Global Sources

Infobox Company
name = Global Sources Limited

type = Public
genre =
foundation = Hong Kong (1970)
founder =
location_city = Hong Kong, SAR
location_country = China
location =
locations =
area_served =
key_people = Merle A. Hinrichs, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Sarah Benecke, Executive Director, Craig Pepples, Chief Operating Officer, Eddie Heng, Chief Financial Officer
industry = E-commerce, Publishing, Trade shows
products =
services =
revenue = US$182.1 million (Dec. 31, 2007)
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
owner =
num_employees = 1400, in 66 locations worldwide
parent =
divisions =
subsid =
homepage = www.globalsources.com
footnotes =
intl =

Global Sources (Chinese: 环球资原) is a Hong-Kong based business-to-business (B2B) media company. It facilitates trade from Greater China to the world, using a wide range of English-language media and 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.

Founded in November 1970 by [http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromMktGuideIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedMktGuideId=1043582 Merle A. Hinrichs] and C. Joseph Bendy as Trade Media Ltd., the company’s first publication – "Asian Sources" magazine was launched three months later. The stated vision of the two founders was that global trade was a means of transcending national and cultural differences in order to further world peace.

At the end of 1973, the company’s first spin-off publication - "Asian Sources Electronics" appeared. More industry-specific titles were added as the company grew.

Global Sources launched its China Sourcing Fairs in 2003. Since then, these specialized export fairs have brought together international buyers with China exhibitors.

In 1996, Global Sources began to make supplier information available on the Internet. Today, Global Sources provides over 657,000 active buyers with information on 2 million products and more than 130,000 suppliers annually through [ [http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/METRICS/METRICS.HTM Global Sources Metrics – Q1 2008] ] [ [http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/PROFILE/BGROUND2.HTM Company Overview] ] --

# [http://www.globalsources.com/ Global Sources Online] marketplaces that allow buyers to contact manufacturers directly for inquiries and purchases.
#Global Sources Magazines offering readers industry-specific news and product information. [http://www.globalsources.com/MAGAZINE/OVERVIEW.HTM Website]
# [http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/ China Sourcing Reports] that provide research based on in-person factory tours and covering industries from computers to fashion accessories.
#Trade shows -- including China Sourcing Fairs; Wal-mart, Best Buy, Samsung and Carrefour are among the buyers that make use of the company’s trade services.
#In 2005, Global Sources launched [http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/servlet/StoreFront Global Sources Direct] , allowing buyers to purchase products online immediately.

Revenue

Global Sources, which is listed on the NASDAQ exchange (Symbol: GSOL), derives revenue from its online, print and trade show offerings. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2007, revenue was US$182.1 million. [ [http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/12/121487/earnings/Q4FYE2007ER1.pdf Global Sources Press Release] ]

External links

* [http://www.globalsources.com Global Sources]
* [http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/IRS/VISION.HTM Corporate Vision]
* [http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/INFO/INFO_IDX.HTM Press Releases]
* [http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/PRODUCTS/ALLIANCE.HTM Alliances & Partnerships]
* [http://www.chinasourcingfairs.com China Sourcing Fairs portal]

References