NHT Global Begins Pre-Registration for the People's Republic of China Market
More Than 10,000 Preferred Service Customers Registered to Date
DALLAS, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/24/07 -- Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ: BHIP) today announced it has begun pre-registering new customers interested in purchasing its products for personal consumption in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). Since pre-registration became available online on April 9, 2007, more than 10,000 customers have pre-registered.
The Company's PRC organization, legally incorporated in China as NHT Global (China) Commodities Co., Ltd., will operate on an e-commerce retail platform that is separate and distinct from the worldwide platform for NHT Global. Those registrants pre-registering for the PRC market will be referred to as Preferred Service Customers and will receive discounts based on volume purchases of NHT Global (China) products for personal consumption. The platform, created specifically for the PRC market, is designed to be in compliance with changing laws and regulations in China.
"Due to the Chinese New Year holidays and the shareholders' action in February, sales in the first quarter were slow and we anticipated a slower build-up. The enrollment in these first few days has exceeded our expectation, especially as we just came off a slow first quarter. We are tremendously pleased with the fervor and excitement around this pre-registration period as PRC residents have quickly signed up to receive the great discounts and amazing products we will be offering in the upcoming months," said Curtis Broome, Worldwide President of NHT Global. "There is a strong demand in this market for high-quality, immediate-impact products and we're excited to be on the brink of officially launching operations in the Chinese market."
The Greater China market is currently the Company's most important business development project. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, approximately 58 percent, 64 percent and 70 percent of the Company's revenue, respectively, was generated through Hong Kong and Taiwan.
"This market represents great opportunity for us as an organization," continued Mr. Broome. "We have already made a substantial financial commitment to the Greater China market as a whole and the PRC market specifically, and we're committed to making this launch and this market a success for our new Preferred Service Customers and our stockholders."
NHT Global anticipates the official launch to occur by the end of the second quarter of 2007. At that time and over the months ahead, it is the Company's plan to give Preferred Service Customers access to purchase new skincare, lifestyle and health and wellness products for personal consumption not previously included in the NHT Global product portfolio. Additional information on the China-specific product portfolio will be available in the upcoming weeks.
PRC residents interested in pre-registering can visit www.nhtglobal.com.cn.
About Natural Health Trends Corp.
Natural Health Trends Corp. is an international direct-selling and e-commerce company operating through its subsidiaries in 15 countries throughout Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America. The Company markets premium quality personal care products under the NHT Global (formerly Lexxus International) brand. Additional information can be found on the Company's Website, and management encourages interested parties to register for updated corporate information via e-mail on the Company's homepage, www.naturalhealthtrendscorp.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the terms of the proposed private placement financing and whether or not it will be completed, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.
Contact: Chris Sharng Natural Health Trends Corporation (972) 241-4080
Released April 24, 2007