Billy Martin's New Game: Licensing the Brand

NEW YORK, Jul 16, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE)

Billy Martin's USA, Inc. (Pink Sheets:BYMN), the 25-year-old purveyor of Western-lifestyle apparel products, has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Los Angles-based Wyler Team International Corp.

As reported in Women's Wear Daily (May 28, 2003), http://www.billymartin.com/reviews_wwd.htm, and the NY Post (July 9, 2003), http://www.billymartin.com/reviews_nypost.htm, the licensing deal is slated to bring better priced jeans wear and sportswear to a wide audience of consumers in the U.S. who heretofore could buy Billy Martin's goods only in the company's boutiques in Manhattan, Hollywood on the Sunset Strip, and East Hampton, NY.

According to Carolyn Palmieri, who heads the company's showroom in New York City, the new line will be a "casual lifestyle collection focused around denim and suede jackets, vintage inspired shirts and flat-front pants in fabrics like leather and corduroy. The entire collection is washable and will feature stretch for extra comfort. The line is launching at retail for holiday and spring 2004 and is targeting better department stores. The goal is to achieve $2 million wholesale during its first year and $3 million after that."

"Some of the new styles are similar in design or origin to the items worn by our celebrity customers over the years," said CEO Doug Newton, who founded the retail business along with former NY Yankee manager, Billy Martin, in 1978. "From Madonna to Eleanor Mondale, Sheryl Crow, Whoopi Goldberg, Bruce Springsteen, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Giselle Fernandez, Jewel, Christie Brinkley, Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam and Don Imus."

In addition to the Wyler license, Newton said BYMN is "identifying other licensing partners and strategic alliances to expand the brand's reach to other categories, consistent with our positioning. These include outerwear, footwear, jewelry, belts, western-lifestyle furniture, home decor, fragrances, and a BBQ restaurant and saloon concept called the Billy Martin's Cowboy Cafe.

"We are interviewing potential licensing and franchising partners in South America, Central America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Our goal is to promote a family of casual, contemporary, synergistic products which reflect our culture and American way of life, while giving BYMN a very cost-efficient way to achieve our growth objectives."

Based on the brand's 25-year history, Newton said his goal for the next 25 years is for "Billy Martin's to become the core brand for an offering of exceptional products, in which we can take great pride, with excellent long-term profit potential for the company and our shareholders."

Except for historical financial information that may be contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements -- as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 -- including statements about future business operations, financial performance and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, such factors as market demand, pricing and changes in worldwide economic conditions. Billy Martin's USA, Inc. became public in October 2001, via a reverse merger with Hitech Resource Corp. which changed its corporate name to Billy Martin's USA, Inc. and its symbol to BYMN, after completing the acquisition of Billy Martin's Western Wear, LA, Inc. Billy Martin's USA, Inc. is currently not an SEC reporting company.

SOURCE: Billy Martin's USA, Inc.

CONTACT: Billy Martin's USA, Inc.
Cindi Fowler, 212-861-3100 (shop)
Carolyn Palmieri, 212-575-8062 (showroom)
doug@billymartin.com
www.billymartin.com

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