SAN DIEGO – July 21, 2008 – On July 1, 2008, Trade Service launched the beta release of its much anticipated Supplier Xchange network to selected electrical distributors and electrical contractors. Supplier Xchange enables Trade Service’s 20,000 electrical contractor desktops using its TRA-SER software to electronically submit material lists to their preferred suppliers and the network automatically populates and returns these lists with appropriate pricing from their selected distributor.  The service is free to both distributors and contractors that are Trade Service customers.
 
IMARK HQ staff and several IMARK distributor members consulted with Trade Service to ensure that the service meets the needs of the electrical distributor community.  Based directly on these consultations, a number of important changes to Supplier Xchange were made.  These changes have been included in the beta release of the Supplier Xchange network and promise to improve the value to the electrical distributor.  Dozens of electrical distributors (including 14 IMARK members) representing over a thousand branch locations have already committed to participate in Supplier Xchange.
 
"Trade Service was very pleased to have the input of both the IMARK HQ staff as well as many of its members as we developed the Supplier Xchange network.  75% of the IMARK members already subscribe to the Trade Service updating service, and represent an important focus for us within our customer base.  We are confident that by meeting the specific needs of the IMARK distributor, the network will offer tremendous value to the entire electrical supply chain," says Robert Stone, Director of Business Development for Trade Service.
 
"When we saw the demonstration of the Supplier Xchange service we knew immediately that our company would want access to this impressive technology for partnering with electrical contractors using TRA-SER.  Contractors are a huge part of our customer base and gaining electronic access to Trade Service’s vast customer base of contractors simply helps us to compete more effectively," says Jeff Corrick, VP at Stoneway Electric Supply, an IMARK member. 

IMARK members can receive more information including a personalized demonstration of the Supplier Xchange network by contacting:
 
Mary Melton
Trade Service Sales
(858) 521-1554
mary_melton@tradeservice.com

About Trade Service™
Trade Service is the leading provider of standardized product and price information to the electrical, plumbing/PVF, HVACR, industrial MRO, and office products industries. Since 1931, the company has been the leader in content acquisition, aggregation, management, publishing, and distribution, offering a variety of products, services, and systems to meet the content needs of over 21,000 distributors, contractors, and government agencies.  The range of solutions provided includes printed directories, electronic catalogs, pricing data for business system updating, and robust attributed content to fuel full-functioning Internet storefronts.  For more information, visit www.tradeservice.com.