Feature News

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders.com has been named one of Internet Retailer's "Hot 100 Best Retail Web Sites for 2009." The Hot 100 listing recognizes leading retail Web sites operated by retail chains, catalog companies, Internet-only merchants and consumer brand manufacturers for their ability to inspire, inform, serve and importantly, connect with shoppers. Internet Retailer's editors base their selections of the Hot 100 on consultations with members of Internet Retailer's Editorial Board of Advisers and with industry consultants and analysts, nominations from readers and the editors' own experience in dealing with sites, both professionally and personally, throughout the year.

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Borders.com was selected for the list for its many innovative features that bring the bookstore experience to life online. The Magic Shelf(TM) is one such feature -- a virtual bookshelf that allows customers to view books, music and movies much the same way they browse book tables and shelves in their favorite Borders bookstores. The simple-to-navigate shelf can be expanded up and down and side to side by the user, revealing a wider array of titles -- 10 shelves of titles in all. The Magic Shelf's "Picked for You" feature enables customers to simply select categories of interest -- such as mystery books, jazz music or foreign films. Then -- true to its name -- the Magic Shelf reloads instantaneously, stocking the "Picked for You" shelf with titles uniquely suited to the customer. Once preferences have been selected, when the customer returns to Borders.com, the "Picked for You" shelf will be re-stocked with a thoughtful and personalized selection that is refreshed week to week.

"Borders.com's new handsome, functional site does a great job of carrying over the Borders brand and experience from offline to online," said Kurt Peters, editor in chief of Internet Retailer. "Its Magic Shelf is an innovative example of what online retailers can do with leading technology to create a new way of shopping online."

Other features on Borders.com which resonated with editors at Internet Retailer include the retailer's entertainment programming -- Borders Media. This incredible collection of original and exclusive videos feature compelling interviews with acclaimed authors such as James Patterson and Stephenie Meyer; musical performances by talents such as Joss Stone and Ingrid Michaelson; frank and informative discussions with political leaders like Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; and entertaining and instructive cooking demonstrations from the world's hottest chefs including Ina Garten, Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali.

"To be named to Internet Retailer's Hot 100 listing is exciting, especially for a site that is relatively new like ours," said Kevin Ertell, senior vice president of e-Business for Borders Group. "This year's list includes Web sites that largely re-define e-commerce by reaching out to and connecting with customers in innovative ways. Throughout the process of creating Borders.com, we really held fast to the belief that we wanted to instill in the site all the warmth, inspiration and sense of discovery our customers love about Borders stores. I'm proud of the site we've built -- and it's great to be recognized for that success."

About Internet Retailer

Published by Chicago-based Vertical Web Media LLC, Internet Retailer is a monthly national business magazine, web site, conference and directory that serve the retailing community. The Internet Retailer family of products focuses on the Internet's vital role in a wide array of retailing activities, including web merchandising, supply chain management and multi-channel integration. The magazine's 43,000+ subscribers are senior executives primarily from retail chains, independent stores, catalogs, virtual merchants and brand-name manufacturers. Internet Retailer's circulation represents the largest multi-channel readership base of any retailing magazine. The magazine also publishes the most widely read e-mail newsletter in retailing, IRNewsLink, which is distributed four times a week to 38,000 opt-in subscribers, operates the largest retailing information web site, InternetRetailer.com, sponsors the largest conference in the e-retailing industry and publishes an annual ranking of the 500 largest web sites.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores worldwide primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information, visit www.borders.com/aboutus.