Contact: Laura Thieme Misty…

Contact:

Laura Thieme                                           Misty Otto
Bizresearch                                            Pier 1 Imports
614-846-7560                                           817-252-8514
laura@bizresearch.com                                  mbotto@pier1.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Pier 1 Selects Bizresearch for Search Engine Marketing Services
Strategy to focus on organic search engine visibility, boosting in-store and online traffic



COLUMBUS, Ohio ­ (August 22, 2006) ­ Pier 1 Imports, North America's largest specialty
retailer of imported decorative home furnishings and gifts, has chosen Bizresearch, Inc.
(www.bizresearch.com) to provide search engine marketing services for the company's growing
e-commerce web site, www.pier1.com. The partnership will elevate Pier 1's Internet visibility in
order to increase brand awareness online as well as traffic to Pier1.com and Pier 1's 1200+ retail
locations.
          Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Pier 1 will engage Bizresearch, a Columbus, Ohio-based
national search engine marketing company, to provide a variety of organic optimization services
that will improve Google, Yahoo & MSN rankings, increase store and web site traffic and enrich
the online shopping experience for better customer conversion rates.
          "Pier 1 has long been known as a resource for unique and affordable home furnishings.
We want to offer today's busy consumers the option of an easy-to-use website, convenient store
locations and seasonal catalogs so that they can experience everything Pier 1 has to offer in
whatever way is easiest for them," said Phil Schneider, Executive Vice President of Marketing for
Pier 1.
          Laura Thieme, president and founder of Bizresearch, said Pier 1 Imports, like other
retailers, needs quantifiable proof that their websites are performing.
          "Pier 1 is one of the most recognizable brands in the U.S.," Thieme said. "Our goal is to
energize the company's online presence and substantially increase brand awareness. If online
shoppers are seeking eclectic, affordable home décor and accessories, from furniture and dining
room tables to candles and dinnerware, they should readily find the Pier 1 website. In addition,
it's important to ensure optimal return on investment through improved website usability and
sales."
          "It is important to mirror broadcast, print and online paid search strategies," Thieme
continued. "Organic is an effective complementary tool to a successful paid search campaign. It
has the potential to triple online exposure, substantially increasing brand awareness, traffic and
sales."


About Bizresearch
Founded nine years ago, Bizresearch helps retailers increase traffic and sales through
competitive market assessments, website design and usability analyses, technical
consultations and implementation services that act as an extension of clients' internal IT
and marketing resources. The company is a leader in e-commerce and search engine
marketing, including the strategic application of organic and paid listings, website traffic
analysis and return-on-investment (ROI) measurement.


About Pier 1
Pier 1 Imports, Inc. is North America's largest specialty retailer of imported decorative
home furnishings and gifts with Pier 1 Imports® stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, Canada,
and Mexico and Pier 1 kids® stores in the United States.