Tradegood, a B2B Sourcing Community Enabled by Intertek, Launches at SOURCING at MAGIC

21 Aug 2012

Provides the Apparel and Footwear Industry with a Total Solution for Global Sourcing
Las Vegas– Tradegood, a B2B sourcing community enabled by Intertek that connects responsible buyers with trusted suppliers across more than 100 countries, was launched at SOURCING at MAGIC today. Tradegood gives apparel and footwear buyers the confidence of knowing who the participants in their supply chain really are, through the "Business done right" verification process that is underpinned by Intertek's more than 127 years' experience across the supply chain.

For fashion retailers in today's hyper-competitive global apparel market, finding the right supplier can mean the difference between turning a profit and reporting a loss. Tradegood evaluates suppliers on more than 50 separate criteria, including operational history, employee numbers, regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability. With Tradegood, buyers are able to make informed partnership decisions with unprecedented efficiency.

The global supply chain is an area of vulnerability for many businesses. The only way to ensure that your suppliers align with your corporate values as well as with social, environmental, security, safety and quality standards is to know that you are dealing with real companies, real people, with real products and services. Your corporate reputation and bottom line depend on knowing who you are doing business with," said William Quilindo, President, Tradegood. "Tradegood connects you with the right suppliers that are authenticated, providing the compatibility and transparency that are often lacking in the global supply chain."

Tradegood is the sourcing tool trusted by some of the world's largest brands, as well as prominent buyer and supplier groups including the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA), and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

"The U.S. apparel and footwear industry places a high priority on supply chain visibility," said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke.  "Tradegood is a new tool aimed at promoting better informed sourcing decisions and will help bring greater transparency and accountability to our industry's complex global supply chain.  We are so pleased to offer AAFA members access to this valuable tool."

"As the importance of social compliance continues to increase, fashion and apparel manufacturers are facing increasing pressure from retailers and companies who want to verify good working practices in their supply chain," said Avedis Seferian, President and CEO of WRAP. "With Tradegood, suppliers can prove they are responsible and trusted players in the industry."

Also at SOURCING at MAGIC, Tradegood launched Trade Café, a physical place for buyers and suppliers to meet. Over the coming months Trade Café, will expand to locations in New York, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Trade Café will also be equipped with the best-in-class video conference facilities for business matching activities, helping buyers to find their compatible suppliers and make better connections anywhere, anytime.

About Tradegood

Tradegood is a B2B sourcing community that connects responsible buyers with trusted suppliers. By verifying suppliers' identities, capacity, capabilities and compliance performance, Tradegood provides buyers with the information they need to choose the right people and organizations to form their global supply chain. For suppliers, Tradegood opens the door to the world's biggest markets through leading brands, retailers and industry relationships. Backed by Intertek's more than 127 years of experience in inspection and verification across the supply chain ecosystem, Tradegood's global network spans more than 100 countries, providing quality information to help companies do business right. For more information, visit: www.iTradegood.com

About Intertek

Intertek (www.intertek.com) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 33,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.

Media contact:

Shelly Lo, Marketing supervisor, Intertek Consumer Goods Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3760 6384
shelly.lo@intertek.com