Christmas Comes Early for Web Retailer - WorkingPerson.com Takes Gold Award in Technology at 2006 BKD Indiana Excellence Ceremonies

Lakeville, IN – Christmas came early for The Working Person’s Store, when it accepted the Gold Prize in Technology at the 2006 BKD Indiana Excellence Award ceremonies in conjunction with Indiana Business Magazine, and title sponsors BKD, LLP, National City Bank of Indiana and Bose McKinney & Evans LLP.

The winners for each category at an awards luncheon held in Indianapolis, on October 13. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were presented in each of six industry categories, with WorkingPerson.com honored with the “Gold” in the Technology category.

The Gold Award in Technology award comes on the heals of the firm’s recent participation in the 2006 The Webby Awards, where iot received Top International Honoree Award for Achievements in Site Content, Structure, Navigation, Visual Design, Functionality, Interactivity and Overall User Experience.

Developed by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, AVIDCommerce, the WorkingPerson.com site attract online shoppers worldwide utilizing a number of proprietary systems and technologies increasing visibility on major search engines as well as providing a rewarding customer shopping experience.

The WorkingPerson.com site also features advanced interactivity features such as “Click to Call” technology, “Live Chat” and “Customer Feedback loops” such as “Customer Comments” and “Customer Product Reviews”. Further paired with advanced site search engine capabilities and a granular Directory Navigation system that’s available site wide, the WorkingPerson.com site effectively dominates the “rugged apparel” sector, as a leading online retailer delivering Tier 1 availability and uptime, as well as well as overall speed at the customer facing level.

In its 11th year, the BKD Indiana Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements in business, rewarding organizations that have demonstrated a core commitment to business excellence through consistent improvement of a products, services and business practices. The program is founded on the concept that improving business improves Indiana, making it a better place to live, work and play.

The December 2006 issue of Indiana Business Magazine will profile each award-winning organization in its cover story on Indiana excellence.

About the Working Person’s Store

Founded in August 1995, The Working Person’s Store is a multi-channel specialty retailer of comfortable, durable and affordable, work clothing, footwear and accessories. An international leader in the “Rugged Apparel” category, The Working Person’s Store serves working people from its Flagship retail store operations, its Shoe Mobile Division, and its award winning website, WorkingPerson.com.

Supported by an array of customer centric programs and guarantees, The Working Person’s Store offers a comprehensive selection of rugged apparel brands like Carhartt, Dickies, Columbia Sportswear, Red Kap Uniforms, Wrangler Jeans, Under Armour, Bulwark, Wigwam Socks, Thorlo Socks and many others. The Company also focuses on a broad selection of leading work footwear brands such as Carolina Shoes, Wolverine Boots and Shoes, Bates Shoes and Boots, Harley Davidson Boots and Shoes, Chippewa Boots, Doc Martens Shoes and Boots, Danner Boots, Wesco Lineman Boots, Georgia Boots and many others.

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BKD, LLP (www.bkd.com) is the CPA and advisory firm of choice for growing companies and high net-worth individuals in Central Indiana. As one of the 10 largest such firms in the country, BKP helps clients go beyond their numbers by applying technical expertise, unmatched client service and disciplined delivery of solutions to their management and financial needs. BKD’s team of 1,600, including more than 220 partners based in 27 offices, within 11 states in the central United States. BKD serves clients worldwide as the largest member firm of Moores Rowland International (MRI), an association of independent accounting firms.

Indiana Business Magazine (www.indianabusiness.com) began publication in 1957, making it the country’s third-oldest state business magazine. Indiana Business Magazine profiles businesses and the personalities behind them. It focuses on industries and issues. Each issue reports on a different region of the state. And lists, surveys, and statistics are provided in a colorful and readable format. Indiana Business magazine also publishes guides, directories and community-profile magazines throughout the state.

National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage and consumer financing, and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company’s Web site at www.NationaICity.com.

Bose McKinney & Evans LLP (www.boselaw.com) focuses on clients need with sound legal advice, with attorneys who are approachable, responsive and attentive. Over 130-plus attorneys take the time to listen to clients and to learn about clients’ businesses, including their concerns, opportunities, and goals. Working from offices in downtown and northern Indianapolis, in Northern Indiana, in West Lafayette, Indiana and in Washington, D.C., Bose, McKinney and Evans provides a full range of legal services to the public sector and to the local, national, international, and high-tech business communities.

About AVID Commerce:

Avid Commerce is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, focusing on the development, construction, operation and optimization of high performance e-commerce centric web sites. For further information, visit: AVIDcommerce.com.

More About The Working Persons Store:

Founded in Lakeville, Indiana in 1995, The Working Person’s Store rapidly grew to become a major destination for quality, name brand work apparel and footwear, while serving a wide spectrum of working people throughout the Midwest.

In 1998, we added an Industrial Shoe Mobile to better serve our industrial customers at their place of work.

By 2001, business continued to grow at a very rapid pace and we responded to the needs of our more distant customers, to provide a more convenient online catalog to serve repeat ordering needs. After the opening of WorkingPerson.com, we were very pleased to begin serving an even wider array of customers on both a national and international basis, with ever increasing demand for our goods and services.

In 2005, we continued our expansion with the acquisition of our new Technology Center from North Main Ventures, as well as a dramatic increase in the size and scope of our team. Since that time, the WorkingPerson.com site has become the number one, world-wide destination for work clothing, work footwear and safety gear, serving customers on five continents daily.

Philosophy

How did we do it? With a simple premise: You work hard, and so do we. (There are no slackers at WorkingPerson.com.) But it’s more than just hard work. Our growth has been guided by four key principles:

QUALITY AS A NECESSITY

We’re dedicated to the needs of working people everywhere, based on the proposition that quality isn’t a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity. Why? Because we’ve learned from experience that buying quality may cost a little more to start with, but it’s a bargain in the long-run. Thus, our customers shop with confidence knowing the brands and products found at WorkingPerson.com have passed stringent requirements for quality, durability, comfort and outstanding value.

LOW PRICES - ALL THE TIME

We firmly believe every working person deserves a fair deal each and every time they shop with us. But how do we make sure that our customers always get a fair deal? We start with fair pricing, backed by our exclusive 120% Price Protection Guarantee.

The Working Person’s Store 120% Price Protection Guarantee is your assurance that our net delivered price and value will always save you money. Unlike some companies, we don’t hide part of our price in the form of “shipping and handling” charges that mysteriously show up in your shopping cart at the last minute. (We hate when that happens.) That’s why we include fast, Free Shipping on any order of just $45 or more. No unpleasant surprises here!

HONESTY - IN ALL WE SAY AND DO

We don’t believe in the phony “blow out” sales offerings that you see at most stores. We think you’re smart enough to recognize real value, without resorting to these tactics. If you see something marked down at the WorkingPerson.com site, the savings are always genuine.

Our bottom line is this: There’s more to business than just the bottom line. It’s also about integrity and honesty. We treat people the way we would like to be treated. Nothing fancy here; just good common sense and respect for our customers. It works for us; we know it works for you too.

FANATICAL CUSTOMER SERVICE

While every business talks about great customer service, we’re fanatical about taking care of our customers’ needs. But don’t take our word for it, (talk is cheap), click here to see what our customers have to say about our service. Whether by telephone, email, or live chat, you’ll always enjoy honest and friendly service.

That’s the way we do business.

Contact Information

Jeffrey Antisdel

Chief Marketing Officer

The Working Persons Store

Contact via E-mail