Global Sources Launches Verification Service for Export Suppliers in China

Hong Kong — February 1, 2008 — Asia supply specialist Global Sources has launched a new program offering export suppliers in China a way to have their products and company information verified and providing buyers with a way to screen and filter potential suppliers.

The program is based on a system that ranks suppliers according to the depth of verified product and company information that they provide. At the high-end, the "Six-star Package" provides suppliers with two forms of third-party verification data for an annual price of approximately $85,400.

On the low end, the "One-star Package" provides suppliers with an introductory 12-month offer for approximately $5,400. At a minimum, all verified suppliers would have been visited at least three times and their content would have been checked by Global Sources, the company said.

"The buyers that we focus on want export-capable suppliers," said Merle A. Hinrichs, Global Sources' chairman and CEO. "This new format gives these buyers the ability to more effectively screen and filter potential suppliers, and it gives suppliers a powerful new way to differentiate from their competitors."

Hinrichs said that the entry-level package was created to give new suppliers the chance to experience Global Sources' services and to test the waters with his company's buyer community. Global Sources is positioning the new offering as a lead-generation and brand-building program for export suppliers.

Global Sources said that the company is in the process of expanding its sales representation to support the new services. "In mainland China, the company projects the number of sales representative team members to increase by approximately 40 percent to a total of 1,080 by the end of June," Hinrichs said.

The new "Six Star" system is now live at www.globalsources.com, the vertical search engine launched in October 2007. The site offers buyers search results from the Internet and the ability to search for "verified" and "unverified" suppliers.

More information about the program is available at www.globalsources.com/SITE/QUALITY.HTM. Suppliers interested in signing up for Global Sources export marketing services can get more information at www.sellproducts.globalsources.com.