Cost Plus World Market Asks, “Are You Feeling Lucky?” in Celebration of the Year of the Rat

Be one of the first 125 customers in 4 Bay Area stores on February 10 at 10:00 am for a chance to win savings off of that day’s in-store purchases

Oakland, CA — February 4, 2008 — Gung Hay Fat Choy! In celebration of the Year of the Rat, Cost Plus World Market (www.worldmarket.com) will be handing out Lotto-like “scratchers” to the first 125 customers at its Marin, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose Marketplace store locations on February 10. Beginning at 10:00 am, store associates will pass out the scratchers, which once scratched, reveal savings of $5, $10, or $15 off of in-store, same-day purchases. Every scratcher recipient is guaranteed to win a savings!

Although in Western culture, rats are often considered less than desirable, in Chinese philosophy those born in the Year of the Rat are clever and bright, sociable and family-minded, and have a strong ability to adapt to the environment. Celebrating the rat, World Market invites Bay Area residents to be on the lookout for its giant costumed Rat who will be roaming San Francisco the week of February 18 and along the San Francisco Chinese Lunar New Year Parade route on Saturday, February 23. Our lucky rat and his team of mice will be passing out Chinese take-out containers and the traditional red envelopes filed with $5 shop cards good for in-store purchases.

According to Chinese Zodiac, February 7, 2008 kicks of the Year of the Rat and Cost Plus World Market is the Bay Area’s Chinese New Year décor headquarters. World Market stores in San Francisco and Oakland will set up mini, in-store shops featuring great Chinese New Year-themed gift and décor items like our Chinese Zodiac Calendar for $19.99. Colorful, hand-embroidered fabric animals symbolizing the Chinese Zodiac come together in a décor-friendly calendar. Or, pick up a clay wall mask ($4.99) representing each animal on the Chinese Zodiac for yourself or another.

About Cost Plus World Market

Cost Plus World Market operates 299 stores in 34 states under the names “World Market” and “Cost Plus World Market.” The store features an ever-changing selection of casual home furnishings, housewares, gifts, jewelry, decorative accessories, over 500 international wines, gourmet foods and beverages offered at affordable prices and are imported from more than 50 countries. Many items are unique and exclusive to World Market regularly supplied by an international network of individual and regional artisans developed over the Company’s nearly 50 years in the import business. The majority of the store’s furniture is constructed of environmentally friendly, farm raised wood while a number of items are made out of recycled glass and yet countless are constructed of environmentally friendly bamboo. The value, breadth and continual refreshment of products invite customers to come back throughout a lifetime of changing home furnishings and entertaining needs. For more information, please visit www.worldmarket.com.

Contact:
Jill Osaka
Cost Plus World Market
(510) 808-9319
jill.osaka@cpwm.com