Cost Plus World Market and "Social Media Sommelier" Gary Vaynerchuk Announce In-Store Book Signings Across the Country

Cost Plus World Market (www.worldmarket.com), a leading specialty retailer of home décor, furniture, and gourmet food and wine announces book signings with “social media sommelier” Gary Vaynerchuk in a select number of World Market stores across the country. Gary has partnered with World Market to time with the launch of his new book, “Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion,” (http://crushitbook.com) published by HarperStudio on October 13, 2009.

Gary first became known in the wine world through his weekly wine reviews on Wine Library TV (www.winelibrarytv.com), which quickly became a wildly popular video blog for wine lovers around the world. Gary looked at World Market stores as an ideal opportunity to reach its customer base, people who are passionate about everything from wine and food to entertaining and travel.

In “Crush It!,” Gary shares his personal insights into how he transformed his entire life and earning potential through social media. Through his inspiring “roll up your sleeves and get to work” attitude, readers will “ignite” their passion so that they can make a living doing what they love.

“Crush It!” will be available for purchase ($19.99) at the World Market book signing stores in Washington, DC, Seattle, Austin, Los Angeles, Marin, Atlanta, Montgomery, AL, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Denver, as well as an additional number of select World Market locations and www.worldmarket.com. At each of the 10 book signings, World Market will be awarding one lucky winner a $500 World Market shopping spree.*

For more information about the book signings and the World Market locations, please go to http://crushitbook.com/cost-plus-world-market-crush-it-tour/.

Follow Cost Plus World Market on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/worldmarket

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*Shopping Spree awarded as a World Market Gift Card. One winner per Gary Vaynerchuk World Market book signing event. No purchase necessary to enter or win the $500 Shopping Spree. Open to legal residents of the 50 US territories who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited. The $500 Shopping Spree winners will be contacted via email.

About Cost Plus World Market

Cost Plus World Market operates 270 stores in 30 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 more than 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.

About Gary Vaynerchuk

A wine and marketing expert, Gary Vaynerchuk is the star of Wine Library TV, a video blog launched from his platform as Director of Operations of national industry giant Wine Library. Considered the rock star of wine, Gary’s informed yet informal approach to wine appreciation has revolutionized the industry. After successfully leveraging social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook for promotion, Wine Library TV now attracts over 90,000 viewers daily, making it the most downloaded podcast on iTunes in the Food category. Revered for his business acumen, at 27 Gary became the youngest winner of Marketwatch’s Business Award. He is a regular contributor to TheDailyBeast.com and Popeater.com and has made numerous national television appearances. Gary is frequently asked to consult for the world’s largest and most recognizable brands and recently co-founded the branding and storytelling agency VaynerMedia. His first business book, “Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on your Passion,” debuts in October 2009.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6073463&lang=en

Contacts:

Cost Plus World Market
Jill Osaka, 510-808-9319
jill.osaka@cpwm.com