West 49 to introduce Volcom brand in spring 2010

    
    - Canada's leading action sport retailer to carry Volcom brand in West 49
      stores -

    Toronto Stock Exchange Symbol: WXX
    

BURLINGTON , ON, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - West 49 Inc. (TSX: WXX) (the "Company"), Canada's leading action sport retailer, today announced that it has secured a new vendor relationship with Volcom, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLCM), and plans to introduce Volcom branded apparel in all West 49 stores this coming Spring.

"We are excited about our relationship with Volcom, Inc. and the potential to grow our businesses incrementally together," said Sam Baio , Chief Executive Officer of West 49 Inc. "The addition of the premium, athlete-driven Volcom brand, is in keeping with our stores offering the 'Best Brands on Earth'. Volcom is in high demand by our target customers and we already carry the brand in our Amnesia/Arsenic stores, as well as introduced Volcom Entertainment in our D-Tox stores this past Fall. Our ability to now add Volcom to our core West 49 banner's stores further validates the strength of our business."

Volcom product categories to be carried at West 49 include mens, boys, juniors and footwear.

About Volcom, Inc.

Volcom is an innovative designer, marketer and distributor of premium quality young mens and womens clothing, accessories and related products. The Volcom brand, symbolized by The Stone, is athlete-driven, creative and forward thinking. Volcom has consistently followed its motto of "youth against establishment," and the brand is inspired by the energy of youth culture. Volcom branded products are sold throughout the United States and internationally. Volcom's news announcements and SEC filings are available through the company's website at www.volcom.com.

About West 49 Inc.

West 49 Inc. is a leading Canadian specialty retailer of fashion and apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment related to the youth action sports lifestyle. The Company's stores, which are primarily mall-based, carry a variety of high-performance, premium brand name and private label products that fulfill the lifestyle needs of identified target markets, primarily tweens and teens. The Company currently operates 136 stores in nine provinces, under the banners West 49, Billabong, Off The Wall, Amnesia/Arsenic and D-Tox. The Company's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WXX. The Company has approximately 64 million shares outstanding.

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Forward-Looking Statements

Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of future operating results and economic performance of the Company are assumptions regarding projected revenue, gross margin and expenses. The assumptions, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and numerous other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The following includes some of the factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking information made by or on behalf of the Company: competition, changes in demographic trends, changes in consumer preferences and discretionary spending patterns, changes in business and economic conditions, human resource matters, legal proceedings, challenges to intellectual property rights, and changes in laws, regulations, and accounting policies and practices. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting the Company's operations will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to industry conditions, general levels of economic activity, laws, regulations, taxes, foreign exchange rates, minimum wage rates and interest rates, weather, that there will be no outbreaks of disease or public safety issues, and that there will be no unplanned material changes in its facilities, equipment, supplies, with respect to relations with customers, suppliers, landlords and employees, or with respect to credit availability, among other things. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company includes in publicly available documents filed from time to time with securities commissions and the Toronto Stock Exchange, a thorough discussion of the risk factors that can cause anticipated outcomes to differ from actual outcomes. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release only, it should not be relied upon as of any other date, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as expressly required by law.

For further information: Rhonda Biddix, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, West 49 Inc., [phone] ext. 224, E-mail: [email protected]; Trevor Heisler, Investor Relations, The Equicom Group Inc., [phone] ext. 270, E-mail: [email protected]