Floraplex Begins Real-Time Trading Today

Business Wire, May 14, 1999

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1999--

World Commerce Online, Inc. (OTC BB:WCOL), using its Global Commercial Network technology to develop Floraplex(TM)(www.floraplex.com), announced today that its pilot group of floral industry members will begin real-time floral transactions using Floraplex(TM) on Friday, May 14th.

Floraplex(TM) has been in a training and system modification pilot phase since mid-February. The pilot group participants include 35 of the top U.S. wholesale florists with over $750 million in annual sales, 6 upper tier Miami importers, leading European exporters, and top growers from South America.

Bob Shaw, CEO and Chairman of World Commerce Online, Inc., said, "World Commerce Online has dedicated all efforts to this day, we are attaining our goal of bringing e-commerce to an entire perishables industry. Floraplex's(TM) model will guide our efforts in becoming the leader in secure global e-commerce solutions for industries, associations, governments, and private business."

A variety of Floral Industry professionals from all parts of the U.S. will be part of the initial day of trading. Growers, importers and wholesalers will transact business electronically via Floraplex(TM); even growers from as far away as South America will be included in the trading as well.

Keith Money, Executive Vice-President of Sales and Marketing said, "Today's trading is a culmination of nearly 4 years of hard work and the beginning of the future of global trading in perishable products. Floraplex(TM) is the first business to business e-commerce model that serves every segment of an industry world-wide."

Members invited to participate in this historic day of real time trading on Floraplex(TM) include: Elite Farms of Miami, Florida, a leading importer of Colombian, Ecuadorian, and other Latin American flowers; Flortec of Quito, Colombia, one of the largest sellers of baby's breath, snapdragons and other specialty flowers; William F. Puckett, Inc. of Barberville, Florida is one of the nations leading growers of ferns and other greens; Bill Suyeyasu Wholesale Florist of Fremont, California, one of the largest floral distributors in northern California; Delaware Valley Wholesale Florists of Sewell, New Jersey is the largest U.S. wholesale florist under one roof; West Michigan Floral of Grand Rapids, Michigan is the floral industries largest wholesale bouquet provider in the Midwest; Mears Floral Products of Springfield, Missouri, they have become the hub for fresh cut flowers, greens, and hard goods in the mid-west; Dillon Floral Corporation of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the number one rose grower in the state; and Kennicott Bothers of Chicago, Illinois has been a top wholesaler for 120 years.

Floraplex(TM) is the floral industry's only secure global Internet e-commerce business to business and business to consumer trading and communications network. Floraplex(TM) features industry news stories, educational forums, e-mail, chat rooms, video conferencing, floral libraries, care and handling tips, and new product features.

Floraplex(TM) incorporates a payment financing system that delivers payment within 48 hours of product receipt, while allowing the buyer to maintain the 30-45 day terms he is currently accustomed. Eliance, provider of e-commerce payment solutions and current strategic partner with World Commerce Online Inc., lends its eSourcing(TM) technology to facilitate the Floraplex(TM) banking system.

World Commerce Online, Inc., founded in 1996, uses its technology to create Global Commercial Networks and Trading Systems. Floraplex(TM) is the first of these systems.

World Commerce Online, Inc. also develops Private Commercial Networks providing secure e-commerce and communications for individual companies, municipalities, institutions and associations.

This release is intended as a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance development and results of the Company's business include but are not limited to (i) The ability to provide e-commerce technology in the future, (ii) Unexpected changes in the e-commerce/internet market, (iii) The success of the Company's expansion and marketing strategies (iv) Competition within the e-commerce internet market (v) The ability of the Company to motivate and retain the services of its key personnel and hire additional qualified personnel to meet evolving staffing.