WholesaleCentral.com, the top-ranked business-to-business directory for general merchandise buyers, distributors, importers and manufacturers, was recently certified PCI Compliant, strengthening its position as the industry leader.

PCI Compliance is a set of 12 specific, industry-wide standards required by payment card companies that dictates how merchants store and access credit card data. The purpose of these standards is to protect all credit card transactions from theft, and to keep the credit card data safe and secure. It's backed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which includes major credit card brands Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.

Members who utilize the Wholesale Central storefront are also included in this valuable security certification. The site's 1400 plus registered suppliers and over half million unique monthly visitors now have the advantage of being fully confident that their credit card data is managed in a secure environment that meets the industry's highest standards.

"We now display the 'Security Metrics Credit Card Safe' logo on every page of our clients' storefronts, as well as on WholesaleCentral.com," said Scott Sumner, president and CEO of Sumner Communications, parent company of Wholesale Central. "Our members benefit from this trusted symbol because customers will know that these sites are 'Credit Card Safe,' making them more likely to complete their purchases. This security milestone further cements Wholesale Central's position above other Internet directories."

About the Companies: More than one million buying sessions are initiated on
 WholesaleCentral.com each month, placing the fourteen-year-old directory squarely at the top of its class. WholesaleCentral.com is independently ranked among the 4,600 most visited Websites in America by ALEXA.COM.

Based in Bethel, CT, Sumner Communications is the leading publisher of magazines, directories and Websites for the general merchandise trade; the company has been serving the wholesale merchandise industry since 1988. With its multiple websites, as well as monthly and annual print titles, Sumner reaches more than five million independent retailers, eBayers, drop shippers, flea market and swap meet vendors, and middle and mass merchant buyers of wholesale merchandise, in virtually every wholesale merchandise product category.

For more information, e-mail Amber Lautier at
 amber@sumnercom.com or call 800-999-8281 ext. 126