Ethan Allen Celebrates Opening of Flagship Store With Benefit for Refugees International; 20,000 Square Foot Store Features New Merchandising Strategy.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001

Home furnishings retailer and manufacturer Ethan Allen (NYSE:ETH) celebrated the opening of its newest store on New York's West Side with a gala fundraising event.

The evening's beneficiary was Refugees International (RI), an independent Washington-based advocacy organization serving refugees, displaced persons, and other vulnerable people around the world.

Grand Opening Festivities 

The Actor Sam Waterston, who is an RI board member; RI's Board Chair James V. Kimsey, the founding CEO and current Chairman Emeritus of America Online, Inc., and Kenneth H. Bacon, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) and new RI CEO were among the attendees.

To mark the occasion, Ethan Allen's Chairman and CEO and RI board member Farooq Kathwari presented checks in excess of $30,000 to the organization from Ethan Allen and its associates. Additional funds were raised during the evening through a silent auction and personal donations.

"We're excited to expand our presence in New York City with this new flagship design store," stated Mr. Kathwari. "We wanted to mark this occasion by helping Refugees International, which spotlights the plight of the most neglected and least known people."

"On behalf of Refugees International, I would like to thank Farooq Kathwari and his associates at Ethan Allen for supporting our organization through this fundraising event," said Mr. Kimsey. "The funds raised tonight will give us the opportunity to continue focusing on important humanitarian crises over the next year," added Kimsey.

New Store Offers Consumers A Stress-Free Shopping Experience

The 20,000 square foot showroom, located at 103 West End Avenue (between 64th and 65th Streets), features a new merchandising strategy: a focus on the company's strongest existing and new products, allowing for the most efficient use of display space to provide a stress-free shopping experience for consumers.

Along with creating a consumer-friendly retail environment, the store makes clear the company's dedication to quality, service, and value. On the showroom floor, there are cutaways of real pieces of furniture, to outline the attention to detail that goes into each piece. Consumers may also view videos demonstrating the construction of the merchandise.

The design center -- where the store's 14 design consultants meet with customers -- is one more example of Ethan Allen's seven-decade commitment to customer service. Designers are always available to discuss a budget, redesign a room, or choose a special accent. To make purchasing Ethan Allen's furnishings even easier, the company offers the Simple Finance Plan (9.99%APR), which breaks purchases into fixed monthly payments similar to car financing plans, and provides free local home delivery.

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality home furnishings, sells a full range of products through an exclusive network of more than 300 stores. Retail stores are located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with more than 20 located abroad. The company has 21 manufacturing facilities and three sawmills throughout the United States. For more information, visit our website at www.ethanallen.com or call 800.228.9229.