Searchandise Commerce's HitList Named as Finalist for the 2009 MITX Technology Awards

Sixth Annual MITX Technology Awards Recognize Outstanding Technology Advancements in the New England Region

Beverly, Mass. - May 12, 2009

Searchandise Commerce, the first online media network for product manufacturers and their retail channel partners, today announced that it has been named as a finalist for the 6th Annual MITX Technology Awards. The MITX Technology Awards recognize emergent and innovative technologies developed in the New England area, as well as the individuals and organizations responsible for driving these advancements. The Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) is the country's premier Internet business and marketing association.

The company's HitList is a first of its kind service enabling retailers to monetize all areas of their sites where products are presented - search results, product showcases, category and sub-category pages and home pages - by incorporating advertiser bids into site-side search as part of their sort algorithm. For advertisers, HitList represents a new venue for online advertising and the opportunity to advantage their brand placement with the application of cost-per-click bids to search results and featured product areas. Similar to in-store merchandising, retailers maximize revenue by selling premium point-of-purchase venues, such as end-cap displays and eye-level shelf space, and manufacturers look to elevate their position to better engage prospects and customers. Searchandise Commerce recreates the experience of in-store merchandising on the Web with the efficiency and accuracy of paid search.

"Using best practices from paid search combined with the merchandising concept of maximizing every inch of space, Searchandise Commerce helps brand advertisers affect their placement across leading retail sites, and retailers generate incremental revenue by monetizing click activity everywhere products are presented," said John Federman, president and CEO, Searchandise Commerce. "As this service continues to gain traction in the marketplace, we're grateful that it's been named by MITX as a finalist in their annual awards program."

Searchandise Commerce will be recognized with the other finalists in the category of Online Advertising at an awards ceremony attended by the region's top technology and business professionals. Winners will be announced at the ceremony at the Westin Copley Hotel on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

"Being named a Finalist in the MITX Technology Awards is an important achievement," said Kiki Mills, executive director of MITX. "This recognition translates into increased exposure with media, industry analysts & investors, and provides them a higher profile in their industry. We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement and wish them well in the competition."

The MITX Technology Awards program is sponsored through the generous support of: Atom Group, DLA Piper, LEWIS PR, Mad*Pow, Microsoft and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

About Searchandise Commerce

Searchandise Commerce provides the first online media network for product manufacturers and their retail channel partners. The company combines paid search tactics with in-store merchandising practices for application on the Web. SearchNet, the company's network of retail and comparison shopping sites, offers manufacturers the opportunity to use CPC bids to heighten their position within search results and product listings across the network, and provides retailers the opportunity to merchandise, monetize and maximize their eCommerce efforts through HitList. At both ends of the spectrum, Searchandise Commerce's services are designed to engage prospects at the point of purchase to increase revenue and sales. For more information on the company and its services, please visit us online at searchandise.net or call 978.712.4554.

About MITX

Established in 1996, MITX - the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) is the region's premier professional organization for the Internet business & marketing industry. Reaching more than 7,500 professionals in New England, MITX is the community for thought leadership, building business relationships and professional training and development. Members of the MITX community take advantage of events, sponsorships, speaking opportunities and networking to make business connections and exchange ideas. With over 60 events annually, MITX provides its members with the opportunity to promote their companies to targeted audiences and provides a valuable forum for networking to source potential business leads, partnerships, ideas, funding and other likeminded peers in the industry. MITX is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Visit us at www.mitx.org