FROM SOURCE TO SHELF: 5 HORIZONS GROUP HELPS COMPANIES IMPROVE U.S.-CHINA BUSINESS DEALINGS

November 10, 2008

Whether sourcing coffee mugs in Ningbo, inspecting furniture in Tianjin, or arranging an ocean shipment out of Shanghai, 5 Horizons Group, LLC helps consumer and industrial product companies source, produce, and deliver from China to their customer.

5 Horizons Group’s managing partners, Kevin Lehrer and Jonathan Allen, have designed a company that provides solutions aimed at helping their clients succeed overseas. The 5 Horizons Group team, based in St. Louis with an office in Shenzhen, China, offers a range of services that include: (1) Sourcing; (2) Production Management and Quality-Control; (3) Asia Office Procurement and Staffing; (4) Freight-Brokerage; and (5) Supply-Chain and Distribution Strategy.

Lehrer, who launched the company in 2007, explains: “The services we provide are currently only attainable one of two ways. The first includes hiring a robust staff to handle the operations. While the large overhead cost may be suitable for a large business, it is often not financially viable for small to mid-size companies. Alternatively, companies can work with a variety of outside providers. The ‘a la carte’ strategy, however, involves juggling multiple service providers, account representatives, cost structures, and invoices. Our business model works well because we are able to manage our client’s business based on a holistic understanding of their needs rather than through a limited lens."

While 5 Horizons Group’s approach to consolidating services is a stand-out in the industry, it is actually Lehrer and Allen's unique structure that offers their clients a value-added edge: Lehrer runs the U.S. office in St. Louis, MO, and Allen runs the China operation out of Shenzhen, China, a bastion of industry and commerce.

Allen, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native, who has spent the better part of the last decade working and living in China, adds: “We believe that a dual-management structure on both sides of the ocean provides our clients with a comfort level that is typically difficult to achieve in U.S.-China business dealings. Many companies do not want to invest the time or money in a full-time, permanent presence in China. At the same time, most of our clients have successful businesses with great product and established distribution. Unless they have someone providing them with eyes, ears, and advocacy, they expose themselves to tremendous risk.”

Gary Roaminik, president of Clearstream Imports, a furniture parts manufacturer explains the benefit his company received working with 5 Horizons Group: “During our company’s initial growth, we quickly realized that we lacked a true presence in Asia to manage our partnerships, production, and quality. Additionally, we sought to minimize our overhead expenses by outsourcing our logistics management. 5 Horizons helped us to double our import containers, increase customer satisfaction, improve relationships with our suppliers, and increase our product line without the addition of a single employee. They have a keen understanding of the U.S.-China manufacturing model, and provided our company with great insight and solutions for developing a long-term China strategy.”

In addition to providing sourcing, QC, and logistics services, 5 Horizons Group works closely with both the U.S. client and supplier to help create, as Lehrer calls it, 'a meeting of the minds.' "We make it very clear to the suppliers that we are working on the behalf of our U.S. clients. At the same time, we are in a unique position to help our clients understand some of the issues from the vendor's perspective. It is rarely a matter of who is right or who is wrong, but more about aligning both parties interests and expectations. While our model is built around the core services that we provide, our mission is to improve our client’s business by enhancing its relationship with its suppliers and by supporting a focus on upfront strategic planning. In doing so, we are confident that our clients are well positioned for long-term success in China.”

Contact: Kevin Lehrer, Phone: 314-272-4366, Email: kevin.lehrer@5horizonsgroup.com