Press Release It's All About the Barter, Baby -- Major Company Turns to Barter

From the PR Web Press Release Newswire -

TheRetroBaby.com has Announced the Launch of their Retro Barter Program

It looks like TheRetroBaby.com is at it again. This time, they are going real old school style and revitalizing the age old concept of exchanging goods without involving money.

For as long as man/woman has walked this earth, the principle of barter has been used and perhaps even preferred to the monetary system. But can it work in the 21st Century in places around the world where an exchange program is not a necessity? It seems so. Take the now well-known Internet blogger, Kyle MacDonald who started his barter experiment with a single red paperclip. Per his website, it took him 14 trades to get a new home. That's a pretty sweet deal being that Kyle didn't have to lay out a single penny! His experiment did get a lot of media coverage and perhaps accounted for the quality of trades.

On a smaller and less visible scale, bartering just might work for online websites who offer unique products and services. For example, http://www.theretrobaby.com offers a wide selection of very cool newborn, infant,and toddler baby clothes. Their clothing line is trendy yet not market saturated and cannot be found in local malls or large retail chains. Thus, they potentially have a product that is perfect for trade.

So how does a barter program work on a site such as TheRetrobaby.com? The first plus for this site is that
they do not have a limited target audience. Moms, dads, grandparents, friends, co-workers, and just about
everyone knows a person who is having a baby or already has children. TheRetroBaby.com is still an online
retailer selling a product. They just added an interesting twist.

On the main page of the website, they have included a link that says, "Wanna Barter, Baby?". By clicking on
the link, the web surfer is given the opportunity to review what items and services are eligible for trade.
This company is taking the lead in a fun and consumer driven concept.

Patricia Bachkoff
Online Journalist

###

Contact Information
Patricia Bachkoff
http://www.theretrobaby.com/
954-234-8903

You can trade and barter in your business the same way RetroBaby does - contact Terry Brandfass of ITEX to discuss how to get started quickly and easily! Follow ITEX on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the barter business and get updates on items up for barter!

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Your Health Interest Articles

Arcadia Spinal Health Center

September 2010 Issue

Health Interest Articles Published By Dr. Gregg Friedman of Arcadia Spinal Health Center



Dear ITEX Trading Partners…
Here are your selected health interest articles:

No Respect!
Your cervical spine does an incredible job everyday - do you give yours the respect it deserves? more »
Crimp on Cramps?
Could chiropractic actually help with your killer cramps? more »

What Your Gums Are Saying
Did you know your gums are an early-warning system for your overall health? Learn more. more »
Magnificent Magnesium
Calcium and magnesium are an important team, but they have to work together! more »
Avoid Holiday Stress
Making plans and setting expectations now will help you avoid end-of-the year stress. more »
Share Arcadia Spinal Health Center's health interest articles with friends and family. Forward this email or click "Email a Friend" in the footer of each article.
Health and Happiness
Dr. Gregg Friedman

Arcadia Spinal Health Center

Visit Our Website
For appointments call (480) 947-8381



How To “Buy It” With ITEX On The ITEX Marketplace
· Go the web site http://www.itex.com/

· Click Sign in
· Enter your username and password, remember that these will be all one word and in lowercase.
· You will be on you’re My Account page and should see your logo and contact information in the center of the page.


· Click on Search tab on the toolbar which will take you to The Marketplace.

· Go to the Listings area, click on Listings and you will see Featured Listings and Recent Listings.
· If you find a listing you want to buy, click the Buy it with ITEX button. You will see an ITEX Check with your information. If the information is correct, Enter Your Valid E-Mail Address in the box, and click Buy it.
· In order for the seller to approve your purchase, you must have a valid e-mail address on file with ITEX.
We strongly recommend sending a return receipt e-mail with your shipping info immediately after sending your payment so that your Trading Partner will have all the needed information to immediately ship your order. If you need further assistance, please contact your local broker, 602.296.1018.



The Holidays Are Sneaking Up On You…we have a lot of great gift items available to take the stress out of the season...don’t delay…start your holiday shopping early…and then relax and enjoy!

ITEX Arizona DISCLOSURE: Buyers are to evaluate the merits, risks and bear economic responsibility of their purchase and agree to indemnify and hold harmless ITEX Arizona. The information contained herein is on behalf of the ITEX member seller. ITEX Arizona has no right to sell, deliver or negotiate for the seller and is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or integrity of any detail in this listing. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BOTH ITEX ARIZONA & ITEX CORPORATE HAVE AN ESCROW ACCOUNT TO ASSIST YOU WITH NATIONAL PURCHASES TO ENSURE YOUR TRANSACTION. Thank You.

ITEX Arizona
602-296-1018 phone
602-953-6001 fax
www.ITEX.com
bxi@cox.net

Barter and Today’s Economic World

Barter and Today’s Economic World

Barter is the process of exchanging products, goods or services, for other products, goods or services. It is a simple method of transaction where little to no money is used. In today’s world, it exists parallel to the monetary system.


Today with barter exchanges being set up, barter has become a much more systematic and structured system of commerce. Modern barter and trade has advanced considerably to become an effective method of escalating sales, saving cash and making use of excess or perishable production capacity for businesses around the world. A trade or barter exchange provides a trading platform and bookkeeping system for its members or clients to provide barter opportunities.

The member companies buy and sell products and services to each other using an internal currency known as barter or trade dollars (or trade credits of the local currency). Businesses in barter earn trade credits (instead of cash) that are deposited into their account. They then have the ability to purchase goods and services from other members using their trade credits. As this is multilateral trade, they are not obligated to purchase from who they sold to, and vice-versa.

Here are some facts and figures which help explain the increasing importance of barter in today’s commercial world:

• The International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) estimates that 30 percent of the world’s business is done on a barter basis.

• Offset and non-cash trade grows at a rate of 8% per annum regardless of economic difficulties according to a World Bank report in 2007.

• According to the 2004 Annual Report of the National Association of Trade Exchanges, approximately 65% of all New York Stock Exchange-listed companies engage in some form of excess capacity exchange.

• 20% – 25% of world trade is done in some form of counter-trade.

• The National Association of Trade Exchanges, The International Journal of Hospitality Management and the Michigan State University together claim that approximately 70% of all Fortune 500 companies engage in some form of barter.

• In Switzerland, one in every five businesses uses a barter network called WIR Bank to increase commerce and profits. WIR is one of the oldest barter organizations of the world, and has been in operation for over 75 years.

• Virtually all media companies, including newspapers, radio stations, magazines, TV stations, billboard companies, etc. engage in barter at some time or another.

• According to the International Reciprocal Trade Association, approximately 400,000 businesses engage in formalized barter in the United States.

Given how prevalent barter is in the world’s economy, it really becomes clear that it makes sense to use what you have to get what you need, rather than simply relying on cash for everything.

Submitted by Terry Brandfass of Itex AZ

Got kids? Try bartering…

I’ve been bartering for as long as I can remember. As a child, I traded one treasure for another with my siblings. As a mother of large brood of children, I found ways to barter for clothing. For several years I had access to a large amount of quality used books (I helped my husband with a used bookstore!) and I found an ingenious way of bartering used books with another mother for her Baby Lulu and hanna Andersson clothing. My sixth child was my best dressed baby as a result. In the ensuing years I have bartered a box of health and beauty items for a goat, books for books, homeschooling curriculum for other curriculum… I love bartering! I’ve been trading books on PaperBackSwap for years and used to set up “sister swaps” with my sisters, trading books, magazines, and clothing.

So imagine my delight when I came across this website, ThredUp, for trading used children’s clothing:

http://www.thredup.com/Kenyon18708

I was skeptical at first~ How could this work? The concept is fairly simple. You pack a medium Flat Rate priority box with your child’s outgrown clothing and post it. Describe it well~ I think my boxes are picked fairly quickly because I was used to selling on ebay and knew how to describe something. So, you fill a box with, say, boy’s 5T, post it, and wait. Someone chooses your box and pays the fee of $13. You generate a label from your computer and either have the post office pick up the box or take it into the post office yourself. So far, there is no expense to you at all and now you can pick a box! You look through available boxes in the sizes you need and pick a box. Then you pay the $13 fee to have it mailed to you. With the little sizes, like baby clothes, you might get 18-20 items in a box. For the larger sizes, which is what I need for my youngest two children (ages 7 and 10) I’ve been getting 7-8 items in a box. When one of those items is an expensive Mini Boden skirt or a hanna Andersson top, then the $13 is well worth it. I probably wouldn’t want to pay $13 for 13 Gerber onesies or a single Faded Glory jacket, but it might be worth that for someone else, especially if it is a hard-to-find size or style. (for instance, one person has a lovely $60 girl’s fancy dress listed and if you were looking for a flower-girl dress or something for your daughter to wear to a father-daughter banquet, the $13 fee would be well worth it)

What is neat about this site is that you can earn credits if you are posting children’s clothing in one of the sizes that are most in demand. I’ve earned as much as $6 credit towards my next choice this way. In fact, I am keeping a carefully guarded secret~ I have bought clothing specifically to include in a box! Why would I do such a thing? Because I have access to thrift stores that run specials like $5 a bag or 25-cents an item, it can be cost-effective for me to buy clothes to post on ThredUp. But this is an important point~ I will only buy high-quality stuff~ and only when a quarter or less. I have filled a box with Gymboree, Gap, and Land’s End items that were not actually ever worn by my children. But I paid 25-cents for each item, added 10-12 items to a box, posted it, and gotten $6 credit for my $2.75 investment! I just grab the good stuff while I am searching for 25-cents deals for my own children! This is my secret strategy to having traded over 15 boxes in my first month’s membership on this site. So, even if you don’t have drawers full of clothing to trade, if you have the opportunity to pick up quality children’s clothing at “bag sales” or consignment store quarter sales, you might want to think about doing the same thing.

I’m kind of addicted now. The rush I get when I open up a box like this one yesterday, makes me want to do it again.

In this box were two Land’s End swimsuits, a blue hanna Andersson top, pink hanna Andersson cap, darling little capri pants with a butterfly on, and several other cute shirts. Even if only half of them fit Abby, the blue shirt and two swimsuits are worth it to me. You can bet I added this person to my “favorite sender” on ThredUp and will keep an eye on other boxes she posts.

So, if you’ve got kids (or grandkids) who are outgrowing clothing faster than you can buy it, check out this website. Not only is it a thrifty way to get clothes, it is fun!

- submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX AZ

5 Tips To Succeed In Bartering

No, this article is not going to teach you how to exchange your goats with your neighbors chickens, although when you consider today’s economics that may not be such a bad idea. This is a simple guide for those who are rediscovering the value of barter which is making a comeback because of the economic benefits that people receive.

Bartering, as many of us know, is the act of exchanging goods or services without using money. Modern day bartering can now be done through the Internet, via online barter organizations which act as trading portals. People who want the ease and functionality of a website can join a number of different barter organizations, find good deals, and get the deal done using trade dollars…an online currency that determines the value of the item or service being traded, making it easier for the trading partners (or barter organization members) to decide on the things they would want to barter.

If you want to give online bartering a try, here are some tips that can help you achieve success in this lucrative past time:

1. Do Your Research:
Choose a barter club that has an online presence, and has a diverse membership. This will give you many opportunities to continually find items you are looking for. It will also allow you to reach more people who may be interested in the products and services you are offering for barter.

2. Check The Barter Club's Terms And Conditions:
Most of the online barter clubs have their terms of use published on their websites. Take the time to read prior to signing up and paying (if any) the membership fees. Usually the site will charge either a one-time fee, an annual fee, or a monthly fee. Most will charge a commission fee for every trade completed.

3. Be Specific With Your Offers:
When posting the products and services you are offering, include as much details as possible. For example, if you are offering tutorial services, indicate how many hours you would be willing to put in to exchange. The more details you provide, the more interest you will create among other members.

4. Be Safe:
Do not readily give out your financial information to anyone who contacts you through any barter networking sites. Although most sites have ways to screen their members, they also have a waiver on their terms of use, in case you fall victim to an online transaction that constitutes a scam. It is really your responsibility to conduct due diligence on your potential trading partners before you enter any deal.

5. Get Legal Advice:
For high value transactions, like home swapping, seek some legal advice to make sure that the transaction is conducted legally. Have a contract written, before completing the exchange. This protects your interests, and makes sure that both parties will benefit from the transaction.

Heres an extra tip think out of the box! Check things that are just lying around your home or your office, and put them to better use by posting them for trade on the barter club. Who knows, your trash may be someone elses treasure, and there may be a good deal coming your way!

Submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX-AZ

Entrepreneurial Survival Tips

If you are having a hard time lately with your business, you are not alone. However, if you also happen to be frugal and inclined to wear many hats, you have a better chance of surviving when times are tough. Considering the foolishness of forecasting a recovery before it arrives, we believe it makes sense to be as prepared as possible for the “long haul” and are offering a few ENTREPRENEURIAL SURVIVAL TIPS.

One of the essential elements for survival is keeping your company as lean as possible. Just as a famine would force you to ration the amount of food you ate in order to survive, so should a sluggish economy force you to feed your company what it needs to survive. Keeping your business lean and fit will enable your business to survive much more easily than would a larger, more gluttonous company.

Just like a diet, one must ask before purchasing or agreeing to a new service: Do I Really Need This? What value will this bring to my business bottom line? Will this current craving enhance my company and is it in alignment with my company’s mission statement and vision? Are there other less expensive options available? Have you considered bartering for a needed service or product? We barter a great deal. Bartering helps establish great bonds and improves your network.

Jeff Cornwall (see below) also explores this topic in his article Stagnation? Double Dip? Here's how Entrepreneurs can survive at the Christian Science Monitor's website. We really enjoyed the concise manner in which he summed up what to expect. He offers some great advice on how to adjust to the economy, so we encourage you to check it out here: http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Entrepreneurial-Mind/2010/0817/Stagnation-Double-dip-Here-s-how-entrepreneurs-can-survive

Do you have some examples on how you may have placed your business spending habits on a diet? We would love to hear your ideas and tips and as always, you can reach us here or at our site: www.entrepreneurexpose.com.


The Entrepreneurial Mind

Stagnation? Double dip? Here's how entrepreneurs can survive.
By Jeff Cornwall, Guest blogger / August 17, 2010

Even the optimists are saying that we have at least two more years of economic stagnation. Other experts are warning of a possible double-dip recession.

There is even growing talk in some circles of America experiencing a "lost decade" in its economy. That refers to the 10-plus dismal years of economic doldrums suffered by Japan in the 1990s.

Recent employment and bank lending rate data seem to support a prolonged recession for small businesses.

So what does this "new normal" in our economy mean for entrepreneurs?

For startup entrepreneurs it means you need to be lean. There will still be new businesses forming, even if the economy takes a turn for the worse. Some of these new businesses will be opportunistic entrepreneurs who see ways to meet the needs created out of the dramatic changes taking place in our economy and society.

Others will be among the growing army of accidental entrepreneurs who are finding that starting something on their own has become the only viable way to make a living during these challenging times.

Whichever path leads you to start a new business, a successful launch will require bootstrapping.

There is very little money being invested in or lent to new small businesses right now, so be prepared to find creative ways to get your business off the ground without a lot of funding.

If you are already a business owner and have survived the past two years of economic turmoil, let me be the first to offer congratulations. Clearly you have found a way to continue to offer value to the market. You must have also been an effective manager.

Some businesses that have survived are hanging on by a thread. If that is the case for your business, continue to pay attention to the basics. Keep cutting overhead, pay down debts and take good care of the customers you have so you don't lose any more of them to stronger competitors.

Every small-business owner should continue to run his or her business cautiously and prudently. There will be more tough times ahead.
Look for growth opportunity

Over the coming months, more of your competitors will probably fail, and that presents an opportunity to attract new customers to your shop.

This can be an excellent time to expand and take advantage of a larger market share. If you do expand, continue to bootstrap and try to keep your use of debt to a minimum. Explore different economic tools available to help you conserve cash such as bartering. Investigate what barter organizations are in your area.

This is no time for excessive leverage because of the uncertainty of the economic outlook.

Whether you are a new entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, more than ever before remember, cash is king. Given the uncertainty of the economy, entrepreneurs should try to keep enough cash on hand to cover at least 30 days of monthly expenses -- and up to 90 days of cash on hand is not a bad idea, either.

It's also important to keep one eye on the future. Eventually things will improve. And those who survive the Great Recession have a good chance of emerging in a stronger position. The survivors of today will become the market leaders during the recovery.

Submitted by Terry Brandfass

How to Barter Your Way Down the Aisle

By: Sloane Heller

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Does your future father-in-law own an auto repair shop? Do you do web design? Does your fiancé repair roofs?

If you are getting married, you might be able to barter your way down the aisle.

There are a couple of ways to approach a trade. You can contact the person directly, price out your service and negotiate a deal. Or you can join a trade network, where instead of doing a direct trade you get a debit card. Depending how much you agree to give, you will get back in trades.

Event Videographer Patrick Lamb has done about a dozen trades over the years. He says there are two things you need to be aware of. First, the IRS still expects you to pay taxes, even on a trade. Second, make sure you accurately value the work you are doing and negotiate a fair trade.

"(With) any type of negotiation you want a win-win. If both parties are happy with the end result, you got an equitable trade. No one wants to feel like they've been taken advantage of," says Patrick.

Patrick says right now he'd probably shoot someone's wedding if they could fix his flat roof that's leaking into his kitchen.
BJ Taylor has been working with an exchange network for years and has also done his fair share of trades for weddings.

Even though he has to pay a commission to work with the network, it's easier.

BJ says trade is being used in the U.S. more and more these days because of the economy. He said bartering services on your wedding day can also make it a more intimate event.

"If you trade with someone one-on-one or through a network you develop a closer bond. You are on the same level as they are," he said.

BJ says there are so many services needed on your big day, you are bound to find something you can barter if you think hard.

Submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX-AZ

Short of Cash? Barter!

Every small business goes through periods when cash is tight. Not being able to pay your bills can be embarrassing to you and can ruin the good name you have worked so hard to build for your business. In some instances you can work with your creditors to extend terms as a short term solution to your cash problem. However, more and more small businesses are turning to barter as a method of avoiding cash flow problems in the longer term.


Bartering occurs when you exchange goods or services without exchanging money. An example of bartering is a plumber doing repair work for a dentist in exchange for dental services. That saves each business the cash they would have otherwise have needed to expend for those services, and they have the added benefit of building a good relationship with another local business.

Interestingly, one of unexpected added benefits of bartering is the relationships that are built between small businesses. This can a very basic strategic partnership. The bartering relationship fosters trust, support, and an interest in the other business prospering. Sometimes, especially when the businesses are complementary, the business relationship turns out to be an even bigger asset than the cash savings from bartering.

Do note, however, that bartering is not "free" money. The goods and services being bartered do need to be valued and declared on your income tax. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged must be included in the income of both parties. Income from bartering is taxable in the year in which you receive the goods or services. Generally, you report this income on Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business Form 1040. If you are in a business or trade, you may deduct any costs you incurred in performing the work that was bartered.

In addition to forming individual relationships with other local businesses, you can also arrange exchanges through a barter exchange. Barter exchanges are middlemen for transactions and provide barter credits based on the dollar value of the good or service. The business can then use their credits to purchase goods and services from other members of the exchange. The exchange provides access to a network of actively bartering businesses.

The Internet has provided a medium for new growth in the bartering exchange industry. There are hundreds of bartering exchanges operating around the world, and more are opening their doors daily. Bartering can be particularly useful in dealing with countries that have limitations on movement of capital in and out of the country.

The list of items available for trade seems unlimited. There are vast possibilities from bartering for advertising to bartering for salaries, benefits and incentives for employees. Almost anything is available somewhere with the possible exception of utilities, taxes, and bank payments. And with the aid of an exchange, even though, they usually charge a fee of 10 to 15 percent of each trade, the time commitment on your part is negligible.

Before signing up for a trade exchange, here are some common sense steps you should take:

• Make a list of what you want to trade and the items you would be willing to accept in return. Choose a barter organization that deals in the items you are interested in trading.

• Ask for a referral list of clients and confirm that they have been satisfied with how their transactions have been handled.

• Find out how many clients and items the barter organization currently has.

• Check the prices for items being bartered to see if the organization is pricing them fairly.

• Find out where the clients from the organization are from. Distance may be a factor in transporting goods. Then, again, you may wish to offers your goods over a broader regional area. Many trade organizations are local, but are part of larger networks of exchanges, providing a wider base for trade.

• Find out what other services the barter organization provides for their percentage of the trade. Common services provided are management of the exchange, brokering the items offered for trade, consulting services and barter information.

• Compare the services offered by a variety of barter services before making the choice.

• Legitimate barter organizations are required to report barter income of each client to tax authorities. Do not do business with any barter organization that does not provide tax reporting.

• Check with the Better Business Bureau about any organization you are considering joining.

Bartering can be fun and profitable. Some people make it their primary means of doing business. In tight monetary times in particular, bartering can be a useful item to have as part of your financial management plan.

Submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX-AZ

Joining A Barter Network Is Simple & Easy

Barter networks are the biggest craze in the world of online networking for today’s business professional. Bartering has been around since long before currency was made or printed for the purchase of goods and services, and it has been renewed successfully by today’s online entrepreneur.


Joining a barter network, such as ITEX, is very similar to a networking site, as they have some of the same fundamentals. By joining a barter network you can access a ton of services and businesses who want to barter for benefits and profits. All you have to do is register and pay a small fee.


A Barter network’s success is not unfounded. Barter networks are made up of thousands of resources that help you to build your business. You get not only more exposure by joining a barter network, but you also have resources from business card firms to sign companies to website design firms, all of whom arrive at the table with things to offer in exchange for something you’re offering.


On the other hand, if the thought of bartering seems daunting to you, or you don’t know just what to anticipate from participation in it, you could benefit from reading about the main elements of business barter basics, perhaps by downloading a no-cost ebook on the subject. What you learn could be sufficient to persuade you that joining a group of people who barter might be an ideal approach to improving your company’s profitability.


You can increase your profit and your business connections by bartering for goods and or services. A great way to increase awareness surrounding your business is to barter for advertising whether in print or on the television or radio. This will increase awareness of your business, bringing in more customers. Another way to set yourself apart from other businesses is to work out a trade in goods or services with a stationary company that can create custom materials like letter head. One last idea for custom materials is to partner with a printing company that can provide you with custom business cards. All of these partner companies can help you raise awareness of your business.


Joining a barter network can have an almost instantaneous positive effect on you and your business. This is because of good networking, which is often one of the highest indicators of a business’s success. If you combine networking with excellent resources and ingenuity you’ve got the formula for a great business venture.
The latest craze in online networking for business professionals is joining a barter network. Bartering existed a long time before any currency was ever printed, and was used to trade services and goods. Bartering has been successfully resurrected by online entrepreneurs.

- submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX AZ

On bartered time

Josh Stevens is living the dream, if the dream is drifting from city to city, relying on the kindness of strangers. Man cannot live by bread alone, which is good because Stevens has no bread at all, though he does have a gift certificate for unlimited golf at a local course.

Stevens arrived in Washington, D.C., last week, the latest stop on his year-long tour as Groupon.com's "Groupawn."
And Groupon is ...?
Groupon offers "daily deals at unbeatable prices," says the site. The 10 million members, who speak religiously of Groupon the way Costco members speak of Costco, get discounted goods like spa services or restaurant coupons. (Businesses make money because they only deliver the deal if enough people sign up.)
Stevens won Groupon's "Live Off Groupon" publicity stunt in May. He'd just left his job as a waiter in Chicago. He was thinking about applying to business school. He heard about the contest, which promised that if he went a year using no money but unlimited Groupons, he would win $100,000.
That's why Stevens, 28, is negotiation with the manager at Finemondo restaurant: "I'm not allowed to touch money for a year," he says. He has already used a Finemondo Groupon to pay for his meal; now he produces a sheaf coupons to negotiate a tip. "What do you like to do?" he asks Najib Khaldi, flipping through the stack. "Here's something cool. It's a TopGolf Groupon. There are GPS things in the ball."
After Finemondo, Stevens packs up his Groupons and departs. Next he has a free tour of Madame Tussauds, followed by a free appointment at the Grooming Lounge. To get there, he will use a free Metro card, provided not by Groupon but by Laura Cassil, who heard about Stevens then invited him to stay with her in Washington, where, Stevens says, he would like to take President Obama on a Groupon date.
Something about the Groupawn speaks to people. The 6,000 Groupon groupies who follow him on Facebook want to buy him plane tickets (in exchange for Groupons), pick him up at airports (in exchange for Groupons), meet up with him at restaurants and spend Groupons together.
"Something different comes along, and you want to live vicariously," says Karen Shatin, a contractor for the State Department who has met up with Stevens in two different cities.
"It's the whole idea of him getting rid of his possessions," Cassil says. "He's not paying bills, he doesn't have to worry about looking for a job. It's very romantic."
Just Stevens against the world, him and his Groupons, a glimpse at what society would look like if we suddenly returned to a barter system. Our sustenance would be manicures and sky-diving excursions: We would exchange wine-tasting classes for NASCAR driving experiences or deep tissue massages.
"The spa things are some of my best currency," Stevens says. He's gotten lots of stuff trading those.
After a pedicure, Stevens stands in the lobby of the Grooming Lounge and chats up the other customers.
"Are you here with a Groupon?" Stevens asks a man exiting the spa.
"No," the man says, disappointed. He paid full price, with real money.
Sucker.
- from By MONICA HESSE The Washington Post

Using Barter To Sell Real Estate

Using Barter To Sell Real Estate

Purchasing property using a barter currency has a large number of benefits. Following is an example of a typical property transaction:
· A property might be selling for $100,000 in the cash economy
· The seller has to pay 3% cash commission for the sale to their real-estate agent
· An average property may sit in the cash market for 6-12 months before being sold.
· If the owner is already living elsewhere then the house is often empty and costing them for council levies, maintenance and other charges.
· The buyer has to come up with 10% of the value of the property to get a bank-loan for the balance

Selling On The Cash Market: 
· The property is for sale for $100,000 cash
· The real-estate agent receives $3,000 cash when the property is sold
· Advertising the property for sale has cost the seller $3,000 cash
· The council levies (rates) and maintenance has cost $3000 between when the property has gone on the market and when the property sells
· The interest on the mortgage on the property is $3000 before the property is sold

The cost to sell the property is $12,000

The income from the sale of the property is $88,000 (less costs)

Selling For Part Barter/Part Cash:
· The property is for sale for $70,000 cash and $30,000 barter
· The property sells quickly because:
     o Barter exchange members can use their own surplus time/goods to generate barter dollars
     o Barter exchange members may have excess/unspent barter dollars
     o Barter exchange members can pay $30,000 barter and get a loan from the bank for the rest of the amount (Their 70% cash needed “Loan to Value Ratio” will be very favourable to the bank)
     o The barter exchange would normally charge a cash fee on the $100,000 – which might be 7% of the transaction value to the seller ($7000)

The seller ends up with $63,000 cash plus $30,000 in a barter currency. And, more than likely, the barter sale occurred much faster than a cash sale would have.

The new owner might rent out the property to pay off the mortgage and benefit from capital gain as the property increases in value over time.
- posted by Ormita, May 27, 2010

To learn more about using barter to build your business and make money, contact Terry Brandfass with ITEX Corp.

More Making The Move Towards Bartering

One cannot be too surprised that many are nervous about the state of the dollar, especially with governments warning about new crashes coming in the future.  Bartering is a legitimate way to conduct business, but many are used to the more ‘normal’ ways of payment (cash, credit, etc).  Yet, more and more people are turning to bartering and choosing to forgo the normalized ways.

There are regulations in place through state and local government, so you do want to check up on local laws that surround bartering. 

It really isn’t too difficult to think of what to trade, especially considering it is very likely you are able to do something that someone is looking for.  Many more people are considering it a very valuable option, especially when the state of the dollar is so uncertain.  Bartering is a very legitimate practice that, for many, is holding more value than that of more standard payments.

Link:  http://definitions.uslegal.com/b/barter/

-by biddingbar, as submitted by Terry Brandfass, barter expert 

The Benefits of Barter

Economies are crashing all around us…and to what end? Times are tough, and there are many having trouble making house, credit card and other payments…not to mention adjusting our lifestyles to a new budget. This is in fact even more difficult for US companies in all areas of business. Businesses today are seeing a sharp downturn in consumer spending because of the economic changes that have occurred recently. Leading businesses in every sector of industry have been affected by the reduction in spending. This effect has also begun to trickle down to the lower levels of smaller businesses…who feel the impact of reduced spending to a greater degree. Business owners and companies are looking for ways to increase their profitability which is where barter comes into play.

I have been in the barter industry for 30 years this year. I thought I had seen it all, short of the Great Depression, but I never thought I would see another economic fall that would plunge the U.S. into an economic turn just about equal to the Great Depression. Add to that Greece, Japan and the current problems with the Euro…this is a recipe for a potential economic bomb.
More business owners need to get involved in one of our many Barter organizations that are available to them. These organizations make it possible for business owners to barter items with each other using an alternative currency. Bartering is an industry that is much less visible; you won’t see it on the front page of the newspaper. However, bartering has been used commonly by businesses for quite some time.

You might wonder how you go about researching a bartering system. One can begin by entering buzzwords like barter or trade exchange into one of the popular search engines. You’ll be certain to get pages of results on bartering. Review this data extensively. Each service will probably have a yearly or monthly charge, or even both. Most also require that you pay a commission on all of your barter sales/purchases.

However, there is a laundry list of benefits derived from being part of an organized bartering system.
· New business in your door that your wouldn’t normally receive
· Barter give you a competitive edge
· Barter improves cash flow, and in turn increases profits
· Barter can help you keep key employees on board during budget cuts. Offer a barter compensation package as opposed to a job cut. Items like dental, clothing, medical and more can be put into a viable compensation package for employees you want to keep and help you get your business through the these tough economic times.
· The new barter business helps you to offset cash expenditures by your ability to utilize the barter credits derived by your new barter customers for items your business needs.
· Word of mouth advertising from your satisfied trading partners are sure to bring you new cash customers
· Most barter organizations offer barter credit lines and loans to allow you to make business expenditures to keep your business afloat…i.e. advertising, printing, marketing etc.
· Move excess inventory or fill excess capacity…why should a printer have his presses down while he has employees on the job. Fill in your dead time with barter printing jobs.
· Trading partners have a new business network from which to build strong professional relationships
· Barter organizations make record keeping easy
· Barter can also help you to eliminate bad debts. If your business is owned money from some of your customers, take product/services from the business owner that owes you, and sell them back through the barter company. In turn, you have the ability to spend the barter currency on other goods and services you need. In addition, you can also use other resources to sell the product/services from your bad debt customers such as Craigslist. And, if applicable, some items will lend themselves to become part of an employee benefits package.
Be creative! For additional help or consulting on how to structure a barter plan that works for you and your business, contact Trade Management Consulting. We are more than happy to help you find a barter organization in your geographic area that will work with and for you, as well as educate you on how to maximize the barter benefits you and your company deserve.
- written by Terry Brandfass of ITEX, AZ

Bartering Property - Recession-proof Alternative

Many of you might not consider the fact that you can use your barter income on real estate. Bartering property is a way to turn your barter into lasting cash, by making wise investments. I hope you get a lot out of this article, from gowealthy.com - call or email us here at ITEX in Arizona to find out what real estate we currently have available on barter.

Bartering Property - A Recession-proof, Cashless alternative to reduce Dubai investors' bad debts

As markets continue to be denuded, consumers are hard-pressed for cash and resources to make ends meet. In such a scenario, the age-old concept of commodity barters or exchanges assumes significance. But will bartering properties solve investors' debt woes.

Spiraling costs and tightening cash flows could very well put a strain on investors. The bartering business is recession-proof in a slow economy and helps clients find new customers and move inventory; the cashless alternative boosts customer bases, reduces bad debts, turns surpluses into profits, eliminates the idle time of employees and reduces cash outlays. By opting for exchanges, owners are assured of assets matching their requirements and demands. Moreover, through barters they can move assets to different locations, thereby spreading and reducing risk.

In the UAE, barters are extremely cost-effective as there are currently no capital gain taxes. The only costs entailed are the transfer and registration fees remitted to Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) if applicable to Dubai or the Land Department in case of other emirates. Property exchanges are totally ‘shariah' compliant because they are completely devoid of third party involvement.  

However, all said and done, exchanges are not without complications. For instance, there is the problem of mortgage disparity. If the property of party A that was worth AED 5 million a year ago and which has now depreciated in value by say, 40% comes up as a potential match for another property worth AED 7 million with no equity, how do you deal with it? RERA and other real estate monitors might have to issue clarifications on the situation. But property barters may, in the long run revive the UAE real estate sector by encouraging people to consider buying and selling property again; especially if the government defines well-trenched policies that require established businesses augmenting their sales with barter transactions to report those deals. In the US, the state agency Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a site containing useful information on bartering. If the UAE government embarks on a similar drive, then we may in for a quite a long innings as far as property swaps/ exchanges are concerned.

With the world reeling under global recession, money plays a crucial role and the root of the money is production, the root of which is property, and property as we have seen, is the root of economics. As markets continue to be denuded, consumers are hard-pressed for cash and resources to make ends meet. In such a scenario, the age-old concept of commodity barters or exchanges assumes significance. A real estate bartering system implements barters between pluralities of parties, each having one or more classes of items available for barter.

How is property exchange or bartering relevant to the UAE? The answer is simple. Spiraling costs and tightening cash flows could very well put a strain on investors. The bartering business is really recession-proof in a slow economy, and the barter system helps clients find new customers and move inventory, the cashless alternative boosts customer bases, reduces bad debts, turns surpluses into profits, eliminates the idle time of employees and reduces cash outlays. By opting for exchanges, owners are assured of assets matching their requirements and demands. Moreover, through barters they can move assets to different locations, thereby spreading and reducing risk.

Property exchanges work on the premise: "I will buy your house, only if you will buy mine." They work in the case of those property owners who would like to move on and are on the lookout for properties in fresh surroundings, yet do not want to laden with additional expenses. A property exchange can be regarded as two separate transactions taking place simultaneously, where party A buys a house from party B, while party B buys the house from party B. The transactions take place on the same date via simultaneously closing. Both parties pay off any existing loans and obtain any new financing on the home they are buying. Rather than a seller-buyer transaction, it is a buyer-buyer deal.

In the US and the UK, barters are highly popular in areas where foreclosures are high; even then, swappers have to contend with paying taxes, in some cases higher than what they were paying for their earlier property. However in the UAE, barters are extremely cost-effective as there are currently no capital gain taxes. The only costs entailed are the transfer and registration fees remitted to Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) if applicable to Dubai or the Land Department in case of other emirates. Property exchanges are totally ‘shariah' compliant because they are completely devoid of third party involvement.  

However, all said and done, exchanges are not without complications. For instance there is the problem of mortgage disparity. If the property of party A that was worth AED 5 million a year ago and which has now depreciated in value by say, 40% comes up as a potential match for another property worth AED 7 million with no equity, how do you deal with it? RERA and other real estate monitors might have to issue clarifications on the situation. Furthermore, everything hinges on the co-operation between the swappers.

But property barters may, in the long run revive the UAE real estate sector by encouraging people to consider buying and selling property again; especially if the government defines well-trenched policies that require established businesses augmenting their sales with barter transactions to report those deals. The key to breaking the current market inertness is clearly more transparency from the government. In the US, the state agency Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a site containing useful information on bartering. If the UAE government embarks on a similar drive, then we may in for a quite a long innings as far as property swaps/ exchanges are concerned.

-submitted by Terry Brandfass, of ITEX, AZ

Wine Bar Uses Barter to Save Cash

Great article from Bartering for Business in barter savy. Really good ideas and tips on how a business could save money using barter. Hope you all find it informative!

Jun.17, 2010 in Bartering for Business
By Heather Popa, Account Executive

I love when members are able to take full advantage of the network and use barter as a part of their continuous business model. A locally renowned wine bar was looking to save cash to increase their bottom line, so they incorporated BizX into the business and found ways to save cash on fixed and variable costs.
By accepting trade dollars from customers, the restaurant can fill their empty tables and is able to offset expenses they otherwise would have paid cash for. BizX markets the restaurant to their network of businesses to bring them the desired amount of business to offset their expenses.
By filling their empty tables, they were able to gain another form of income to later pay for these expenses:
· The restaurant has been able to purchase wine from Patterson Cellars. As sales begin to increase on these wine sales, the wine bar says they are saving about $2000 a month.
· They have been able to purchase crackers from Partner’s Crackers. The restaurant uses crackers in many of their appetizers and saves money by purchasing them through a barter network.
· They were able to purchase memberships to a membership based health care group for the owner and two employees. This allowed the restaurant to save on a huge cash cost and still provide a valuable benefit.
· They began outsourcing their book keeping and accounting to Knowledge Integration Solutions and pay for this monthly service with BizX.
· They were also able to revamp and update their websites by outsourcing to a web development company.
By being a member of a business-to-business barter network, they have been able to pay for all of these products and services at their cost of goods and save cash.

Workable Health Care On Barter…

Incertitude was cast on the genuineness of using barter for health care services on April 21, when Republican Senate campaigner Sue Lowden commented that in the “olden days” people paid doctors with “a chicken” or other goods. Barter organization have been offering health care services via barter for decades.

“Bartering for health care is more common than people may think and is a practice that is thriving in organized business-to-business trade exchanges”

“Bartering for health care is more common than people may think and is a practice that is thriving in organized business-to-business barter organizations. Doctors don’t exchange their services for chickens or other livestock, but many do accept barter credits offered through the many barter organizations around the globe.

Unlike one-to-one transactions that occur with direct barter, barter organization members accept trade dollars or credits for payment when they make a sale. Members are free to purchase products or services from any other member within the barter organization’s network—they do not have to accept each other’s merchandise directly.

Just like the other companies and organizations in a barter system, health care providers can use barter dollars, an IRS compliant currency, to offset the cash outlay of everyday business expenses such as printing, advertising, facility maintenance, along with many other products and services that are requisite to run their business

On the other side of the transaction, those who purchase health care services through a barter organization are saving cash. Companies benefit by using a barter organization located in their area to offer better health care to their employees as an employee benefit.

Various barter organizations offer members that include dentists, vision care specialists, OB.GYNs, MDs, naturopaths, chiropractor, physical therapists, plastic surgeons and more.

Bartering chickens for health care is a far-fetched idea today, but finding a medical or dental provider who is a member of a barter network is not. Visit www.IRTA.com to start your initial investigation on how barter can help your business to survive these economic times…and beyond.

- submitted by Terry Brandfass, posted originally here.

A Fair Trade…

A Fair Trade...
by Daniel P Smith
(as submitted to our blog by Terry Brandfass)

Bartering gains momentum as economy sags and businesses seek ways to retain cash…

Twenty years ago, Toni Foley began bartering. These days, she won’t run her restaurant—five-year-old Eastside Café in Fairport, New York—without the practice. Foley has used her barter dollars for carpeting, trash disposal, a storage unit, and for customer gifts—all while conserving cash.
“I see nothing but benefits with bartering,” Foley says. “I get to network with other local businesses, gain exposure to new customers, and have access to a variety of products and services for the restaurant and myself.”
An age-old practice spanning centuries and continents, bartering, the simple swapping of one service or product for another, is enjoying a contemporary resurgence spurred by the economy’s tumult. As restaurants struggle with declining customer counts and seek ways to stir traffic and boost revenue amid fixed costs, bartering is gaining increased appeal and acceptance.
Though traditional bartering takes place between two parties, third-party bartering companies witnessed growing membership numbers in recent years and spearheaded a barter renaissance. Unlike one-on-one bartering, members of exchanges are not obligated to barter directly with a seller. Rather, members can have their account credited with fair market value for a sale and then use those credits for future purchases. In effect, the exchange creates a savings account based on trade dollars versus traditional currency.
“The challenge with one-on-one bartering is that two parties are going to need each other’s services at the same level, at the same time,” says Anthony Donnelly of the Merchants Barter Exchange, a barter-bank with offices throughout the U.S.
The bartering exchanges, which often collect a membership charge and a small fee for each transaction, do much to create a collegial atmosphere of like-minded business owners. The exchanges match clients needing services, provide exposure for businesses, and maintain records, an essential feature since the IRS demands “the fair market value of the goods and services exchanged be reported as income.” With a membership pool that crisscrosses various industries, restaurant owners can trade their tables, catering, or party business for other member services, such as advertising or landscaping.
“It’s as simple as an operator phoning us with their need and our brokers finding the business to fill that need,” Donnelly says.
John Kubisiak, owner of three Toppers Pizza locations in Wisconsin, did not know such exchanges existed when he opened his first Toppers location in 2005. Two years later Kubisiak joined the bartering service International Monetary Systems (ims), a publicly traded, Wisconsin-based barter company serving 50 U.S. markets.
“The upside of what we were looking at was clear,” he says. “The biggest risk I saw was the [$695] membership fee, but operators are rolling the dice on initiatives much more expensive than this every day.”
Barter dollars started coming into Toppers immediately and Kubisiak has since used his credits for equipment maintenance, window cleaning, and employee incentives, including spa and restaurant gift certificates. He enjoyed a pair of Caribbean vacations on barter as well.
Yet, it is the aptly titled “barter leverage” that delivers the principle advantage for operators. For most restaurants, the cost to produce a menu item runs about 20–40 cents on the dollar. But operators are getting barter on the fair market value of their product, earning a 60–80 percent markup and a built-in profit on all trades.
“Rather than opening your checkbook and paying the retail cost for a service or product, you’re buying the service or product at the wholesale cost of your products,” says Don Mardak, president of IMS.
As an added benefit, operators gain new customers. After two decades in the restaurant industry, Foley is convinced that her barter relationships have yielded a better return than any advertisement. She describes her Eastside Café as “a little treasure that needs to be found.” Barter, which she practices through the IMS, helps others discover the eatery.
“Barter’s provided services and products that help me run the restaurant efficiently, but, most importantly, it’s driven business into my store,” Foley says. “Other members of the exchange know they can use their barter dollars here and they’re passing up other places on their way in.”
Before joining any barter exchange, however, an operator should make sure he can afford to offer services without receiving cash and that other members have useful services. The operator should also examine the exchange’s credentials and consult members to assess their experiences.
“There’s no need to rush into a hasty decision. Bartering is a long-term, strategic tool, not a one-time deal,” Donnelly says, adding that operators should also seek a company that engages exclusively in 100-percent barter at the same price as cash rather than half-cash, half-barter options that minimize leverage.
To achieve a healthy, manageable balance between barter and cash, Mardak suggests restaurant operators limit their barter to 10–15 percent of transactions.
“You should never let your account get so large that you’re not capitalizing on the services available,” he says. “Earn your trade dollars and then start to get back the things you need.”
The primary headache, barter veterans say, resides in those few members who attempt to take advantage of the relationship by restricting or limiting barter purchases. In such instances, Foley reminds the business owner that the barter dollars are as good as cash and that one needs to give as much as they receive. In unresolved cases, Foley has contacted her barter exchange for a swift resolution.
“You’ll always have those folks who try to take advantage of a good thing,” she says, noting that the vast majority of her dealings have been pleasant, fair, and reciprocal.
Though bartering has its limitations and its lingering skeptics, it has nonetheless proved itself to be a valuable tool for many restaurant operators seeking to sustain an efficient, well-maintained workplace, store cash in reserves, and attract new customers.
“Cash is still king and those of us involved in bartering recognize this, but bartering has its place and some strong benefits to offer,” Donnelly says.

The Barter Boutique's Bartering 101

Here's our top 3 tips when Bartering...

1) "Get it Listed". It is most helpful to have a website/blog/"etsy" store to showcase what you want to barter, with the price or cost listed clearly near it. This makes it simple for others to see what your products/services are so they can decide if it is something they want to barter for.

2) "Plan Ahead". Figure out what you want in return first. For example, if you see something another seller is offering for $5, you can ask them if they would like to look at your web shop and pick out $5 worth of something in return for their wares.

3) "Don't Take It Personally". You shouldn't be disappointed if someone turns you down. There are plenty of others who will like what you have to offer. The same goes for when you are asked to barter for something, and you're not interested. It's not a problem to say "no thank you at this time".

Happy Trading and hope you all have had a great Memorial Day weekend!

(from barterboutique.blogspot.com as submitted by Terry Brandfass)

Individual Suitability To Barter

Individuals are uniquely suited to becoming members of a local barter exchange as they are capable of offering services that often fall into the “ad-hoc personal needs” category.

While each product or service may not be of a high-value, they can add up to a significant amount for a business owner at the end of each month. They also provide the ability for a member to make acquisitions using trade credits that are not readily available through “typical” retail barter exchanges. Some examples are:

• Lawn-mowing & gardening
• Hair styling / coloring
• Assisting in letter writing, dealing with agencies etc
• Handyman type services
• Book-keeping and other professional services
• Computer support
• Website design
• Housework / cleaning
• Tutoring and teaching – homework, music, arts, fitness, computers
• Workshops on any subject members wish to learn about
• Home exchange for holidays
• Escorting people on errands and appointments
• Shopping or doing errands for people
• Giving time off to people caring for relatives
• Telephoning – for companionship, membership lists, advertising, language practice
• Languages – translation, conversation
• Counseling people in need
• Food – meal preparation, cooking, baked goods
• Rentals of tools and equipment
• Minor auto and bike repairs
• Gift items, household items, handmade items
• Recycled sports equipment, children’s items etc.
• Space – storage, garage, for activities
• Teaching/supervising others who wish to learn what you know

by Ormita, as submitted by Terry Brandfass of ITEX AZ