LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2002

The best and brightest in direct response television and radio advertising and sales were saluted by the industry at the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) Annual Awards Gala held in Las Vegas on October 15 as part of the 12th Annual ERA Conference and Exhibition.

The FIRM, a series of three exercise videos and a fanny lifter produced by GoodTimes Entertainment, scooped up top honors as Infomercial of the Year. The Revo Styler, a spinning hairbrush, was named Best Infomercial Product while the Flip Folder took home honors for Best Short Form Product. Vanessa Williams was named Best Celebrity Presenter for her spokesperson duties on behalf of Proactive Solution 7 skincare for Guthy-Renker. (See complete list of winners below.)

"What a wonderful opportunity to honor celebrate this inventive and powerful industry, noted an elated ERA CEO, Elissa Matulis Myers, CAE. "The quality and quantity of the work represented here this evening is a testament to the growing consumer demand for direct-response shopping. Even in a down economy, consumers have shown that they love to shop through direct response channels. Look at all of the now ubiquitous brands that were first introduced via direct response television, radio and internet advertising, it's certainly an impressive list."

Comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the star-studded ERA Awards peppered with celebrity appearances from Lindsay Wagner, Hunter Tylo, Jennifer O'Neill, Meredith Baxter, Fred Williamson, Jack LaLanne, Gary Collins and Mary Anne Mobley.

"We received hundreds of entries from all over the globe," noted ERA Awards Committee Chairperson Denise DuBarry-Hay of Thane, Inc. The entries were judged by a distinguished panel of over 90 industry experts from companies integrally involved with DRTV advertising and production, internet marketing, home shopping and consumer media. To ensure the highest degree of ballot integrity and confidentiality, accounting firm Ernst & Young tallied the judges' confidential ballots, and the winners were kept secret until they were announced on stage to a sell-out crowd.

The ERA Awards Gala was sponsored by Thane Inc., Hall Dickler Kent Goldstein & Wood, LLC, Transactional Marketing Partners, Michael Casey Enterprises, Suntasia Marketing and Call Enhancement Services (CES).

Joseph M. Segel Honored with ERA Lifetime Achievement Award

Comedienne Joan Rivers presented QVC and Franklin Mint founder, Joe Segel, with the ERA Lifetime Achievement award for his 50 years of service in the direct response industry. "Our Past Chairperson's Council chose Joe Segel for this prestigious honor because of his profound impact on ethical business practices and market innovation in the entire industry." added Myers.

This is only the third time the ERA Lifetime Achievement award has been given. Previous recipients include Bud Paxson, Chairman of Paxnet Television, and Ron Popeil of Ronco Inventions LLC.


2002 Electronic Retailing Association
Award Winners

Best Infomercial of The Year
The FIRM, GoodTimes Entertainment

Best Short Form of the Year
Darrin's Dance Grooves, Phoenix Productions/Razor & Tie Direct

Best Male Presenter
Tony Notaro - Miracle Blade III, Miracle Blade LLC

Best Female Presenter
Leslie Sansone, GoodTimes Entertainment

Best Celebrity Presenter
Vanessa Williams, ProActive Solution 7, Guthy-Renker

Best Infomercial Product
Revo Styler, Modern Media

Best Short Form Product
Flipfold, Tara Productions

Best Corporate Infomercial
Microsoft's TV Photoviewer, CRTV, Inc.

Best Corporate Short Form
Gold's Gym Power Flex, Script to Screen

Best Infomercial Produced Outside US
Dr. Ho Now 2002, Torstar Media Group TV

Best DRTV Web site Design
www.buykitchenaid.com Respond2 Inc

Best Fitness Infomercial
The FIRM, GoodTimes Entertainment

Best Housewares Infomercial
Aero, Crouching Tiger, Rising Mattress, Script to Screen

Best Health & Beauty Infomercial
Proactiv Solutions 7, Guthy-Renker

Best Electronics Infomercial
As Seen On TV PC/ Systemax, Thane International

Best Intellectual Property Infomercial
Johnny Carson Collection DVD, Respond2 Inc

Best Outdoor/Sports Infomercial
Sole Shafted Technology, Script to Screen

About The Electronic Retailing Association

Founded in 1990, the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) is a trade association representing the $125 billion electronic retailing industry. It is comprised of more than 500 member companies and subsidiaries worldwide that use the power of electronic retailing to sell direct to consumers via television, radio, Internet, and wireless media. The ERA Annual Conference held in Las Vegas each October is the only conference and exhibition devoted exclusively to electronic direct response retail sales. More information is available at 703-841-1751 or 1-800-987-6462 or online at www.retailing.org.