mega church media development, religion and entertainment issues. For information on Cooke's book Branding Faith and bio go to http://www.brandingfaith.com or more information go to http://www.philcooke.com.