omniture

Global Sources Online 2.0 Launch Gives Buyers Comprehensive Search Results and Verified Suppliers

2007-10-18 19:15 2230

New Offer Allows Unverified Export Suppliers to be Listed for Free

HONG KONG, Oct. 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Sources (Nasdaq: GSOL) launched Global Sources Online 2.0

( http://www.globalsources.com ), a next-generation B2B sourcing service which is unique in the market, offering buyers comprehensive search results and third-party verification of suppliers.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200708071747.jpg )

The launch also provides a powerful new platform for Global Sources to advance its market position and leadership:

-- Unverified suppliers meeting basic criteria will be listed on the

site free of charge, opening the door for thousands of new suppliers

to experience the value of Global Sources’ buyer community. The

company expects to double the current level of content on Global

Sources Online 2.0 within the next six months.

-- The structure and volume of content on the new site gives Global

Sources opportunities for new services and flexible pricing

strategies that do not exist in the market today.

“Global Sources new Verified Supplier program and search services are directly addressing what is perhaps today’s biggest sourcing need among buyers around the world,” said Christopher Sellers, CEO of Agentrics, whose members and shareholders include 17 of the world’s largest retailers.

Speaking at Global Sources’ China Sourcing Fairs, Sellers said: “Our members have been clamoring for a service just like this. It is essential for them to save time and money -- and reduce risk - by identifying qualified and export-ready suppliers from among the millions of suppliers from mainland China alone that are scattered across the Web.”

In addition to Global Sources verification standards, the company plans to expand its verification services offered by several professional partners who provide a range of assessment and credit check services.

Global Sources’ Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: “We consider this to be the most significant milestone since 1995, when we were the first to launch a B2B online service to connect global buyers with Asian suppliers.

“We are confident Global Sources Online 2.0 will significantly change buying and selling behavior in the markets Global Sources serves -- and attract many more buyers and sellers to the Global Sources community. In fact, we have hired 300 more account executives to support this development.”

The new site gives buyers comprehensive supplier and product search results comprised of Global Sources Verified Supplier content plus content from select third-party sites and general results from the entire World Wide Web. Verified Suppliers can use the site to attract more customers and differentiate themselves from competitors who are unable to meet Global Sources’ verification standards.

Next-Generation Online Services Further Strengthened by Huge China Sourcing Fairs and Trade Magazines

The launch of the Global Sources Online 2.0 is timed to coincide with the company’s highly successful China Sourcing Fairs at Hong Kong’s

AsiaWorld-Expo. In October, tens of thousands of buyers from nearly every country in the world are visiting the China Sourcing Fairs to see suppliers exhibiting at more than 7,500 booths.

The company is leveraging these huge shows to introduce the new Global Sources Online 2.0 to this global buying audience through extensive advertising, signage, and personal introductions. Buyers are being thoroughly briefed about the new search engine, site and verification services.

Hinrichs said: “It is the combination of the company’s online, print and trade show services that give Global Sources a major advantage over all of its online competitors.

“Export suppliers have three primary marketing objectives: lead generation; branding and differentiation from competitors; and getting

face-to-face with buyers to negotiate and win orders. Global Sources helps suppliers with all three objectives, while online-only services are really only effective for lead generation.”

New Chinese Global Sources Online Scheduled to be Launched in November

Lastly in a related development, Hinrichs revealed that Global Sources plans to launch its Chinese language Global Sources Online in November.

It is expected to offer much of the same functionality as the English language site, but its objective is to enable suppliers to sell into the growing mainland China market. Global Sources plans to allow such suppliers to market their company and products for free until the service gains leadership traction.

Supplier Hotline Established; Online Demonstration Available

Suppliers in mainland China, and export-oriented trade show exhibitors throughout Asia who are interested in the Verified Supplier program or free listings for unverified suppliers are invited to contact Global Sources at this toll-free number in China: 800-999-8260.

There is a demonstration showing the different levels of search results at http://www.globalsources.com/CUSTOMER/ALL_SUPPLIERS.HTM .

End-To-End Export Marketing Solution

Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) is part of the company’s comprehensive print, online and face-to-face export solution which also includes Global Sources trade magazines, China Sourcing Fairs

( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ), Private Sourcing Events

( http://www.privatesourcingevents.com ) and Global Sources Direct

( http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com ).

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and a primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. The core business is facilitating trade from Greater China to the world, using a wide range of English-language media. The other key business segment facilitates trade from the world to Greater China using Chinese-language media.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 635,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 230 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 1.8 million products and more than 150,000 suppliers annually through 13 online marketplaces, 12 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and nine specialized trade shows which run 22 times a year across seven cities.

Suppliers receive more than 18 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 36 years. In mainland China it has over 1,700 team members in 44 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for Chinese-language media.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risks associated with the company’s business, changes in general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.

Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:

Camellia So

Tel: +852-2555-5021

Email: cso@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:

Eddie Heng

Tel: +65-6547-2850

Email: eheng@globalsources.com

Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:

James W.W. Strachan

Tel: +1-480-664-8309

Email: strachan@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:

Moriah Shilton & Christiane Pelz

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.

Tel: +1-415-433-3777

Email: cpelz@lhai.com

Source: Global Sources
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