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Streamlined sourcing channel helps buyers source PC peripherals closer to peak selling seasons

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )

Global Sources' Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: "In mainland China alone, there are 150 manufacturers of laptop locks and about 500 USB accessory suppliers. Finding the right quality supplier can be incredibly time-consuming for buyers.

"Since both Global Sources and buyers pre-screen suppliers before each event, buyers can reduce the sourcing cycle by weeks or even months. This also gives them the ability to find the right products closer to peak selling seasons.

"Because of the potential time and cost savings realized, more and more top buyers are turning to Private Sourcing Events to source fromGreater China."

Representing US$446 billion in annual sales, buyers that participated in the PC Peripherals sourcing event were:

    -- Carrefour -- the world's second largest retailer; with annual sales
       of US$134 billion
    -- Casino -- France's largest convenience store operator; with annual
       sales of US$36.7 billion
    -- Kaufland -- Germany's second-largest hypermarket operator; with
       annual sales of US$46 billion
    -- Markant -- one of Europe's largest trading cooperatives; with annual
       sales of US$52.8 billion
    -- Office Depot -- one of the world's largest office product retailers;
       with annual sales of US$15.5 billion
    -- RadioShack -- the third-largest electronics chain in the US; with
       annual sales of US$4.25 billion
    -- Staples -- the world's largest office products retailer; with annual
       sales of US$19.4 billion
    -- Tesco -- the world's fifth-largest retailer; with annual sales of
       US$101.7 billion
    -- Woolworths (Australia) -- the largest retailer in Australia; with
       annual sales of US$36 billion

Product categories covered at the event were keyboards, mice, webcams and USB ports.

One participating buyer, Business Team Manager of Supplies for Staples Brand Consulting, Lisa Pan, said: "Global Sources is a great source for buyers. The Private Sourcing Events offer a great platform and business opportunity for us. Besides meeting potential vendors, we also learn the latest trend and market information during those events."

One supplier, General Manager of Newman Technology, Frank Zhu, said: "These Private Sourcing Events are highly productive since buyers we meet already know we can meet their requirements. We spend very little time dealing with initial questions buyers usually ask at a first meeting. This gives us the chance to move quickly into far more productive conversations about specific products and capabilities."

World's top buyers scheduled to attend upcoming Private Sourcing Events

Eighty Private Sourcing Events are scheduled for 2008, with dozens of buyers including NEC, Casino, Chubb, Office Depot and Sears confirmed to participate. All Private Sourcing Events are complimentary for buyers and only Global Sources suppliers are eligible to participate. A list of upcoming Private Sourcing Events is available at http://www.PrivateSourcingEvents.com .

Suppliers wishing to participate should contact csm@globalsources.com .

Specialized Global Sources websites, face-to-face events and trade magazines

Private Sourcing Events are part of the Global Sources' sourcing and product information services. These include Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ), China Sourcing Fairs ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ), Global Sources monthly magazines and Global Sources Direct ( http://www.GlobalSourcesDirect.com ).

For more information about Global Sources' products and services to connect quality buyers and quality suppliers, visit http://corporate.globalsources.com .

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade withGreater China. The core business is facilitating trade fromGreater China to the world, using a wide range of English-language media. The other business segments facilitate trade from the world toGreater China, and trade withinChina, using Chinese-language media.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 725,000 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 4.3 million products and more than 196,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and 9 specialized trade shows which run 27 times a year across eight cities.

Suppliers receive more than 36 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 37 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 69 cities worldwide. In mainlandChina, Global Sources has over 2,800 team members in more than 44 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for Chinese-language media.

    Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
     Camellia So
     Tel:   +852-2555-5021
     Email: cso@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 Asia:
     Investor Relations Department
     Tel:   +852-2555-4777
     Email: investor@globalsources.com

    Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:
     Kirsten Chapman
     Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
     Tel:   +1-415-433-3777
     Email: investor@globalsources.com

SOURCE Global Sources