Gilt Groupe and InStyle Launch Exclusive Shopping Partnership
NEW YORK, NY – February 10, 2009 – Gilt Groupe, Inc. and InStyle today launched a partnership offering millions of savvy consumers exclusive access to Gilt.com sales previews – an online first, available only at InStyle.com. This is the first fashion magazine partnership for Gilt.
InStyle.com now features a Designer Sales shopping area (http://www.instyle.com/designersales), powered by Gilt Groupe. Exclusive previews of future sales are now available up to a week in advance on InStyle.com. Since merchandise generally sells out within the first hour of the sale, this provides unparalleled service to consumers seeking designer brands sold at up to 70% off retail.
InStyle.com will offer Gilt Groupe members real-time links to sales as well as weekly special offers which could include monies off, percentage off purchase or free shipping. In addition to benefitting from a revenue share, InStyle edit will have a presence on Gilt.com.
This unique Gilt/InStyle shopping collaboration is the first phase of an exclusive partnership between Gilt Groupe and the Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group. The next phase includes People.com and Celebrity Baby Blog.
“Gilt Groupe and InStyle are providing consumers with a distinct advantage when shopping for fabulous designer products,” said Fran Hauser, President, Digital, Time Inc. Style and Entertainment Group. “We recognize the increasing demand for top quality at a discount, and are delighted to bring this extraordinary access and service to millions of consumers.”
“We are thrilled to partner with InStyle,” said Gilt Groupe CEO Susan Lyne. “This is a strategic move combining Gilt Groupe’s luxury e-commerce with a fashion media leader such as InStyle.”
About Gilt Groupe
Gilt Groupe (www.gilt.com) provides access, by invitation only, to Men’s, Women’s and Children’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail. Each sale lasts 36 hours and features hand selected styles from a single designer. In just one year, Gilt Groupe has partnered with the CFDA through their business services network, been nominated by The Fashion Group International for their “ Rising Star Retail Award” and been promoted across the nation from the likes of Forbes to Departures to ABC-TV’s The View.
Gilt Groupe was founded in November of 2007 by Alexis Maybank, an early employee of eBay, and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, formerly of Bulgari and Louis Vuitton. Investors and CEO include Susan Lyne, formally of Martha Stewart Omnimedia, leading venture capital firm Matrix Partners and Kevin Ryan, former CEO, DoubleClick, who now serves as Gilt Groupe’s Chairman. More information about Gilt Groupe membership can be obtained by emailing the company at membership@gilt.com <mailto:membership@gilt.com> or by visiting www.gilt.com <http://www.gilt.com/>
About InStyle.com
InStyle.com continues to lead the fashion/beauty set with an average ‘time spent’ of over 8-minutes per visitor and an average of 28 page views per visitor (Source: comScore Media Metrix). With 85% original content, InStyle.com delivers celebrity style, beauty and service daily. The site also features engaging, experiential applications including InStyle Shopping, Celebrity Makeup Match and the Hollywood Hair Makeover, a Folio Eddie Award Winner for Best Online Tool, generating over 71 million hair try-ons to date.
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Contacts:
Zoë Lampel
InStyle
212.522.5721
zoe_lampel@instylemag.com
Christian Leone
Gilt Groupe
646.214.8928
Christian@gilt.com
About Gilt Groupe
Headquartered in New York, Gilt Groupe is a privately held company dedicated to providing its members with access to coveted fashion and luxury lifestyle brands at sample sale prices. Each Gilt Groupe sale (3x per week) is designer-specific and held over a one day period. The Gilt Groupe production team creates a short video reel to introduce each designer and brand to its membership. There is no fee associated with joining Gilt Groupe; membership is by invitation only. Investors include leading venture capital firm Matrix Partners and prominent private investors such as Kevin Ryan, former CEO, DoubleClick, and Dwight Merriman, former CTO and Founder, DoubleClick.
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