ECI2 Completes Sale of Online Office Supplies Company to Office Source.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2001

eCommerce Industries Inc.(tm) (ECI2), the leader in information technology solutions to the office products and adjacent industries such as janitorial, industrial, and I.T. consumables, today announced the completion of the sale of its subsidiary, Online Office Supplies Company (OOSC), to Office Source of Gaithersburg, MD. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ECI2's legacy as the premier technology solution provider to the office products industry began with the launch of onlineofficesupplies.com, the first pure-play office products website, in August 1998. "We recognized the competitive landscape for 'virtual only' dealers in the office products space was vacant and created one of the most successful Internet sites for the sale of office supplies," said Paula Jagemann, ECI2's founder and president. "However, we quickly identified the opportunity to license our award winning technology to traditional office products resellers. This realization changed the focus for ECI2 from a direct marketer of office products into a software firm specializing in the office products industry - the sale of OOSC solidifies that commitment to our dealer community."

ECI2 received other offers for OOSC, but made the conscious decision to find a local acquirer so that the sale would include employment opportunities for OOSC's employee base. "We wanted to find someone with the same aggressive, entrepreneurial drive that OOSC's employees thrived in so that the new workplace would provide a similar, challenging work environment," said John Sidgmore, chairman of ECI2. "Scott Lubore, founder of Office Source, is such an individual. He has created a fast growing company, with a 25,000 square foot distribution facility, that stands poised to attack the local market while offering our employees the same family atmosphere that our culture demanded."

"OOSC has made tremendous strides since its inception only two and a half years ago," said Scott Lubore, CEO of Office Source. "It was one of the nation's fastest growing office products dealers, with a low customer return rate. We view OOSC as the racecar body and we are providing the 800hp engine to win the race. The two companies together will always be right there at the finish line. We have utilized DDMS, an ECI2 company, for many years. Now with its support and the Dealer Station(TM) product we will offer a complete front-to-back end solution offering real-time data to the customer. We had already begun to focus on our e-business platforms and now with the integration of OOSC we have a significant lead over our competitors in the e-commerce world. We now have the ability to handle any e-commerce solution that customers may throw our way. It's certainly not easy in today's highly competitive marketplace, but obviously, we're succeeding. We are totally committed to providing our customers with 100 percent satisfaction and are happy to welcome the OOSC employees and customers into our family."

About ECI2

eCommerce Industries, Inc. (ECI2) is the leading provider of information technology solutions to the office products industry and adjacent industries, including the industrial paper/janitorial and sanitation marketplace. Through the development and application of leading edge e-commerce technologies, the company is changing how office products are bought and sold. ECI2 is the premier developer of Web-based storefronts, related e-commerce technology and business systems for independent office products dealers. A total of approximately 2,300 independent dealers use the company's systems software. ECI2 owns and operates the office product industry's first neutral digital supplier network, OPDX(tm). ECI2, established in 1999, is privately held, is based in Vienna, Virginia and sells its products and services via a direct sales force. Paula Jagemann is the company's founder and president. John Sidgmore serves as ECI2's Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of WorldCom (NASD: WCOM). For more information, visit www.eci2.com, call 888-499-ECI2, or send email to [e-mail].

About Office Source, Inc.

Founded in late 1997, as a woman owned small business, Office Source, Inc. (OSI) has grown into a $28M office products dealership in 4 short years. The unique combination of personalized customer service, significant operational expertise, and a large emphasis on web-based procurement technologies, including real-time web-based customer service OSI is successfully competing with the largest business products dealers. Offering next day nationwide delivery, competitive pricing and customized procurement management solutions, OSI is a highly competitive force in the local and national marketplace. OSI is based in Gaithersburg, MD and is privately held. For more information, visit www.officesource.net, or send email to [e-mail].