Blue Nile Announces First of Up to Four New "Webrooms"

SEATTLE, Feb. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online jeweler Blue Nile NILE announced today the location of its second Webroom at the Westchester Mall in White Plains, New York. Development is underway and the Webroom is expected to open to the public by early summer. Blue Nile opened its first Webroom in June 2015, at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York, and this is an expansion of that hybrid on-and-offline shopping experience.

The Webrooms are physical display rooms that, in addition to a PC, tablet, and phone, give consumers yet another choice to shop while still enjoying the advantages of online prices, pressure-free advice, a huge selection, and great quality. In the Webrooms, consumers are able to view products and place orders on in-store tablets with the help of non-commissioned consultants. Because Blue Nile's model is highly efficient, the company is able to generate greater sales per square foot than a traditional jeweler while maintaining prices that are far below competitors.

"The first Webroom greatly exceeded our expectations, and we're excited to expand this shopping experience which is unlike any other in jewelry retail," said Blue Nile Chief Merchandising Officer Julie Yoakum. "The efficiencies of the Webroom and our online model allow us to simultaneously leverage and disrupt the brick and mortar experience."

The Westchester Mall Webroom is the first of up to four the company plans to open this year.

About Blue Nile, Inc. NILE
Blue Nile, Inc. is a leading online jeweler. The company offers a smarter way to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and fine jewelry by providing in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in control of the jewelry shopping process. Blue Nile has some of the highest quality standards in the industry and offers thousands of independently certified diamonds and fine jewelry at prices significantly below traditional retail. Blue Nile can be found online at www.bluenile.com. Blue Nile's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol NILE.