SEATTLE, March 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online diamond and jewelry retailer Blue Nile (NASDAQ:NILE) continues to move forward with plans for physical locations as it seeks to unite Internet sales with a brick-and-mortar presence. The company is traversing across the country with its Webroom concept in tow to open a fourth location this summer at the Washington Square Mall in Portland, Oregon. Blue Nile is pioneering the online/offline hybrid retail model with one store in operation at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York, and two more Webrooms opening on the East Coast by early summer: At Tysons Corner Center mall in Fairfax County, Virginia, and at The Westchester mall in White Plains, New York.
Blue Nile’s Webrooms reimagine the way consumers hunt for the best quality, selection, and value. They are small-footprint instillations in high-traffic malls where shoppers can see products in person and purchase them on in-store tablets or at a later time from the convenience of their PC, phone, or personal tablet. The differences between a Webroom and a traditional jewelry store are the low overhead, the non-commissioned consultants, and the ability to enjoy great quality and huge selection while maintaining the advantages of online prices.
“Expanding the Webroom concept to the West Coast is a huge move for us and one we think will benefit customers in the Seattle and Portland markets who might want to see an engagement ring in person before buying online,” said Blue Nile Chief Merchandising Officer Julie Yoakum. “Washington Square is a bustling mall and we are going to bring a whole new way of shopping to the people who are there to buy jewelry. We’ll give them what other jewelers can’t – more options, better prices, and a personalized experience on their terms.”
The Washington Square location is a little more than three hours south of Blue Nile headquarters in Seattle.
About Blue Nile, Inc. (Nasdaq:NILE)
Blue Nile, Inc. is a leading online jeweler. The company offers a smarter way to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and fine jewelry by providing in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in control of the jewelry shopping process. Blue Nile has some of the highest quality standards in the industry and offers thousands of independently certified diamonds and fine jewelry at prices significantly below traditional retail. Blue Nile can be found online at www.bluenile.com. Blue Nile's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol NILE.