Global Sourcing Solutions, Inc.

GSSI and Global Discoveries Combine on Holiday Promotion

MISSION VIEJO, CA - In its first full year of operation Global Discoveries has enjoyed a number of successful ventures in both its wine and electric vehicle businesses. To commemorate those successes and thank those responsible for it the company participated in a holiday promotion along with GSSI, a leading international sourcing and sales firm. The package was intended for current clients, supplier partners as well as prospective customers.

The idea behind the promotion did not originally have the holiday season in mind. “We simply wanted to design a vehicle to showcase our wine bottle, crystal glasses and wooden box,” said Scott Wille of Global Discoveries Wine Division. “It grew into a holiday promotion when GSSI got involved as they wanted something of a thank you to their client base”.

As such the promotion was divided into two parts with mainly GSSI clients receiving a bottle of Stuart Cellars, a Global Discoveries client, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon decoratively placed in a specially designed wooden wine box along with two crystal wine glasses with GSSI’s logo. The box, bottle and glasses were manufactured at Global Discoveries Chinese factories.

The packages were then assembled by a crew at Stuart Cellars of Temecula, CA and sent to the GSSI client base. “We respect our friends at Stuart a great deal and obviously think they make an excellent wine or we would not have selected it to go to GSSI’s client base,” said Wille.

“For Global Discoveries wine clients we decided to seek out a neutral position and chose to fill our bottle with jelly bellies instead.” Wille reported. “We commissioned a local artist to design the label and were very pleased with the end result. The artist, Heather Wille, is a close friend and a talented painter. We were fortunate she was available to work within the tight time frame we gave her. She did a sensational job.”

“The Global Discoveries bottle was named “Magic Beans” for the jelly beans inside but we hope to grow some giant business out of this very well received promotion,” said William Ting, VP of Operations. “Our two companies are quite close and the synergy was never more apparent than during this promotion where we used Global Discoveries products as the core of the offering.”

Global Discoveries next promotional effort is set for the Spring of 2007. The focus will be on corporations wanting to celebrate success and will are teaming with Stuart again as they release a new champagne. For more information on how to participate including the use of company logos contact Scott Wille at 866-WINEPLUS.

Global Discoveries Adds Two Account Executives

MISSION VIEJO, CA - Global Discoveries, a leading wine accessories supplier, today announced that it has hired two account executives that will be based in the California-area.

Richard Burt of Sebastopol, CA was named Regional Bulk Glass Sales Specialist. Burt comes to Global Discoveries after a successful career in the music production business. In his new role Richard will be the factory representative to a number of large northern California-area vineyard groups.

John Felts of Sacramento was also hired as an Account Executive for the Sacramento and Lodi areas. Mr. Felts most recently worked as an executive in the telecommunications industry.

“We are very pleased to welcome these two gentlemen to our sales organization,” said Jim Letzel, CEO of Global Discoveries. “Both Richard and John are talented professionals with a history of successful business dealings and we are confident that they will both help to extend the reach of our firm.”

“Richard Burt and John Felts bring us strong experience and a local presence that we were previously without. This represents the first of several similar announcements Global Discoveries will be making in the coming weeks as we continue to build our organization and fill key positions.”

Earlier this month, Global Discoveries announced the addition of a new glass bottle-making line in China and vowed no 2007 price increases to fill this line to capacity.

For more information on Global Discoveries or to speak to Jim Letzel please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or by e-mail at jvendetti@myglobalsourcing.com.

Leading International Paper Firm Reacts to Anti-Dumping Investigation

MISSION VIEJO, CA - Last week the U.S. Department of Commerce launched an anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigation into China's coated paper exports. Tom Vendetti, a spokesman for China Paper Holdings Ltd., a leading international paper sourcing firm, made the following statement in reaction to this investigation:

“The U.S. Department of Commerce’s anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into China’s exports of coated paper is completely unfounded and detrimental to both the U.S. and global economies.

“The Chinese government offering subsidies to domestic coated paper companies is no different than what the U.S. government does on a regular basis in an effort to create jobs and stimulate the economy. However, no investigations are launched when the U.S. government encourages large retailers, plants and factories to move to certain areas of the country promising tax breaks and relaxed regulations. The only difference is that China’s coated paper plants are attracting and responding to an international demand for their products - which is not under the control of the Chinese government.

“Any country should have the right, and in fact be encouraged, to introduce new products to new markets where there proves to be high demand. For a country that so greatly values free enterprise and a competitive marketplace, it is impossible to understand why the United States would not support more industries in doing what the global textiles and technology industries have been doing for years – introducing the American economy to alternative products and competitive prices.

“It’s also no secret that this investigation is a direct result of complaints made by a major U.S. paper company that has a very vested interest in keeping prices high for American paper buyers, printers, publishers and ultimately American consumers. China Paper Holdings believes that eliminating Chinese competition would be detrimental to so many while benefiting only a few American shareholders.

“China Paper Holdings strongly encourages the U.S. Department of Commerce to look beyond the needs of one company and consider the ripple effect this investigation and its consequences will have on other American industries, the global economy and most importantly the American consumer.”

China Paper Holdings, Ltd is based in Beijing with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, California and New York. The company specializes in exporting paper to the United States and elsewhere. China Paper Holdings Ltd. works with a number of large, independent Asian paper mills to export book, publication, commercial print, catalog, FSI grades, cut sheet and specialty grade papers.

For more information or to interview China Paper Holdings Ltd., please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or jvendetti@myglobalsourcing.com.

MISSION VIEJO, CA – Global Discoveries a Mission Viejo, CA based manufacturer of wine bottles, glasses and accessories has announced the opening of its second US warehouse in Fremont, California. This new facility is 20,000 square feet and is intended to hold Global Discoveries products for distribution in Northern California and Oregon.

“The warehouse is located conveniently for winemakers in the Central Coast as well as Napa and Sonoma,” reported William Ting, Vice President of operations for Global Discoveries. “Bottles and glass from our factories in China will be staged both here and at our City of Industry location in southern California. We will be inventorying product for our clients here and giving them access to our main production bottles in smaller order lots as well as to store some unique production. However, our larger purpose is to provide our sales team with ready product to sell.”

“Global Discoveries factories are located in China and being responsive to the market is important to us,” said Scott Wille, a Global Discoveries Account Executive. “We know that maintaining inventory in the US permits us to supply the needs of the vineyard much faster than shipping and sending directly from China. Our Fremont facility allows us to service this market even better. Ships arrive at the port in Oakland and the contents are brought directly here for unloading.”

The facility features 2 loading bays and a computerized inventory management system that Global Discoveries intends to eventually link to outside users.

For more information about Global Discoveries Fremont warehouse or how to become involved in our Pay As You Pull Plan contact Scott Wille at 1-866-WINEPLUS.

Leading Global Firms Partner to Establish China Paper Holdings Ltd.

MISSION VIEJO, CA – Global Sourcing Solutions Inc. (GSSI), a leading international sourcing and trading company, and ITI Capital of Houston, today announced their partnership in the creation of China Paper Holdings, Ltd. The new company, based in Beijing with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York, will specialize in exporting paper to the United States and elsewhere.

China Paper Holdings Ltd. is working with a number of large, independent Asian paper mills and will export book, publication, commercial print, catalog, FSI grades, cut sheet and specialty grade papers.

“There has not been a new, viable supply source for U.S. paper buyers in a long time. U.S. mills, and those in Canada and Europe have spent the last decade consolidating operations, which has reduced options for paper buyers,” said Thomas Vendetti, GSSI’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “China, on the other hand, has been expanding paper supply as fast as possible. We believe that importing paper from China will result in several positive scenarios for the publishing, commercial print and direct mail communities.”

Exporting from China will give paper buyers a much-needed alternative, help stabilize market pricing, and be a welcome relief to buyers who have seen significant increases in their cost of print production and distribution.

“We have done extensive research and development before moving forward with the business,” said Vendetti. “China Paper Holdings is collaborating with a number of Chinese paper mills in order to make grades of paper that meet or exceed U.S. standards.”

Paper grades currently available include groundwood, as well as woodfree grades. Coated products, hi-bulk book sheets, LWC, cut size and food grade specialty papers are also available in all basis weights and calipers. China Paper Holdings, Ltd. will support its client base with a warehouse and distribution program that can expand as demand grows.

“Both of the founding companies bring with them deep and well-established relationships in China, which allows us to approach the marketplace with confidence that client satisfaction will be achieved. ITI has been in business in China continuously since 1986 and during that period we have built a history of successful transactions that include everything from fast food franchises to heavy machinery. ITI prides itself on having consulted with some of the largest corporations in the world. People come to companies such as ourselves and GSSI when they want to get things done in China”, said Mac Vogelei, COO of ITI Capital.

“The partnership with GSSI is an excellent fit as we complement each other nicely,” Vogelei continued. “At ITI we want to create opportunities and use our China network to develop export markets. GSSI has been successful in building demand and markets via the introduction of products from China. They grew up in the printing and paper business.”

“The global paper industry is huge and China Paper Holdings intends to become a significant player in this market. The mills we represent expect and are prepared to support a rapid introduction into the U.S. market. We will be locating sales offices throughout the U.S. in order to manage the regional demand for paper. With sales headquarters in New York City, we feel we are in the right place at the right time, with the right products,” Vendetti concluded.

GSSI Establishes China Paper Holdings LTD. Incorporated in China

GSSI and partner ITI Capital of Houston, Texas have announced they have incorporated China Paper Holdings, Ltd based in Beijing with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York for the purpose of exporting paper to the United States and elsewhere.

China Paper Holdings Limited is working with a number of large, independent Asian paper mills and will be exporting book, publication, commercial print, catalog, FSI grades, cut sheet for home and office use, as well as specialty grades.

“We have done a lot of research and development spanning back several years prior to deciding to move forward with the business. GSSI has collaborated with a number of Chinese paper mills in order to make grades of paper that meet or exceed US standards. We recognized early on that China is an emerging supply base that cannot be ignored. They possess the technical curiosity and the desire to invest in their paper business.” reported Thomas F. Vendetti, GSSI’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“There has not been a new, viable source of supply for the US market in a long time. Our US mills, and those of Canada and Europe have spent the last decade or more consolidating operations which has reduced the options for the paper buyer. This has created a vacuum of sorts. China, on the other hand, has been expanding paper supply as fast as possible. We believe that importing our paper from China will result in several positive scenarios for the publishing, commercial print and direct mail communities. It will give paper buyers a much needed alternative option of supply. It can serve to help stabilize market pricing, and it will be welcome relief to those buyers who have seen significant increases in their cost of print production and distribution,” Vendetti continued.

Paper grades currently available include groundwood as well as woodfree grades. Coated products, hi-bulk book sheets, LWC, cut size, as well as food grade specialty papers. All basis weights and calipers.

“We plan to support our client base with a warehouse / distribution program that will certainly expand as demand grows. Our relationships in China are deep and long-lasting which will allow us to approach the marketplace with confidence that client satisfaction will be achieved. Speaking for ITI, we have been in China continuously since 1986 and during that period we have built a history of successful transactions that include everything from fast food franchises to heavy machinery. ITI prides itself on having consulted with some of the largest corporations in the world. People come to companies such as ourselves and GSSI when they want to get things done in China”, said Mac Vogelei, COO of ITI Capital.

“Obviously, the global paper industry is huge and China Paper Holdings intends to become a significant player in this market. The mills we represent expect and are prepared to support a rapid introduction into the US market. We will be locating sales offices throughout the USA in order to manage the regional demand for paper. With sales headquarters in New York City, we feel we are in the right place at the right time with the right products,” Vendetti concluded.

Global Discoveries Announces Additional Glass-Making Capacity

MISSION VIEJO, CA - Global Discoveries, a leading wine accessories supplier based in California, has announced the installation of a third glass bottle manufacturing line in its Chinese factory. The factory’s state-of-the-art, German-made equipment is new to China and will increase the Global Discoveries factory’s monthly capacity by approximately 33 percent (6 million more bottles produced monthly).

In addition to announcing the factory’s new line, Global Discoveries is also announcing no price increases for the balance of 2006 and none for all of 2007.

This will be welcome news at a time when global glass manufacturers have announced price increases of up to 9 percent in the 4th quarter alone. For U.S. winemakers this translates to 13-15 percent higher glass costs when recently enacted fuel surcharges are added. The result could be as much as a $200 million increase in the cost of wine bottle for California winemakers alone.

“The American wine industry stands to save millions importing bottles from Asia,” said Jim Letzel, CEO of Global Discoveries. “And our pledge to hold prices will allow domestic winemakers to effectively budget for the coming year with a degree of confidence previously unknown.”

“For the most part winemakers are small businesses and a 15 percent increase in the cost of an indispensable commodity such as glass is devastating. Our increased capacity should bring some relief to the situation,” Letzel continued. “We are relatively new to the U.S. market, having entered in 2005, but we have learned enough to know that we make a bottle on par with other global manufacturers and will continue to invest in order to improve both our quality and service”.

The Wine Industry in California is a $16.5 billion business with over 532 million gallons made for consumption around the world according to the Wine Institute. This equates to over 2.6 billion bottles of wine made in the Golden State, the USA’s largest such area.

Global Discoveries is the one of the first firms to introduce American wineries to the cost-saving alternative of manufacturing glass bottles in Asia. If you are interested in speaking with Global Discoveries CEO Jim Letzel, or if you have any questions, please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or by e-mail at jevendetti@mygloablsourcing.com.

Global Discoveries Adds Scott Wille as Account Executive

MISSION VIEJO, CA - Global Discoveries, a Mission Viejo-based company, today announced that it has added Scott Wille as an account executive for the southern California region of its Wine Accessories Division.

Wille comes to Global Discoveries after a highly successful 20-year career in sales and sales management in the Text Box:

high-tech industry. In his new position Wille will concentrate on selling Global Discoveries line of glassware, manufactured at its factories in China, to West Coast wineries and vineyards.

“Global Discoveries realizes this will be a new industry for Scott but we are highly confident in both his abilities and the product line he is representing. Our factories in China are state of the art, applying technology and craftsmanship that typically cost consumers a great deal more,” said James Letzel, CEO of Global Discoveries. “We believe Scott Wille will be a valuable addition to the Global Discoveries team.”

Global Discoveries, a leading international sourcing and trading firm, was the one of the first firms to introduce American wineries to the cost-saving alternative of Asian-manufactured glass bottles and packaging materials.

The wine industry in California is a $16.5 billion business with over 532 million gallons being made for consumption around the world according to the Wine Institute. That comes to an equivalent of approximately 2.6 billion bottles of wine. When researching the U.S. wine industry, Global Discoveries observed that there was vast room for savings in the manufacturing and importation of wine bottles, currently being brought in from Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Please keep Global Discoveries’ information in your rolodex of resources for international business stories and visit the Global Discoveries web site, www.globaldiscoveries.net to find out more about the firm.

If you are interested in speaking with Global Discoveries CEO Jim Letzel, or if you have any questions, please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or by e-mail at jevendetti@hotmail.com.

Electric Scooter Offers Low-Cost Alternative for Urban Commuters

MISSION VIEJO, CA – High gas prices have an increasing number of American drivers turning to alternative, low-cost methods of transportation - including riding scooters. Electric scooters have long been popular in other countries that struggle with high gas prices and now more Americans are catching on.

Global Discoveries, a leading international sourcing and trading firm, recently introduced the US market to an electric scooter called the Eco Glide. The Eco Glide can travel up to 50 miles between recharges and reach speeds of 30 MPH.

“The concept for this product is a result of my recent experiences in Asia where I was wowed with the utilitarian value and overwhelming popularity of the scooter in nearly all major cities,” said Jim Letzel Global Discoveries’ president and CEO. “Clearly it holds a major place in the transportation scheme in Asia and Europe and we believe, with soaring gas prices and growing energy concerns, it will have equally tremendous appeal in the US as well”.

The Eco Glide comes equipped with two sets of batteries and two gears – the extra gear is for an added boost for uphill climbs and the extra set of batteries is designed for longer travel between charges. While Asian scooters are typically designed to hold less than 150 lbs., the Eco Glide was designed with a 1500cc motor to accommodate a heavier rider.

“Our factory has worked hard to develop and design a scooter with the American consumer in mind,” said Letzel. “While the Eco Glide is not recommended for highway-use, it is a perfect, low-cost driving alternative for urban commuters. We strongly believe that the Eco Glide is a smooth, economical and environmentally-friendly alternative to driving.”

“After extensive comparisons, Global Discoveries can confidently say that the Eco Glide is the best value on the market,” added Letzel. “The Eco Glide compares extremely favorably against the European, gas-powered models in regards to price. And in comparison to other Asian products the Eco Glide is the most well made, dependable scooter for under $1400.”

Global Discoveries continues to research and develop environmentally-friendly scooter products with lighter batteries and increased performance capabilities. For example, understanding that the US consumer may want more torque, Global Discoveries will soon launch an energy-conserving, gas-powered scooter named the Power Glide.

Currently the Eco Glide is for sale at CostCo.com and Global Discoveries is in talks with a variety of other major US distributors interested in carrying the scooter.

If you are interested in speaking with Global Discoveries President and CEO Jim Letzel, or if you have any questions, please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or by e-mail at jevendetti@hotmail.com.

It’s no secret that in the current global economy, China has become a major source of profitability for U.S. companies. U.S companies have setup nearly 50,000 outlets in China and continue to advance their interests in the Chinese market. Their total sales value in the year 2004 alone was more than 75 billion U.S. dollars.

Increasingly U.S. companies are recognizing the vast number of opportunities to improve financial performance by locating operations overseas. Companies exploring the business potential of China and other countries are met with a myriad of obstacles; including strong language and cultural barriers, strict trade and customs laws and a maze of bureaucracy in foreign government regulations.

Global Sourcing Solutions Inc.(GSSI), a leading international sourcing and trading company, has spent years building an intricate network of connections throughout China and other countries helping U.S. companies find new and innovative solutions to compete in the global marketplace.

As you may know, “GuanXi” is an important currency in China and other Asian countries, meaning that a strong, personal relationship must be formed before business can be conducted. GSSI has been able to develop a strong foundation of “GuanXi” with key Chinese organizations and central government officials.

While Asia is a main focus for GSSI and its clients, the firm’s network of suppliers, partners and in-country-managers are spread across the globe - opening doors for GSSI clients on five continents. GSSI’s experienced in-country-managers are local business experts that specialize in smoothing local logistics and helping clients to navigate through and unlock the potential of new markets.

GSSI is available to provide you and your readers with:
• Comments on the current international business climate
• Case studies on American companies successfully moving projects overseas
• Tips on how to cultivate international business relationships

Please keep GSSI’s information in your rolodex of resources for international business stories and visit the GSSI web site, www.myglobalsourcing.com to find out more about who GSSI is and what they do.

If you are interested in speaking with GSSI President and CEO Jim Letzel, or if you have any questions, please contact Jordan Vendetti at 571-243-1834 or by e-mail at jevendetti@hotmail.com.

GSSI Write-up on OCRegister.com : O.C. careers on the move [ click to read full article ]

SOURCING: Mission Viejo-based sourcing and trading company Global Sourcing Solutions Inc.announced the appointment of Ching Ching Tan as the firm's director of client and supplier services. The company will merge with Chinese-based media production firm TraxPower that Tan founded. Before founding the company, Tan was a radio talk show host in south China and a producer for five additional Chinese radio channels. She will work from the firm's office in Mission Viejo as well as in Shenzhen, China.

Continuing on a course to expand GSSI’s supplier network the company is pleased to to announce its association with the Thompson Group of Dehli, India. “We are currently running a small project with Thompson that has gone quite well”, reports Marti Briggs, GSSI’s Mid-Western Sales Director and the individual responsible for creating the relationship with Thompson.

“They are among the largest and most capable printer in India and we would not be more pleased than to begin a working relationship that encompasses a number of their services”, Briggs continued.

“India is an important part of the global printing community and GSSI could not afford to ignore it,” said James Letzel, GSSI’s CEO and President. “We would have worked in India previously and wanted a greater presence there. Thomson, along with our part association with the Star Paper Group, begins to build a network we will be consciously expanding on”.

Motive Marketing calls on GSSI for Glenlivet Seasonal Promotional Boxes into CostCo

MOTIVE, a Marketing Agency specializing in brand building and promotional marketing calls on GSSI for a Seasonal Promotional packaging project in CostCo for Glenlivet whiskey. The packaging is a specially designed wood box by Motive and GSSI is assisting them with development and overseas production. “Motive has their own in-house printer and usually deals with weekly turn-around timing, however, with projects that have longer planning and lead-time, they are looking at international sourcing and called on GSSI to handle the project,” notes GSSI VP of Marketing William Ting. “Prices from overseas are extremely compelling and when quality is compared with locally sourced packaging, quality actually exceeds previous local vendors.”

GSSI CEO James Letzel admits, “These projects really help us assess where we stand in the overall international scheme of things. Clients are mostly always concerned with overseas quality and each job we do, not only tests our theory, but proves that we are competitive in all three areas of major concerns – Price vs Quality vs Service.”

GSSI is proud to announce the signing of our newest arrival, Ching Ching Tan. Ms. Tan is originally from Guangzhou, China, and came from a media background as a radio personality host. In her previous work, she has interviewed many of the leading artists and officials of emerging China and has remained in contact with many of them. After several years of successful performance, Ching Ching founded TraxPower in 2000. TraxPower was her own radio show which was supported by advertising clients such as Coca-cola, Motorola, Pepsi, China Mobile and many others. Ching Ching was responsible for producing various programs for five national radio channels. She intends to incorporate her unique experience and fresh outlook to a company consistently striving for new and innovative ideas.

As a recent arrival to the United States, Ching Ching is determined to succeed as a “bridge” between the US and her mother country both culturally and entrepreneurially. She brings to GSSI a diversified customer / supplier portfolio as well as a fashionable eye.

As the new Director of Supplier / Client Relations, Ms. Tan is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, while in the stages of learning Italian. Her distinctive attributes and commitment to success will aid the company in one of its long term goals of becoming the preeminent international sourcing firm in the United States.

VP of Operations, William Ting returns back to GSSI Headquarters with new exciting news and opportunities. On this trip, the goal besides finding new opportunities, visiting new and existing factories and continuously building relationships, was to search for and qualifying new In-Country Managers (ICM’s). “We had identified several before the start of my trip and out of all the candidates, I am happy to say that we have confirmed two new In-Country Managers in the areas of Southern China and Northern China. This secures ICM’s in most areas of China for GSSI. This is exciting for us since GSSI needs to qualify each ICM to assure that quality products and services get delivered plus our ICM’s are in place in different areas to take care of any problems or issues that may arise. Our ICM’s need not only to be experts in sourcing, logistics and production follow up, they must also be resourceful enough so that if legal or customs issues arise, we are confident that they will tap their resources to get the problems resolved”, states VP of Operations, William Ting.

New opportunities brought back include exciting developments in areas of advertising in Chinese media, investments in companies which are building Chinese infrastructure for internet, securities, real estate and repatriation of currency. “This is the true wild-west happening in Asia and GSSI plans to be there to capitalize on these opportunities”, comments GSSI CEO, Jim Letzel. “Our philosophy of having a talent pool at the intersection of need and opportunity is really coming forth and sheds new light every time we travel and meet new people. New doors open up daily and our ICM’s are there to make sure we do not miss out on any new opportunities. These are very interesting times to be involved in global business and our contacts prove to be worthy of our challenges thus far.”

GSSI has plans to expand these and new relationships on up coming trips in July, August and September.

GSSI was selected from several candidates to supply the 2007 GM Portfolio binders. These binders are distributed to GM dealers around the globe and are used to merchandise interior and exterior paint colors for the new car models.

These books also contain swatches of actual material (leather or upholstery) used for the seats. They assist potential buyers to visualize the various options and allow them to customize their new GM auto from the comfort of the dealer's couch.

"General Motors has the largest network of dealerships in the world and these binders are a very important sales tool that each dealer depends on", explains Scott Miller, GSSI's Sales Executive. "GM is a demanding client and they feel very comfortable placing this project in our hands. They know we can provide the quality, deliver on time and most importantly, save them money. I'm proud to be a part of it."

GSSI is working with DCI Marketing in Milwaukee and will be making the GM Portfolio binders in China, utilizing their network of print partners and logistics professionals. "Given the highly competitive automobile industry and GM's long tradition of providing quality service and affordable pricing through their dealer network, we recognize the importance of this piece of business. We think the move to Asia also signals an understanding by yet another corporate giant that the cost platform available in Asia cannot be ignored in today's global economy," said Thomas F. Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GSSI.

GSSI is a leading sourcing and sales support company operating offices across the United States and strategic locations around the world.

Effective immediately Ms. Marti Briggs has been named Sales Director for the Midwest Region of GSSI. Briggs comes to GSSI from Fisher Scientific International where she was most recently a Commodity Manager with Fisher’s Strategic Sourcing group. She was responsible for the development and execution of a centralized print procurement process. Briggs’ career has focused on the catalog and direct mail industry working with companies such as Parsons Technology, Central Scientific Company, JC Whitney and Cole Parmer, and most recently, Fisher Scientific International. In her new assignment Briggs will have responsibility for developing GSSI’s Midwestern Region, and will focus on building the International Catalog business as well as having a key role in the Company’s paper initiative.

“This is a new approach for Marti”, said Jim Letzel, CEO of GSSI. “We are pleased she has chosen to join us after a distinguished career as a production director and buyer. Marti brings a perspective to the organization that is refreshing and welcome and we look forward to working with her as she builds a key area of our business.”

Briggs will report directly to Thomas F. Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GSSI. “Ms. Briggs has traveled extensively throughout the world in completion of her duties at other positions and brings a knowledge of global procurement that is vital to our success as a company. I’ve known Marti only a short time but I am impressed with her energy, intelligence and experience. She is going to be a force in the company,” said Vendetti.

GSSI a leading global Sourcing Company announced today that it has secured a contract to produce a large Instruments catalog in Hong Kong this summer. The catalog will be one of the largest ever printed by an Asian printer with over 2,000 pages of full color material. Over 800 tons of Chinese paper have been purchased and will be used after extensive testing by GSSI proved it to be of excellent quality. Simply to ship the paper to the printing plant will require the use of 40 containers.

Nearly a quarter of a million copies will be distributed to company agents in over 100 countries around the globe. “Timing is critical with a large project such as this one”, said James Letzel, President of GSSI. “The job will require fours drops and exact coordination so that distributors around the world receive the catalog at approximately the same time. There is a tremendous amount of new product being released and the client expects a large bump in sales which they have accounted for in terms of staffing and inventory. As we will be delivering to affiliates on nearly every continent, this is a complex task and one we are proud that the Client has confidence in us being able to fulfill.”

GSSI has had similar experience throughout its history. First with Chrysler, then Costco and others leading the client to choose GSSI to manage this effort.

“We fully expect to the Chinese paper we have sourced to reproduce the client’s artwork faithfully and we hope that this may lead to other such orders in the near future”, reported Letzel.

Cole Myers stores has selected Solution II as the preferred material for all their durable signage. The project was brought to GSSI by one of Australia’s largest label manufacturers, Labelmakers Group Pty, Ltd.

“Our client needed a substrate that would handle the drastic temperatures of a deli refrigeration unit without curling, buckling or being effected by condensation”, explained Jim Chatz, Director of Sales for Labelmakers. “Each individual store has the ability to laser image daily price offerings as well as a picture of the grocery item directly on the sign or shelf tag. The Solution II material gives each store the flexibility they need to run an efficient operation.”

After testing more than 10 different substrates, Cole Myers selected Solution II since it was the only “paper” to pass every test with flying colors. “Our friends in Australia were very impressed with the way we handled their order from a logistics standpoint as well”, commented Tom Vendetti, Senior VP Sales / Marketing for GSSI. “We shipped a portion via air freight to meet their press date and the balance went by boat into Melbourne. The coordination of a shipment like this takes a truly professional logistics staff and we certainly have one to boast about here at GSSI.”

Solution II is a tear-proof, water-proof, laser printable, paper substitute that is finding more and more uses in the retail environment.

Global Sourcing Solutions, Inc, a pioneer in looking at new markets to bring value to domestic businesses did it again. GSSI looked into the wine industry in the US and brainstormed to find better packaging and lower material costs to US based businesses, GSSI brought forth yet another first.

When we visited potential clients in vineyards for other opportunities, we found that there was large savings to be had in bottles for US wineries. “Our network of suppliers was a perfect fit for this market. During our visits, we found out that many people have tried to source bottles from Asia into the US without much success”, says VP of Operations, William Ting. “Perhaps it was the communication or just not finding the right factory who can manufacture a good quality bottle at an affordable price. The industry seems to stick to Mexico, Europe and Canada for their bottles and glassware”, continues Ting.

The first venture was in partnership to Hedges Family Estate, a highly respected vineyard in the State of Washington. www.hedgesfamilyestate.com

“This is our debut for importing bottles and proved to be a success and we believe that this was the first time a Chinese made wine bottle was exported to the USA. Presuming the product gives our friends at Hedges no problems and no one expects that they will, we plan to create a market for Chinese bottles in the United States”, says CEO and President James Letzel.

Letzel adds “Not only will we continue to develop new products from our global platform it is our goal to bring these new opportunities to businesses here in the US. We became interested in the wine industry because we are surrounded by it living in California. It is certainly one of the largest industries in California. We knew that we could import products at competitive prices that wineries needed and that the numbers could be staggering. Frankly, we did not know just how large this business has become.”

“The wine industry in California is a $16.5 billion business with over 532 million gallons being made for consumption around the world according to the Wine Institute. That comes to an equivalent of approximately 2.6 billion bottles of wine. This is an enormous total and when one adds in Washington, which produces the second greatest wine revenue of $3 billion, per the Washington Growers Association, and Oregon’s 310 vineyards – up from 47 twenty years ago the West Coast Wine Growers represent a huge business opportunity for GSSI,” Letzel concluded.

“Though not all wine is bottled, a large percentage is and bottling is clearly the preferred distribution vehicle. GSSI plans to place sales reps in or near each major growing area to provide on site and local support to the vineyards. The possibilities are very exciting,” said Ting in conclusion.

Global Sourcing Solutions, Inc, a leading trade and sourcing company based in Mission Viejo, California has announced the signing of an agreement with Costco Wholesale for the printing of Costco’s hugely successful series Cooking The Costco Way. Under the agreement GSSI will manage the print and distribution of the Book which will again be printed in Asia.

The 2006 Edition will be called Cooking with Style The Costco Way and will increase circulation to a record 1,750,000 books making it one of the largest cookbook productions of the year.

“We are not certain it is the largest cookbook run of 2006 and, of course, we are not printing that many without good reason. However, the series began with one million copies four years ago and we have been able to increase the quantity each year since,” said David Fuller, Publisher of the series. “The program, which delivers in a tight window in November, has exceeded expectations and is a favorite of both our supply partners and members.”

“Costco looks forward to working with GSSI again on the 2006 Edition. Our last production was smooth and efficient. GSSI managed all of the details and permitted my staff to concentrate on achieving the quality result we expected,” Fuller continued. “We would not have signed a new agreement with them if they did not have our complete confidence”.

“This is one of GSSI’s favorite projects of the year. Costco is a real pleasure to work with and the product itself is a beautiful printed piece. Anyone who thinks of themselves as a printer would be excited to be involved,” said Jim Letzel, GSSI’s President and CEO. “The organization really gets behind the cookbook from the early initial stages to logistics and final delivery. We all work to keep Costco a happy customer”.

GSSI, a leading global trade and sourcing company, based in Mission Viejo, California is pleased to announce the hiring of Ronald K. Baker as Eastern Regional Sales Director. Mr. Baker, most recently President of Edgewood Paper, brings over 25 years of experience in the paper, packaging and publishing industries. In his current assignment Baker will be responsible for developing the Eastern Region of GSSI but will also handle some accounts, with whom he is familiar, outside of this territory.

“Ron Baker is a man I have known for 25 years, reports Thomas F. Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “I respect him very much. He is an entrepreneurial individual with a great head for business and a sharp aptitude for spotting an opportunity. Ron is going to bring vitality to the East that we need. Given his history and experience we expect that he is going to lead us into many new and profitable associations.”

“Ron knows how to transact business. He has a successful track record in Asia and has worked in that geography for years. This local knowledge, when combines with his connections in the paper, publishing and packaging industries, is going to make him a potent contributor as we match Ron’s deal-making ability with our array of global suppliers,” said Vendetti.

Baker will be based in Philadelphia and can be reached at rbaker@myglobalsourcing.com.

It was announced today at GSSI headquarters in Mission Viejo, California that GSSI has entered into an agreement with Beijing based ITI China Holdings for the purpose of exporting paper from China. In the partnership GSSI will be responsible for sales and marketing the products while ITI will manage the paper sources of manufacture and distribution. The partnership intends to offer a variety of commercial grades of paper using mills in China that have not previously exported outside of that country.

“We regard ITI as an excellent partner with whom to develop this business. Their knowledge of the paper market in China is unparalleled and given their long history in the country we could not be more pleased to enter into this venture with them,” said James Letzel, GSSI’s President and CEO.

“ITI has been in China since it opened for business in 1978 and has put together some mega deals during its history. Their knowledge of how the Chinese government works does not come from some textbook. They have been there and learned by doing,” said Thomas F. Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “I know that this is a huge undertaking and appreciate the faith ITI has shown in GSSI and our ability to create outlets and markets for this abundant and new source of paper into the global market.”

“This deal could be a blockbuster for both sides,” reports G. Mac Vogelei, ITI’s Executive Vice President & COO. “Our people are very excited about the prospect of building this market and bringing some excellent quality paper to the world. Demand for LWC, newsprint and fine printing papers is growing in China and many major and important companies have set up joint ventures to exploit the China market. We believe that a true opportunity exists contrary to this strategy as global prices rise and our mills can maintain price levels for the foreseeable future.”

The operation in China will be managed by industry veteran James Yu. In the US interested merchants should contact Thomas Vendetti for additional information including availability and pricing.

James Letzel, GSSI CEO and President and Tom Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing recently spent 3 weeks in Asia visiting Clients, Suppliers, Prospects and local GSSI personnel. “The goal of the trip was to strengthen relations with our current supplier base as it had been several months since our last visit,” said Vendetti. “These companies are important to our continued success and we believe that solid relations with them are the cornerstone of our future”.

In addition to visiting suppliers, Letzel and Vendetti traveled to India to meet with Star Papers Company to consult on a project for one of India’s most highly regarded paper manufacturing companies. GSSI’s fine reputation as a product / market development consultant has spread to India where they spent four days with Star Papers, learning about the mill’s sales markets, presenting a plan for market development and process improvement, as well as visiting the paper mill itself. “GSSI prides itself on giving our clients a fair and honest assessment of the potential for success. We will not take an assignment that we do not believe in. Star Papers has an excellent reputation in their domestic market and certainly has the drive and ability to export into other Asian markets. We plan on helping them achieve this goal,” said Vendetti. [ click to read full story ]

GSSI has been improving our Website to be more interactive. “As we are always on the look out for talented people, the new Career Section will allow people to see at any time what GSSI is in the market for. Building on the foundation of our accomplished team, we are expanding fast enough to fill more positions and bring forth new opportunities for people who are interested in GSSI’s philosophy of being at the juncture of need and opportunity”, explains newly appointed Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, Tom Vendetti. Come and click on the new Career Section to find out if there is a good fit for you!!

GSSI’s Board of Directors has named Thomas Vendetti, currently Vice President of New Business Development, as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this newly created position Mr. Vendetti will be responsible for all direct and independent sales representatives and for the global branding and marketing of GSSI and its subsidiary companies. “Tom has been with GSSI from Day One and has been the driving force behind our sales growth”, said James Letzel, GSSI’s President. “This move is designed to give Tom more access to the Company’s sales strategy and to work with sales people across the country. His experience and knowledge of the Company and our clients will be of huge benefit to GSSI and we are excited about the synergy we intend to create by moving Marketing under his direction as well.”

Mr. Vendetti will be actively recruiting Sales Representatives in certain strategic geographies throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Those openings are also posted on the career section of GSSI’s website.

GSSI’s Board of Directors met yesterday at the company’s headquarters in Mission Viejo, CA and has elected Mr. William Ting as a Partner. Ting, currently Director of Marketing and Sourcing, is promoted to Vice President of Operations. In this role Ting is responsible for expanding our Global Sourcing organization throughout and beyond Asia and manage the Logistics, Customer Service, and Marketing groups to execute the strategies as developed by Tom Vendetti, Senior Vice President of GSSI.

“As partner, William will have a larger role in shaping the future direction of the company. He has proven to be an able and effective leader and his election to Partner is very deserving. Will is largely responsible for improving our reach in Asia and I, and the rest of the Directors, am confident in his ability to continue that work in other areas of the world,” said James Letzel, President of GSSI. “We fully intend to grow our roster of In Country Managers, Suppliers and capabilities over the near term and believe we have the right man in William Ting. Given that he is fluent in three languages and is working on a fourth, William is a most effective communicator of our global aspirations”.