ADVISORY/Past Winners of SBANE's New England Innovation Award Available for Interviews.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...for today

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SBANE

WHAT:   SBANE's 2004 New England Innovation Award program is in full
        swing. Past winners are available to talk about how they
        define innovation, how innovation has made them successful,
        and how winning the SBANE New England Innovation award has
        helped accelerate their growth.

WHO:    Past winners available for interviews include:

        --  Captivate Network (www.captivate.com) broadcasts news and
            entertainment programming to elevator passengers in office
            towers nationwide (2003 winner).

        --  Dancing Deer Baking Company (www.dancingdeer.com),
            produces high-quality, all-natural baked goods (2000
            winner).

        --  Direct Tire & Auto (www.directtire.com) retailer of
            automotive services that has taken customer service and
            convenience to new heights (1992 winner).

        --  Shoebuy.com (www.shoebuy.com) is the largest pure-play
            retailer of footwear and related apparel on the Internet
            (2003 winner).

DETAILS: SBANE (Smaller Business Association of New England;
         www.sbane.org) established the New England Innovation Awards
         program in 1986 and has recognized more than 100 companies
         who have succeeded primarily through innovation and thought
         leadership. Nominations for the 2004 awards are being
         accepted through March 19. This year's winners will be
         announced at an awards gala at the Newton (Mass.) Marriott on
         May 20. Each of these past winners has a compelling story to
         tell about the spirit of innovation and the commitment needed
         to put bold ideas into action.