HSN Partners With Grammy Award Winner Mary J. Blige for Exclusive, Ground-Breaking Launch of My Life Fragrance July 31

-- Launch Represents New Business Model for Selling Fragrance: My Life is First Fine Fragrance to Make Exclusive Industry Debut with a Multichannel Retailer --

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HSN

Apr 30, 2010, 10:26 ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interactive multichannel retailer HSN has partnered with Grammy award-winning singer and philanthropist Mary J. Blige and polyethnic beauty brand Carol's Daughter, to debut My Life, the fragrance. My Life is the first fragrance to be launched exclusively through a multichannel retailer. Available July 31, My Life will be introduced to consumers via a comprehensive, 360-degree multi-platform campaign that leverages all of HSN's marketing channels, including television, online, mobile, print advertising, public relations, events and direct mail.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070214/CLW048LOGO-b )

The fragrance is a first from Mary J. Blige and the first celebrity fragrance to be developed by Carol's Daughter. Steve Stoute, Chairman & Lead Investor of Carol's Daughter, played a pivotal role in creating the unique partnership between Mary J. Blige and HSN for this ground-breaking launch.

"We are thrilled to partner with Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute to forge new ground in the beauty industry, break the existing business model of selling fragrance and leverage the power of our interactive platform to launch My Life," said Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc. "Mary's story is inspiring to all women, and we believe our customers will identify with her confidence, compassion and perseverance."

"My life is my journey and I've always shared it through my music. I can't wait to share my story with millions of women through HSN," said Mary J. Blige. "Working with Carol's Daughter on the fragrance has been an amazing experience that I will forever cherish."

A portion of the proceeds of My Life will benefit the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN). FFAWN was created by Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute to help women gain the confidence and skills they need to pursue and realize their goals and dreams.

"This partnership will break the stagnant role the fragrance industry has found itself in," said Steve Stoute. "In the truest sense of a fragrance, the emotional journey will be told directly to consumers from one of the world's best lyricists, Mary J. Blige, and the best storyteller, HSN. My Life will touch the lives of millions of women."

HSN's multi-platform marketing campaign will target a broad consumer base, including fans of Mary J. Blige, as well as new and existing HSN & Carol's Daughter customers.

Video segments called Life Chapters will capture various facets of Mary J. Blige's compelling life story, including her philanthropic, music, and beauty projects. The segments will be seeded online, on HSN and through social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Life Chapters will be utilized to bring the My Life story to life at the upcoming Essence Music Festival in New Orleans July 4th weekend. HSN, a sponsor of the Festival, will produce an interactive My Life booth where fans can learn about the fragrance, journey, and charity, and meet Mary J. Blige. They will also be able to post pictures from the Festival on www.hsn.com/maryjblige.

Mobile marketing will be instrumental in the launch. Prior to each of the Festival's three headlining concerts, HSN will air a newly created vibrant spot directing thousands of concertgoers to an exclusive mobile landing page at http://www.hsn.com where they can reserve their order of the My Life fragrance and sign up for tune-in alerts and email reminders. This special online experience will only be available for a limited time to Festival concertgoers.

BACKGROUND ON MY LIFE

My Life is inspired by Mary J. Blige's life experiences outlined in her most personal work of art -- her My Life album. The fragrance is a lyrical composition of florals, fruit and wood understones. It embodies her persona through feminine, beautiful and sensual notes.

The premiere is strategically scheduled on July 31 during the finale of HSN's popular month-long birthday celebration. The My Life HSN "Today's Special" will include a 1.7 eau de parfum and a limited edition gold clutch. Future items include a shower cream, body lotion, and eau de parfum rollerpen. For more information, consumers may log on to www.hsn.com/maryjblige.

About HSN

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, HSN is a leading interactive multichannel retailer offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. HSN incorporates experts, entertainment, inspiration, solutions, tips and ideas to provide an entirely unique shopping experience. At HSN, customers find exceptional selections in Health & Beauty (e.g. M. Asam, Carol's Daughter, Coty, FranBrand, FusionBeauty, Andrew Lessman's Procaps, Lancome, Perlier Beauty, Serious Skin Care, Wei East, ybf Beauty); Jewelry (e.g. Heidi Daus, Grayce by Molly Sims, R.J. Graziano, IMAN Global Chic, michaeLisa, Noir, Amedeo Scognamiglio, Tori Spelling, Signature Statement Serena Williams); Home/Lifestyle (e.g. Nate Berkus, Bissell, Colin Cowie, Dyson, Todd English, GreenPan with Thermolon, Emeril Lagasse, Joy Mangano, MoMA Design Store, Wolfgang Puck); Fashion/Accessories (e.g. American Glamour Badgley Mischka, Curations with Stefani Greenfield, Sam Edelman, Loulou de la Falaise, Chi by Carlos Falchi, Diane Gilman, "Timeless" by Naeem Khan, Adrienne Landau, Twiggy); and Electronics (e.g. Canon, Gateway, GE, HP, JVC, Kodak, LG, Sony).

A leader in transactional innovation, HSN is the only retailer offering live streaming video on three screens: TV network, which broadcasts live to 94 million households in the US in HD 24/7; http://www.hsn.com, which ranks in the top 30 of the top 500 internet retailers and features 15,000 product videos; and mobile via its iPhone application. HSN customers are also able to shop via HSN's live in-flight shopping experience, which launched in late 2009. HSN, founded 32 years ago as the first shopping network, is an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSNI).

SOURCE HSN