***********************************************
I am a photographer and my husband is a builder... having a trade makes it so you can get things (mostly services) you couldn't afford other wise... I trade with resturants, and babysitters, landscapers you name it everyone here does it! WIth having more time and not as much money it is a good choice for most on-island people here! Mai Norton
***********************************************
Yes, I have bartered/traded our coin-op kiddie rides for a vacation, an RV, and even as a part of a real estate transaction. Damon Carson, Kiddie Rides USA
***********************************************
I'm the owner of a small soapmaking business (www.SudsNSuch.etsy) and I barter my soaps for other goods all the time! My most recent acquisition a beautiful apron. Last year I traded for about half my Christmas gifts and I plan to do the same this year. I've traded for baked goods, jewelry, mineral makeup, purses, coffee cozies, hairclips, etc. Angie Barrett www.SudsNSuch.etsy.com
***********************************************
My main experience with bartering comes from having bartered away nearly $20k in costs for our wedding. I traded my time/skills for everything from my wedding dress, to a photo booth, discounts on shuttle services, free wedding rings, and more. Most of the time I traded marketing consulting on my popular wedding blog.
We didn't have a lot of savings to help finance our wedding, but I was fiercely determined to find a creative way to help fund the wedding of our dreams, and it worked! So well, in fact, that my blog has grown into quite an enterprise and I just launched a new site that grew organically out of my experience. Bride$hare is a social networking/wedding planning site that facilitates the matching of likely brides to share/swap/sell extraneous wedding items, in an effort to help them both save more green and be more green!
These days, everyone has a service to offer, and/or needs help but can't finance it. Bartering is the new buzz in the recession, and I think its bound to pick up even more steam before we come out of this tough time.
I'm so glad that I used bartering. It helped us create a wedding so memorable that our guests can't stop talking about it, and it helped me launch a business! Dana LaRue
Visit The Broke-Ass Bride! www.thebrokeassbride.com
***********************************************
I’m a web developer and have done bartering for several goods and services.
One of my clients is We Take the Cake (www.wetakethecake.com) I routinely use their cakes as client gifts and we barter for some of the work I do for them.
A new client of mine is an organic farmer, we are currently working on an ecommerce site for him. I’m exchanging a season’s worth of vegetables and a garden set up at my house (includes bed preparation, irrigation installation, etc). In addition I will be paid for the remaining balance of the cost of developing the website.
The third barter I’m doing is with Lil’ Miss Diva (www.shoplilmissdiva.com). I’m in the works of redeveloping her shopping cart with a new backend. Part of the price is being paid for with clothing for my daughter.
Rachael Bender, Bender Consulting
***********************************************
I own my own business and on occasion, I do barter or exchange for goods or services.
Most recently, I ran stickers for a tattoo shop and we're exchanging for ink. Mike Samson, Twisted Sticker,
www.twistedsticker.com
***********************************************
As a small business owner, I find cash flow a constant challenge, as I’m sure all of us do. Nearly a year ago, I joined an organized barter association known as Florida Barter. Since then, I have used my barter dollars to buy new wall-to-wall carpeting (and installation), new ceramic tile, gifts and home repairs. With more than 1600 members, Florida Barter is the largest independent organized barter organization on the entire U.S. east coast. I have acquired new clients through my membership and yes, I’ve even been hired by the company to handle their public relations! Lynn Fleeger, President, Spectrum Public Relations
***********************************************
I am involved in a number of different activities. One of the things we do is build websites. My daughter joined a volleyball club and the director of the club mentioned they needed a new website. We built their website http://www.sanmateostarlings.org and basically presented it to her for free. This allowed the director to basically waive my daughter's fees. Not only that but within a couple of weeks, she had paid us to do her own personal business website as well as referred us on to a business referral group that she belongs to. A couple of members requested quotes and one already contracted us to do his site and there are still a couple of potential jobs coming. So within two months of volunteering as the volleyball club's webmaster extraordinaire, I reduced my daughters activities fees and got two new clients for it. Pro-bono work or barter for activities fees can be a win/win for both parties.
Tania Sole, www.physyko.net Write-It-Right: A Guide for the Human Repair Dealer
***********************************************
Two of my clients-- the Chicago Dental Soeciety and the -llinois Podiatric Medical Assn., have members who actively participate in bartering for dental and foot care services. Chris Martin, Chris Martin Public Relations
***********************************************
I've been an avid barterer as long as I can remember. I've bartered my writing and marketing services (or sometimes other forms of time) for
* massage and other bodywork
* office organization
* free admission to cultural events and attractions
* and my big prize, a genuine 100% wool hand-woven Persian rug worth several thousand dollars.
Shel Horowitz, Author, 7 books.
www.frugalmarketing.com, www.frugalfun.com
***********************************************
You bet your bottom dollar I barter.. and it's the BEST!
My recent barter is housecleaning/organizing services for my promotion services. My housekeeper has invented 3 products that we want to sell to the health care market to help sanitize the bathroom. We are working on getting me in a good place.. so I can be ultra effective. She has said..
and it's true.. that we need each other.. and we're starting on me b/c if I'm not organized, my energy is drained.. and I can't promote HER. So we're BOTH so happy with this arrangement!
Another barter - I got a guitar for my son and I'm representing my friends' husband as an ARTIST. I'm bringing him around town presenting his work.. and she gave me a guitar to get me something.. AND... she taught me how to modge podge my light switches so they're super cute.
I've bartered for lawn services - for marketing- Craigs List has a section for bartering.
Mary Gardner, Lifestyles Communications, Inc.
***********************************************
Actually a few weeks ago one of the people I barter with was in the journal news in a local story about bartering. I just got a mention because the story was about her, ( I set her up with someone to barter with) but I do, do a lot of bartering!
My name is Jane Foody. I am in my second year of graduate school becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I also practice yoga therapy and work with private clients everyday teaching them meditation, yoga and how to find and maintain inner peace. I am also a hypnotist and I help many people quit smoking. I am an active member of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, New York Yoga Teachers Association, International Association of Yoga Therapists and the National Association for Health and Fitness. With over 10 years of experience, I am recognized by Yoga Alliance as an experienced registered yoga teacher and I direct and certify people to teach yoga through my registered yoga school.
I have bartered my yoga expertise, personal training, hypnosis and health advice with and for the following:
Writers - Editing of school papers/web site/ books I am working on
Massage Therapists- Massages
Hair Dressers- cut, color, blow out straight, up dos
Nails- pedicures/manicures
Acupuncturist- Acupuncture
Cooking (This is what was in the journal news, I have a girl cook all my meals for me on Monday. I dont have to cook for myself and I have healthy already prepared meals. I freeze half and put half in fridge.)
Etesian - Facial
Cars- I travel between NY and Florida. I live in NY and when I am in Florida I don't have a car, so I barter with a student. I give free training for week and she gives me a car for the week
Photographer- Professional pictures
Personal Assistants- laundry, cleaning, organizing...etc
Illustrators- yoga drawings
***********************************************
As the owner of a small start-up company, bartering has become a great option for me – both from an economical and marketing standpoint.
Most recently I have bartered my product (and gifting services) in exchange for printing services as well as sales training. With cash flow being an issue sometimes, bartering Fretzels for these services has been a great experience. It has enabled me to afford things I might not have been able to otherwise. (Anything from printing to sales training.) And since we end up sending Fretzels as gifts for these vendors in exchange for their services, we end up “advertising” our product to their clients. (there have been a number of occasions when we would then receive calls from some of these new gift recipients to send gifts for their company as well. )
Jill Frechtman. Founder & President of Fretzels by Jill, Inc. ( http://www.fretzels.com ), a unique gourmet chocolate covered pretzel company. “You may not know what a Fretzel is, but one bite and you’ll never forget.”
***********************************************
Businesses can utilize barter to boost sales production and get the things they need without spending cash. It’s easy, it’s smart and it works like a charm.
Savvy business owners are discovering that bartering is a great vehicle for moving excess inventory, attracting new customers, and generating barter dollars that can be used for advertising and other business expenses.
How It Works
In its simplest form, bartering involves an equal trade. One business swaps a good or service for another.
Through professional barter exchanges—where members pay a commission fee for goods or services traded—more complex trades are possible.
Here’s how bartering works: a business lists a good or service for trade through the barter exchange. In return, the business receives a trade credit based on the dollar value of the good or service offered. It can then use those trade credits to “purchase” goods or services offered by other members. As a result, that business is hooked up with a rich, varied network of actively bartering businesses.
What Trading Can Do For You
Bartering enables businesses to trade inventory for the goods and services they need. Trading excess inventory is a particularly good way to accumulate barter credits.
If you have excess inventory, you can (and probably do) liquidate the merchandise for a reduced profit. As an alternative, you can trade that merchandise through a barter exchange—and often receive trade credit for its full wholesale value. You can then use those trade credits to purchase the services or products you need to run your business.
Gaining To New Customers
Bartering can also provide you with a new vehicle for marketing your business. Barter exchanges bring new buyers and sellers together, potentially creating a new customer base. And barter can positively impact your bottom line. Companies that actively barter may do as much as 5 to 10 percent of their business annually through trades.
How Barter Exchanges Function
Barter exchanges typically charge a one-time membership fee and a small fee on each transaction. Barter exchanges offer the advantage that they don’t require an even trade. You can use credits accumulated for one item to trade for several different items that together add up to your total credits.
Be aware that barter and cash transactions are the same in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service. Both are taxed equally. In fact, bartering exchanges must report goods and services sold through barter to the IRS.
Like sales, bartering offers no guarantees. Some trades happen quickly, others take some time. Also, the amount of certain goods and services available may fluctuate during the year.
You must weigh the disadvantages against the advantages. Bartering turns your downtime or excess inventory into valuable commodities. It increases sales while enabling you to purchase the goods or services you need without dipping into your cash.
And you don’t have to limit bartering to business. Bartering can be a great way to finance a vacation, get your teeth whitened or get a massage
Don Mardak is founder and CEO of International Monetary Systems, Ltd. (OTCBB:INLM), one of the country’s leading barter organizations. www.imsbarter.com
***********************************************
I am an interior designer and I have found that bartering is an excellent method of fulfilling some of my needs. I have traded design consultations with professional photographers to shoot some of my projects. Additionally, during renovations contractors have asked for some of the goods the client is discarding and in exchange have lowered their fees or even completed some tasks for free! In our current economic climate I feel that bartering is a great way for myself, my business, and my clients to stretch our dollars a little further!
Jessica Boudreaux, BOUDREAUX DESIGN STUDIO www.jessicaboudreaux.com
***********************************************
In June 2008, my husband and I added a kitten to our already pet filled household. We had two cats and a dog. All three were aging and we thought a kitten might help keep them young.
When we introduced Sammie, our kitten we were well able to afford four pets but things started to go amuck. Our cat Clyde needed an eye lift after a fight with our cat Mika (Clyde is twice Mika's size.) Of course the Sammie needed shots and to be spayed and declawed. All this was within our means.
In September, our dog Holly got a terrible ear infection that required emergency treatment. The infection wouldn't clear up due to a plug that developed in her ear. Our Vet suggested we have her sedated in order to remove the blockage. While she was under the Vet did a real thorough examination of her abdomen and found a mass. After an x-ray she discovered Holly had a tumor the size of an orange. We decided to go ahead and operate. Once our vet got in there she found the tumor to be inoperable. After some discussion we decided that Holly was otherwise healthy enough to live several more months with the tumor. We decided to close her up and keep her healthy and comfortable as long as possible.
Needless to say by this point we were racking up some veterinary bills.
I do public relations and freelance writing. I suggested to my veterinarian who had just opened a million-dollar-plus facility that we barter services.
She was all for it. I was able to continue medical treatment for my beloved Holly and she received my expertise in public relations, including some advertising, press coverage and promotion of her grand opening. It was a win-win.
Ultimately, Holly lost her battle with cancer as we knew she would but in the meantime we were able to keep her comfortable and alive longer than expected. Up to one week before her death people would remark that they couldn't tell she was 15-years old, let alone sick.
Susan D. Ferrier
Purplefish Agency
***********************************************
Just recently I bartered with a home construction person. I needed an addition made to my office. In return, I tutored his son for the amount of time in total cost of the project. (I'm a reading/dyslexia specialist) It worked out great. My office is now complete and beautiful and his son is learning how to read.
Sharon Dubinsky www.brunswickreading.com
***********************************************
The two bartering examples below show how Kim Marshall, the founder & principal of our company, is the epitome of a creative, innovative business owner. www.themarshallplan.com
We began bartering for design work with our noted eco-interior designer client, Kelly LaPlante, in Fall 2008 at the beginning of the economic downturn. We represent clients in the travel, spa, wellness and design industries, and Kelly LaPlante is one of the country’s first eco-designers who recently partnered with the Lexus Hybrid Living initiative, published a green lifestyle design book in July 2008, and designs a sleek eco-furniture line called jak collection. www.kellylaplante.com
If you visit Kelly LaPlante’s blog via her Web site, she says the following about our barter relationship in her February 20 post titled “What Recession?”
Ten Things That Make Me Say (even if only for a moment) “What Recession?”
8. Kim Marshall of The Marshall Plan. My fabulous publicist who is now bartering with me– we cannot bear to part ways just because some silly recession means I have no money to pay her. She is talented, creative and a wonderful human being. I dare you to find another publicist that you can genuinely say those things about. (Here she is with her adorable husband, Laz.)
Also, in August we will start representing Olde Wood Limited, a socially responsible hardwood flooring company whose products are made from 100% reclaimed materials including old barns. For the first month of our PR services for Olde Wood, Kim Marshall will be paid in hardwood that she will use to renovate her floors at home. www.oldewoodltd.com
Niki Jensen
The Marshall Plan
***********************************************
READ MORE SUCCESSFUL BARTERING STORIES AND SUGGESTIONS!
User Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus