[Calgary, Alberta - December 12, 2002]: The phenomenal success of Shapings.com was recognized today with the announcement that Shaping.com was the recipient of the first annual Canadian e-Leadership Award for e-Commerce (Business to Consumer).

“The theme of the E-Business Leadership Program is ‘Illustrating What’s Possible and Sharing What Works’” said Bob Gardiner, president of E-Strategies International and the organizer of the national program, “By celebrating the success of these Canadian organizations we are showing what can be achieved through the well executed implementation of e-business, e-commerce and e-learning.”

Shapings Inc. is a classic example of how small Canadian businesses can leverage the internet to become a worldwide success. Shapings.com is a hosiery and shapewear e-store owned and operated by Rob and Nicole Safko. After 5 years of traditional retail, they launched their e-store to break through the geographical limits of their brick and mortar shop. Less than 3 years later Shapings.com has become a worldwide leader and is the sole North American provider of Pretty Polly and Aristoc lines and the exclusive worldwide online provider of the coveted Fogal product line.

The internet enables Shapings.com to increase revenue through expanded international markets. Initially serving only Burlington, Shapings now sells worldwide to American, European and Asian customers and was featured on the cover of the Wall Street Journal, in Canadian Living and in many other global media. The online store broken even in just 8 months and online sales increased total revenue by 10% in year one. Online sales consistently more than double each year without the expense of physical expansion, increased staff and, amazingly, with a zero dollar advertising budget.

Shapings.com uses the internet to level the playing field and compete against large, global firms. It successfully brings spending dollars into Canada from the US and the world, and encourages Canadians to shop locally in Canadian dollars using Canadian shipping. Shapings has also advanced e-tail technology in Canada. The e-store, built by Canadian e-commerce firm Information Evolution, first integrated the popular Miva Merchant Shopping Cart with Canada Post e-Parcel shipping. Due to Shaping.com's leadership, Miva e-tailers across Canada can now use Canada Post shipping.

The Canadian E-Business Leadership Program is produced by E-Strategies International, and supported by a select group of corporations, organizations and federal and provincial government departments leading today's global E-Business economy. Premier sponsors backing this unique program include The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Cisco Systems, The Essentialtalk Network, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd., Microsoft Canada Co., Pandell Technology Corporation and Industry Canada.