Global Sources

Global Sources Limited

Type	Public
Industry	E-commerce, Publishing, Trade shows
Founded	1970
Headquarters	Hong Kong, SAR, China
Key people	Merle A. Hinrichs, Co-founder and Executive chairman, Spenser Au, CEO.
Revenue	US$231.7 million (31 December 2012)
Website	www.globalsources.com

Global Sources (Chinese: 环球资源) (NASDAQ: GSOL) is a Hong-Kong based business-to-business (B2B) media company.^[1] 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^[2][3] to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. In addition, Global Sources verifies the quality of the manufacturer.

The company was founded in November 1970 by Merle A. Hinrichs^[1][4] and C. Joseph Bendy as Trade Media Ltd., its first publication, Asian Sources magazine, was launched three months later. At September 1974, the company's first spin-off publication – Asian Sources Electronics appeared. More industry-specific titles were subsequently added.

In 1996, Global Sources launched the industry's first Business-to-Business website,Asian Sources Online and its monthly CD-ROW. Both were designed to supplement and complement the company's trade publications.

The company launched its China Sourcing Fairs in 2003.

Today, more than 1 million international buyers, including 95 of the world's top 100 retailers, use Global Sources services to obtain product and company information to help them source profitably from overseas supply markets.^[5][6] These services include

• China Sourcing Fairs that bring international buyers face-to-face with quality suppliers. Specialized shows take place in Hong Kong,^[7][8] New Delhi,^[9] Miami,^[10] Johannesburg^[11] and São Paulo.^[12]
• Online Trade Shows are launched in 2011^[13] where buyers can access profiles of each exhibitor's featured products, images of the booths, and videos on companies, products and conference sessions.
• Private sourcing events create opportunities for pre-selected suppliers to meet privately with buyers representing retail chains.^[14][15][16]
• Global Sources online marketplaces (GlobalSources.com) allow buyers to contact manufacturers directly for inquiries and purchases^[17]
• Global Sources Magazines feature thousands of informative supplier advertisements. Each of the 19 industry titles provides reports on new products and trends in sourcing. Print, digital^[18] and mobile app^[19][20] editions are available.
• China Sourcing Reports provide market intelligence. Each report contains an industry overview, supplier profiles, photo gallery of top-selling products and other market information.^[21][22]

Revenue

Global Sources, is listed on the NASDAQ exchange (Symbol: GSOL). For the year ended 31 December 2011, revenue was US$225.1 million.^[23] For the year ended 31 December 2012, revenue was $231.7 million.^[24]

References

1. So, Sherman; Westland, Christopher (2010). Red Wired: China’s Internet revolution. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 84–92. ISBN 9780462099675.
2. "Global Sources Top 20 Products". Globalsources.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
3. "Ask The Experts". Globalsources.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
4. "Merle Allan Hinrichs". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
5. "Global Sources metrics – Q4 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2013.
6. "Company overview". Corporate.globalsources.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
7. "Global Sources' electronics shows features 3,900+ booths". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
8. "1,200 booths at Global Sources' spring fashion shows". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
9. "Fifth annual China Sourcing Fairs opened today to facilitate closer Sino-Indian trade". Reuters. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
10. "Global Sources opens third annual China Sourcing Fairs in Miami amid Sino-Latin American trade growth". The Wall Street Journal. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
11. "South Africa: China Sourcing Fair Ends With Success in South Africa". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
12. "Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair in Brazil sold out". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
13. "Global Sources Launches Industry's First Online Sourcing Fair". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
14. "Global Sources' Private Sourcing Events see strong buyer and supplier support in 2012 despite uncertain economic conditions". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
15. "New Buyers at Private Sourcing Events Double in First Half of 2011". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
16. "Global Sources to hold 15 Private Sourcing Events for world retailers with US$665 billion in annual sales". Bloomberg. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
17. Cheng, Allen (31 May 2006). "Challenging Alibaba, Global Sources buys stake in rival BUSINESS ASIA". International Herald Tribune  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Retrieved 15 November 2013.
18. "Global Sources Introduces e-Magazines". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
19. "Global Sources Magazines on Apple App Store". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
20. "Global Sources Magazines on Google Play Store". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
21. "Research and Markets: China Sourcing Report: CCTV & Surveillance Products Profiles Industry Giants in the Field". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
22. "Research and Markets: China Sourcing Report: Fashion Accessories – An Extensive Overview of the Industry Discussing the Main Challenges Facing Suppliers". Reuters. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
23. "Global Sources scheduled to report fourth quarter and year-end 2011 results on March 14, 2012" (Press release). Global Sources. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
24. "Global Sources reports fourth quarter and year-end 2012 results" (Press release). Global Sources. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.

• "Global Sources Ltd". Forbes. Retrieved 18 November 2013.

External links

• Global Sources official website