US Wholesaler, Mears Floral Products, Chooses World Commerce Online as Technology Partner

Business Wire, Oct 3, 2000

Business Editors

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2000

World Commerce Online, Inc. (OTCBB:WCOL), a leader in global business-to-business electronic commerce solutions for the perishables products industries, signed an agreement with Mears Floral Products, a Springfield, Missouri based wholesaler. The agreement states World Commerce Online will implement branded technology solutions allowing Mears to conduct secure trading over the World Wide Web.

World Commerce Online's Branded Trading Communities provide businesses an e-commerce solution where they can trade under their own name and logo while enjoying the benefit of a trading engine designed specifically for the floral industry. World Commerce Online's experience in building these platforms enables online trading much sooner, and at a lower cost than developing an e-commerce solution from scratch. These easy to use, secure, e-commerce tools will facilitate a new generation of online business strategies all while maintaining a businesses' unique market recognition.

Dave Mears comments, "Mears Floral Products chose to work with World Commerce Online because we felt they offered the best solution to e-commerce business and the development of a high quality website."

About Mears

Founded in Springfield Missouri in 1949, Mears Floral Products offered local retailers fresh flowers from California daily. In 1981 Dave Mears, assumed ownership and direction of the company. In October 1998, the company added a five thousand square foot state-of-the-art cooler and a ten thousand square foot supply warehouse. Over the years, Mears Floral Products has prided itself on being a leader in market trends, both in fresh flowers and supplies. Buyers from the company make regular trips to Columbia and Ecuador and have developed strong relationships with growers in those countries. In the supply department, importing is done from the Orient on silk flowers, baskets and Christmas merchandise. For our customers, this means the availability of the freshest possible product and latest trends in the industry.

Mears Floral Products is a member of the Society of American Florists (SAF), Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America (WF&FSA), and the state associations in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. In 1995, the company received the Small Business of the Year Award from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and was the runner-up for the SBA Small Business Award for the western Missouri region.

About World Commerce Online

Founded in 1994, World Commerce Online (OTCBB:WCOL) is a technology company that enables businesses in the perishable products industry with e-commerce technology solutions. With its Global and Private Trading Solutions, World Commerce Online provides its customers with control over sensitive business information, access to global markets all while providing maximum security and data integrity. World Commerce Online currently offers Floraplex, the B2B e-commerce solution for the estimated $150 billion worldwide floriculture industry, and ProduceOnline.com for the estimated $550 billion worldwide produce industry. World Commerce Online maintains offices in Florida, California, Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Israel, Kenya, and France. For more information about WCO and its business-to-business e-commerce solutions, visit our corporate web site: www.wconet.com.

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 sales and marketing strategies (iv) Competition within the e-commerce internet market (v) The ability of the Company to continue to finance its long-term strategy and expansion (vi) The ability of the Company to motivate and retain the services of its key personnel and hire additional qualified personnel to meet evolving staffing needs.