Contact Information: For Further Information: Big Dog Holdings, Inc. 121 Gray Avenue Santa Barbara, California 93101 www.bigdogs.com CONTACT: Andrew Feshbach (805) 963-8727
The Walking Company to Acquire Natural Comfort Chain
Big Dog Holdings to Change Name to The Walking Company Holdings
| Source: Big Dog Holdings, Inc.
SANTA BARBARA, CA--(Marketwire - November 13, 2007) - Big Dog Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ : BDOG )
(www.bigdogs.com, www.thewalkingcompany.com) announced today that its The
Walking Company ("TWC") subsidiary has signed a letter of intent to
purchase the assets of Natural Comfort Footwear. TWC is the leading
specialty retailer of high-quality, technically designed comfort shoes and
accessories.
Natural Comfort operates a chain of eight retail stores selling comfort
shoes in Florida. The purchase is subject to execution of a definitive
agreement and is expected to close around year end. Following closing, TWC
will convert the stores to "The Walking Company" stores.
Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Feshbach, Chief Executive Officer of
Big Dogs, said: "This is part of our continuing plan to expand the
operations of The Walking Company. The acquisition of the eight Natural
Comfort stores, when added to our 18 existing and committed The Walking
Company stores in Florida, will brings us to 26 stores in that state by
next year. We expect that increased coverage and density of operation in
Florida to enhance the efficiencies of our marketing and operations there
and increase sales."
The Company also announced that it plans to change the name of Big Dog
Holdings, Inc. (the parent of The Walking Company and Big Dog Sportswear)
to "The Walking Company Holdings, Inc." Such change is planned to be
implemented in early 2008. Said Mr. Feshbach, "This change simply reflects
the changing dynamic of our company, which has been going on for some time
now. Our continuing success in expanding The Walking Company has resulted
in it outstripping Big Dogs, and we see that continuing in the future."
Big Dog Holdings, Inc. consists of Big Dogs and The Walking Company. Big
Dogs develops, markets and retails a branded, lifestyle collection of
unique, high-quality, popular-priced consumer products, including
activewear, casual sportswear, accessories and gifts. The BIG DOGS® brand
image is one of quality, value and fun. The BIG DOGS® brand is designed
to appeal to people of all ages and demographics, particularly baby boomers
and their kids, big and tall customers, and pet owners. In addition to its
approximately 138 retail stores, Big Dogs markets its products through its
catalog, internet and corporate sales accounts. The Walking Company is a
leading independent specialty retailer of high quality, technically
designed comfort shoes and accessories that features premium brands such as
ECCO, Mephisto, Dansko, and Merrell among many others. These products have
particular appeal to one of the largest and most rapidly growing
demographics in the nation. The Walking Company operates 174 stores in
premium malls across the nation.
Statements contained herein that relate to the Company's future
performance, including the satisfaction of contingencies and closing of the
acquisition, are forward-looking statements within the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements are based on current expectations only, and are subject to
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated,
estimated or projected. Other factors affecting the Company's operations,
markets, products, services and prices as are set forth in its 2006 Annual
Report on Form 10-K, including those described under "Forward Looking
Statements and Risk Factors." The Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.