JCPenney Signs Renowned Celebrity Wedding Expert Colin Cowie as Bridal Registry Spokesperson.

Business Editors

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2003

JCPenney announced today that it has signed leading wedding expert Colin Cowie as consultant to, and national spokesperson for, its bridal registry business. Cowie, author of best-selling books including Colin Cowie Weddings, For the Bride and For the Groom, is a contributing family member on the CBS Early Show and appears regularly on shows including Oprah, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Extra. Most recently, Cowie was the co-host of NBC's reality series, Race to the Altar.

Known as the "wedding planner to the stars," Cowie's vision and guidance has been tapped by Jerry Seinfeld, Lisa Kudrow, Paula Abdul, Charlie Sheen and Kelsey Grammer.

As the JCPenney bridal registry spokesperson, Cowie will share his renowned style, guidance and leadership to help bring his vision for the ideal wedding to engaged couples everywhere. Cowie will also demonstrate how today's brides can showcase their personal style throughout their home with JCPenney's vast product assortment--from everyday dinnerware to crystal and fine china to bed and bath decor. Cowie's vision will help shape the direction of JCPenney as the ideal registry destination for brides and their guests.

Cowie's first official duty as spokesperson for JCPenney is to appear this fall at select locations of the Great Bridal Expo tour, the nation's premier bridal shows. His first public appearance will be October 19 in Boston, where he will share some of his secrets to planning a successful wedding.

As a consultant to the JCPenney bridal registry business, Cowie will provide direction and guidance on the company's current gift assortment, as well as future product development.

"Colin is an architect of the modern wedding in America and has an uncanny sense for combining practicality with the special touches every couple desires on their wedding day," said Vanessa Castagna, chairman and CEO of JCPenney Stores, Catalog and Internet. "In this way, he is the ideal ambassador for our bridal registry, which offers the perfect blend of practical gift ideas, as well as those special keepsakes that will last and be cherished for a lifetime."

"The JCPenney bridal registry is already a leader in the industry offering an extraordinary gift assortment of brand name merchandise, and through our partnership, our goal is to offer today's brides the tools to enhance their registry and wedding planning experience," said Cowie. "I am delighted to be joining with JCPenney at this time and to have the opportunity to bring my vision to people all across America. This is the ideal time for us to, let's say, get engaged."

J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., the wholly-owned operating subsidiary of the Company, is one of America's largest department store, drugstore, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 230,000 associates. As of July 26, 2003, it operated 1,040 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and 56 Renner department stores in Brazil. Eckerd Corporation operated 2,710 drugstores throughout the Southeast, Sunbelt, and Northeast regions of the U.S. JCPenney Catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise. J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. is a contributor to JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children with high quality after school programs to help them reach their full potential.