After securing a £200K investment, Sourcing Playground is set to go from innovative Bournemouth-based start-up to powerful market disruptor with potential to revolutionise an archaic industry.

Anyone who has started out on their own knows that a new business is rarely an overnight success, or even within its first two years. Let alone being able to disrupt an untapped, lucrative market.

However, Heather Williams and Fred Russias have proved that through diligence, networking and a great knowledge of the target market, a lot can happen in less than a year. Within that time, they have successfully secured a £200K investment, gained a worldwide user base of 1,200 and are already helping hundreds of businesses make faster global trading and sourcing inquiries.

And now, they are set to re-launch their online platform, which will change global trading and supplier sourcing as we know it. Its name: Sourcing Playground.

The platform connects with global factories, empowering buyers to make better sourcing decisions by linking them with suppliers all over the world. This not only improves the efficiency of the industry, but also gives it structure, transparency and trust. The buyers can compare suppliers’ credentials and reputations in just a few clicks, rather than contact each one individually.

Sourcing Playground has nearly £3 million-worth of export opportunities currently listed on its existing platform. As such, it has stated its intention to take advantage of the tense international trade climate, such as the rise of manufacturing in India and the US-China Trade Wars.

CEO and co-founder Heather Williams explains that, “the aim of the company is to be the go-to place for sourcing whilst improving industry standards of manufacturing. Sure, you have the likes of Alibaba who focus on Chinese e-commerce and Asian market however many buyers are looking to source from other manufacturing territories like the India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Poland, the US, the UK, Turkey, and so on’.

“But the sheer size of Alibaba means that it is incredibly difficult to sift through the online marketplace to find a quality, reliable supplier. Many people are losing trust with the platform as it is difficult to check a supplier’s credibility and quality and buyers are not willing to take the risk.”

Continuing, she says, “The global trading industry is ripe for disruption. Sourcing Playground helps to not only compare global suppliers but to make it easier to work with compliant, sustainable and ethical manufacturers. In turn improving the quality of the suppliers that buyers work with.

“We become an integral part of the whole supply chain from start to finish, adding value by saving time, providing additional security, choices, education and guidance.”

The full, improved Sourcing Playground platform is now live, ready for buyers due for re-launch next month; buyers and suppliers alike are urged to express their interest without delay.