Online Merchant Brings The Humane Society of the United States' List of
Fur-Free Retailers and Designers to 100
SALT LAKE CITY, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At a joint news
conference today, online retail giant Overstock.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTK) and
The Humane Society of the United States announced Overstock.com will no longer
sell products online that contain animal fur effective today. With annual
revenues exceeding $700 million, Overstock.com becomes the 100th name on The
Humane Society of the United States' list of fur-free retailers and designers.
It is the first purely online retailer to commit to a fur-free policy.
Overstock.com, Inc. is an online retailer offering high-quality,
brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company offers 100,000 products
on their website -- including apparel, designer accessories, bed-and-bath
goods and sporting goods -- in addition to nearly 700,000 media products for
sale. Overstock.com also operates a socially responsible goods department,
Worldstock.
Patrick M. Byrne, chairman and chief executive officer of Overstock.com
said, "The Humane Society of the United States brought to our attention its
issues about the fur industry. They did so in a thoughtful, measured way. We
listened, and decided that they are right. So we are going fur-free."
"We are delighted to have such a powerhouse in the online retail industry
join the list of retailers and designers who reject the cruel practices of the
fur industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of
the United States. "By refusing to sell animal fur, Overstock.com is
distinguishing itself as a compassionate and socially responsible company. The
company has set a standard for others in the industry to follow."
The Humane Society of the United States urges all designers and retailers
to adopt fur-free policies to protect the more than 75 million animals
worldwide who suffer and die annually for their pelts. Only by refusing to
sell any animal fur products can these merchandisers protect themselves and
their customers from the false advertising and labeling that currently plagues
the industry.
Over the last three winters, The HSUS has identified dozens of
falsely-advertised or falsely-labeled garments -- 70 percent of which
contained fur from the raccoon dog, an Asian member of the dog family that has
been documented to be skinned alive in China. Among the false names used for
raccoon dog fur are: Faux fur, Ecological fur, Polyester, Coyote, Rabbit,
Canis Latranis, Raccoon and Finni Raccoon.
The list of 100 fur-free designers and retailers is online at
humanesociety.org/furfreeshopping, and more information on The HSUS
investigations is at humanesociety.org/furfree/.
To see an interview with Byrne on Overstock.com going Fur Free, please
visit hsus.org/furfree/news/overstockcoms_ceo.html.
Timeline:
-- Feb. 2008 - BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP pledges to go fur-free after discussion
with The HSUS.
-- May 2007 - Foot Locker pledges to go fur-free after discussions with
The HSUS.
-- March 2007 - Tommy Hilfiger pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS
investigation.
-- Feb. 2007 - Calvin Klein pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS
investigation.
-- Dec. 2006 - Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find raccoon dog
fur on jackets advertised as "faux" and/or labeled as other species, such as
raccoon or coyote.
Overstock.com, Inc. is an online retailer offering brand-name merchandise
at discount prices. The company offers its customers an opportunity to shop
for bargains conveniently, while offering its suppliers an alternative
inventory distribution channel. Overstock.com, headquartered in Salt Lake
City, is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market System
and can be found online at overstock.com.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal
protection organization -- backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every
30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the
protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs.
Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at
humanesociety.org.
SOURCE Overstock.com, Inc.
CONTACT:
Kristen Everett
of The HSUS,
+1-301-721-6440,
keverett@humanesociety.org;
or
Kirstie Burden
of Overstock.com,
+1-801-947-3116,
kburden@overstock.com
Web site:
http://www.overstock.com
http://www.humanesociety.org