Merrell Opens Second U.S. Retail Store in the Northern Atlanta Suburbs

Merrell (www.merrell.com), a leading national footwear brand known for outdoor performance and lifestyle products, will open its second U.S. retail store on Friday, November 24, 2006 at the Forum on Peachtree Parkway located on the northern perimeter of Atlanta in Norcross, Ga. The store will carry more than 350 styles of Merrell’s men’s, women’s and kids’ footwear in the brand’s two categories, Outventure, designed for outdoor enthusiasts, and Transit, lifestyle offerings that easily transition from work, to play to travel. The 580,000 square foot mall is home to some of the country’s most established retailers including J. Crew, Old Navy, Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma. The opening of the Atlanta store follows the opening for the first Merrell retail store in Huntington, N.Y. last December.

“The opening of our second U.S. retail store is a milestone for Merrell reinforcing our direct connection with the consumer,” said Keith Anderson, director of marketing for Wolverine World Wide’s Outdoor Group. “We chose Atlanta because it is an energetic city with a soul that matches the profile of our customers. We look forward to raising our visibility in this important and vital market.”

For more than 25 years, Merrell has been providing consumers with quality outdoor performance and lifestyle footwear. Originally founded as a brand for core outdoor enthusiasts, in 1998, Merrell introduced the Jungle Moc, a style that combined performance with casual style and created the “aftersport category” of footwear. Today, Merrell’s consumers include backcountry devotees, college students, families and urban dwellers that look for style, performance and comfort.

“Merrell is an ideal fit for Atlanta,” said Connie Brahan, store owner. “Merrell bridges the gap between the outdoor experience and the urban landscape. With its broad scope of product that meets a wide variety of demands, our customers can have great looking footwear, the benefits of Merrell’s technology and comfort all year long.”

The Merrell store is located at the Forum at Peachtree Parkway on the first floor and will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Merrell® is a brand of the division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Outdoor Group that also includes Sebago. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. The company’s portfolio of highly-recognized brands includes: Bates®, Hush Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®, Sebago and Wolverine®. The Company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of the following popular brands: CAT®, Coleman®, Harley-Davidson®, Patagonia® and Stanley®. The Company’s products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in over 140 countries. Merrell, 9341 Courtland Drive, Rockford, Mich. 49351. Phone: (800) 789-8586; Fax: (888) 746-3329. www. merrell.com.

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