Brian Luscomb, Jenny Craig, Inc., (619) 812-7000,
[email protected]
Jeff Brunings, USWeb/CKS, (408) 986-6721,
[email protected]
Jenny Craig Launches Internet Initiatives To Refine Brand, Diversify Services And Extend Market Reach To New Audiences
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - March 23, 1999 - Jenny Craig, Inc. (NYSE: JC) and USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) today announced a fully redesigned commerce site for Jenny Craig, a global leader in weight management services. Providing strategy and development services, USWeb/CKS designed jennycraig.com to enable Jenny Craig to broaden and diversify service and product offerings, refine the company's brand and identity, and strengthen relationships with clients.
"Part of our strategy is to expand the identity of Jenny Craig from being exclusively a weight management business to an online women's resource for health, fitness and weight management services," said Phil Voluck, Jenny Craig's president and chief operating officer. "The Internet represents a significant opportunity to provide these services to an emerging online audience represented by professional, working women seeking convenient access to the resources that can empower them to reach their health and fitness objectives. Jenny Craig recognizes the Internet is a vital channel for providing these services."
USWeb/CKS designed and implemented an e-commerce solution enabling Jenny Craig to market and distribute various products and services, including a new, proprietary line of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements. Called Advanced Nutrients by Jenny Craig, the supplements were developed for the company by Dr. Art Ulene who is recognized by millions of television viewers as "America's Wellness Doctor" after nearly 20 years of appearances on NBC's TODAY show. The online launch of Advanced Nutrients represents Jenny Craig's first venture to market nutritional supplements to non-clients.
"We view Jenny Craig's potential as much more than just a weight management company," Voluck added. "Jenny Craig is evolving into a company that is actively trying to improve people's overall health and well being. For example, with research showing that most Americans fail to meet their daily needs for key vitamins and minerals, our new supplement line will help fill this nutritional gap. And by offering these formulations and supplements via the Internet, we're making it easier than ever for people to get the nutrients they need to maintain their health and prevent disease."
The blueprint for Jenny Craig's adoption of the Internet is being implemented in multiple stages. Today's announcement discusses the online availability of nutritional supplements, refined online brand image, and enhanced design, navigation and content of its Web site to create a more enjoyable, rewarding, and informative online experience. The new site was designed to complement and promote the at-home weight management program Jenny Craig currently offers, and the company is considering additional site enhancements to further diversify the online availability of products and services, including the ability for clients to initiate and manage personal online weight management programs.
"USWeb/CKS is helping Jenny Craig launch a blueprint that outlines its adoption of the Internet to refine the company's image, develop an integrated online distribution and marketing channel, and broaden the Company's client base," said Toby Corey, President and COO of USWeb/CKS. "Given the accessibility, flexibility, and privacy awarded by jennycraig.com, Jenny Craig is in a unique position to capture new business opportunities and increase the value of its services."
About Jenny Craig
Founded in 1983, Jenny Craig (NYSE:JC) is one of the largest weight management service companies in the world. The Company offers a comprehensive weight management program that helps clients develop a healthy relationship with food, build an active lifestyle, and create a more balanced approach to living. The program includes personal, one-on-one consultations at nearly 770 Jenny Craig Centres located in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico.
About USWeb/CKS
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq:USWB) is a professional services firm that works with clients to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses through the combination of expertise in strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy. With more than 2,000 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as their traditional IT and Internet systems. The Company provides a broad selection of services from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company headquarters are in Santa Clara, California. Additional information about USWeb/CKS is available at http://uswebcks.com or by calling 408-987-3200.
This press release may include forward-looking statements about the Company's revenues, earnings, margins and other future plans and objectives. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to vary materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: increased competition; technological and scientific developments, including appetite suppressants and other drugs which can be used in weight-loss programs; increases in cost of food or services; lack of market acceptance of additional products and services; legislative and regulatory restrictions; effectiveness of marketing and advertising programs; prevailing domestic and foreign economic conditions; and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's annual reports and other reports and filings with the SEC.