EMPORI.COM Launches World First Combination of Traditional and Virtual Retailing.

Products from top-flight e-tailers like Chapters.ca, Steelcase, HMV and

LCBO provided through EMPORI.COM to save office tenants time and money

TORONTO, July 24 /CNW-PRN/ -

EMPORI.COM (www.empori.com) today introduced a world first combination of traditional and virtual retailing. The flagship Internet retail depot was opened today at the Royal Bank Plaza in Toronto. A roster of top-flight e-tailers will offer their products at the e-commerce portal that is integrated with a physical service and delivery outlet. EMPORI.COM changes the online shopping experience by humanizing the Internet with real people and real places and saves people working in office buildings time and money by offering same-day and overnight delivery of Internet purchases to conveniently located delivery outlets in workplaces. Additional EMPORI.COM locations are scheduled to open over the next six months throughout the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary and Edmonton.

For the first time, through EMPORI.COM, products from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) will be available online with same-day delivery. EMPORI.COM partners represent both business to business and business to consumer retailing including Astound, Chapters.ca, Corporate Express, Critical Path, EMPORI.COM Concierge, powered by VIPdesk, GiftCertificates.ca, Grocery Gateway.com, HMV.com, justwhiteshirts.com, kanetix.com, Longo's, MicroWarehouse, Mastermind Games, Nygard, Sport Mart, Steelcase, SuperPet.com, Vivacare.com and Xerox.

For EMPORI.COM customers Internet shopping is as simple as placing an order either on their own computer or at the EMPORI.COM depot and picking it up the same day on-site at their workplace. Once purchases arrive at EMPORI.COM, an e-mail alert is sent to the customer notifying them that their goods have been placed in a secure locker at the depot. Returns and exchanges will also be facilitated on the spot by EMPORI.COM depot staff. EMPORI.COM retail depots are accessible before, during and after work hours to provide tenants with a level of customer service unparalleled in the e-tailing world.

EMPORI.COM also offers small and medium sized businesses significant, aggregated online purchasing power and up to 45 per cent off of current prices on business to business transactions. Customers receive enhanced services at no additional charge. EMPORI.COM revenues will come from vendors through facility and transaction fees.

"EMPORI.COM is the one-of-a-kind retail solution to those barriers that discourage people from purchasing online. Our delivery system addresses the online shopping fulfillment problem. We have entered into a partnership with Microsoft Passport to encourage secure transactions. And our staffed depots provide a level of customer service and convenience never before offered as part of the online shopping experience," EMPORI.COM Managing Director David Bowden said. Adding, "these solutions combined with our business to business partnerships mean that we can provide the whole package - price, performance and convenience. No more lunch hour line-ups. No more missed deliveries at home. EMPORI.COM is offering secure and convenient solutions to simplify your tasks."

"Chapters Online is thrilled to team-up with EMPORI.COM to offer our customers this exciting new service," said David Hainline, chief operating officer and executive vice president, Chapters Online. "Now customers can order in-stock books and pick up their purchase the same day at EMPORI.COM at no extra charge. We understand the needs of our busy customers and know that convenience is an important factor when shopping online."

"We're very excited to be a partner with EMPORI.COM in this innovative, ground-breaking, e-commerce venture," says Jim Mitchell, President, Steelcase Canada. "Steelcase and our distribution network are strongly committed to continuing our efforts in business to business e-commerce initiatives. Our EMPORI.COM site has been designed to make the purchasing experience as easy as possible and help our customers streamline their processes."

EMPORI.COM's strategic partner and founding shareholder is Oxford Properties Group (TSE: OXG). Through EMPORI.COM, Oxford is building value for its commercial real estate customers by offering them the Oxford Advantage - better price, performance and convenience. EMPORI.COM is part of a larger Oxford strategy to offer customers a suite of Internet-enabled technologies that create long-term value.

"Oxford's investment in this innovative retail business EMPORI.COM is part of our ongoing commitment to increasing value for Oxford tenants by providing them with a full suite of Internet enabled technologies that simplify their business and decrease costs," stated Oxford president and CEO, Jon Love. "EMPORI.COM leads the industry by being the first to combine virtual and traditional retailing. We believe this concept represents a new marketplace and provides savings and enhanced services for our customers that benefits both our tenants and our shareholders," he added.

Oxford Properties Group (TSE: OXG), one of North America's largest commercial real estate firms is committed to increasing tenant value by providing value-added services in Oxford buildings through innovative Internet- enabled technologies. In addition to EMPORI.COM, Oxford's e-suite includes 310- MAXX, its web-enabled Internet tracking customer response system and other value added services through its Oxford Advantage Partners program. These initiatives are focused on building customer value. Oxford's business strategy is to hold prominent positions in core markets through the ownership and co- ownership of prime investment real estate assets with joint venture partners. Oxford Properties Group owns and has interests in 44 million square feet of office space and manages a total of 66 million square feet of commercial properties. Oxford employs 1,500 people and is headquartered in Toronto.

EMPORI.COM is leading the e-tail industry by being the first to combine virtual retailers and traditional retailing with real people and real places and saving people and businesses in office buildings time and money. EMPORI.COM provides online shopping service solutions by offering better price, performance and convenience. Via the world's first staffed e-tail outlet, EMPORI.COM consumers can pick up and return their purchases at their convenience. EMPORI.COM also offers small to medium size business customers significant, aggregated purchasing power. Accessible before, during and after work, EMPORI.COM retail delivery depots are conveniently located in major office buildings. The flagship EMPORI.COM depot is located in the Royal Bank Plaza in Toronto, ON. Additional locations will open in the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary and Edmonton over the next six months.