From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/18/2012
Barter Deals Drive Silicon Valley�s Mobile
App Economy
A
subset of app makers, disgruntled by the high cost of
acquiring users on mobile networks, have created an informal
barter economy to promote their products � they barter ad
clicks with non-competitors (app developers). The deals are
fueled by relationships: a handshake and trust.
Season Two Of Barter Kings Debuts In January
January
9 is the date for the return of A&E�s second television
season of Barter Kings. The cable channel will be
showing six one-hour episodes this year. The first year had
14 half-hour installments.
Friendliest Cities In The World
Trip
advisor, in their 2012 survey of 75,000 respondents from a
poll conducted by Brainbox Research, has announced the
friendliest cities in the world. Also listed are the least
friendly cities.
Friendliest Cities:
1)
Cancun
2) Tokyo
3) Lisbon
4) Istanbul
5) Cape Town
6) Dubrovnik
7) Bangkok
8) Punta Cana
9) Amsterdam
10) Copenhagen
Least
Friendly Cities:
10)
Mumbai
9) Marrakech
8) Paris
7) Zurich
6) Brussels
5) Dubai
4) Beijing
3) Hong Kong
2) London
1) Moscow
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/11/2012
Airline Passengers� Most Annoying Habits
Here�s a quick look at the most annoying habits of airline
habits, based on a recent survey of 700 airline workers in
85 countries. The top most hated passenger habits include:
1) Clicking their fingers to get a flight attendant�s
attention.
2) Trying to get off the plane before the pilot gives the
signal.
3) Stuffing too much in the overhead compartment.
4) Complaining about the lack of space in the overhead
compartment.
5) Talking through the safety demonstrations.
Are you guilty of any of these? Hopefully not!
Is the
End Of The VC Industry Just Around The Corner?
Venture Capital firms have been the finance engines for most
of the Silicon Valley startups. As a result, young twenty-somethings
have become very rich when their ideas were (investor)
backed and taken public by the venture capitalists. One of
the fabled experts, Mary Meeker of Kleiner Perkins (one of
the oldest and most respected venture capital firms in
Silicon Valley), says things are about to change � as
recently announced in her annual Internet trends report.
In short, Meeker says the world will look completely
different in five years due to startling innovations taking
place, and the magnitude of upcoming changes will be
stunning. Meeker notes that the Internet movement is still
in spring training (a time period prior to the real season
starting).
One of the most startling ideas she shares is that the
entrepreneurs of the future will prefer to take money from a
bunch of average-Joe investors through a kickstarter-type
online platform, instead of the Kleiner Perkinses of the
world. She contends that in five years there won�t be a VC
industry left, as all the non big-name VC firms are folding.
Their partners are retiring and they�re closing down. What�s
ahead? New platforms and business models are being created
to fill the void.
Reviews Turn Into Revenue
Travelocity, one of the world�s largest travel sites, found
that if a hotel gets a one-star jump on the travel site�s
five-star scale, the hotel can increase its price by 11.2%
and keep the same occupancy rates. Additionally, more
favorable reviews can have a bigger financial effect on
economy and mid-scale hotels than on luxury brands.
Humorous Thoughts For The Week �
�
A minor
operation is one performed on another person.
�
There�s
another advantage of being poor, a doctor will cure you
faster.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/4/2012
TAC Announces Annual Holiday Barter Expo
TradeAmericanCard has been staging their annual Barter Expo
in Orange County (CA), for over three decades. This year�s
event will be held at the Business Expo Center in Anaheim on
Saturday, December 8, from 10am to 3pm.
For more information, contact TAC at (949) 225-6000.
ITEX Of San Diego Barter Fair Scheduled
On Sunday, December 16, from 10am to 2pm, the San Diego ITEX
Barter Fair (www.ITEXinSanDiego.com)
will be held at the California Fruit Wine Company building
in Vista.
For more info, call Art Kaliel at (760) 613-6412.
$80 Billion In Incentives Offered For
Relocating
According to the New York Times, states, counties and
cities, are aggregately providing over $80 billion,
annually, in incentives to companies that are willing to
locate in their area. However, the actual benefits accrued
aren�t known, because municipalities don�t often track how
many jobs the firms bring into the area.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/13/2012
Americans Concerned That Nest Egg Not Enough
According to the fall
2012 Merrill Edge Report (compiled by Bank of
America/Merrill Lynch), Americans with $50,000 to $250,000
in investable assets don�t feel they�ve saved enough for
retirement. And, they�re planning on retiring later than
they thought 12 months ago. The report also noted that
Generation Y (18 to 34 years old) is the generation most
concerned about meeting their financial goals.
Generation Y�s Organization Plans To Fight Back
A new group called
the Can Kicks Back (www.theCanKicksBack.org)
aims to give Americans age 19-to-34 years old a voice in the
debate over tax hikes and budget cuts, looming next year if
the U.S. Congress and the president cannot agree on a
deficit reduction plan. As motivation for Generation Y to
support this effort, the group is using the seriousness of
the $71 trillion national debt � which includes not only the
official national debt of $16 trillion, but the unfunded
liabilities such as Social Security, Medicare, government
pensions and military obligations.
The Can Kicks Back
goal is to pressure Congress and the White House to a �bold,
balanced and bipartisan �grand bargain� on fiscal issues� by
the Fourth of July. To accomplish that, the group wants
young people to commit to making a 30-second phone call each
week to a member of Congress, pushing for a deficit
reduction deal.
Restaurants Changing Strategy To Lure Diners
During the recession,
offering deals on meals was the key to getting patrons into
restaurants. With the economy improving, that�s no longer
the attraction it once was. Now there�s an increased focus
on healthful eating and premium options on more upscale
foods. Young patrons are also more interested in ethnic
foods and alcoholic drinks.
A Wise
Man�s Insights Regarding Wealth �
"The art of getting
rich consists not in industry, much less in saving, but in a
better order, in timeliness, in being at the right spot."
�Ralph Waldo Emerson (1830-1882)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/06/2012
Thinking & Action � A Way To Develop Your
Business
The owner of a small Chicago diner came up with a novel
approach for developing personal contacts, to market and
generate traffic to his establishment. He did so by standing
outside his diner and hailing cabbies. Each time a taxi
stopped he would literally hop inside and ride around the
block, all the while extolling the virtues of his diner to
the cab driver.
He would then tip them $5 and invite them in for a free
lunch, handing them his restaurant scrip. Before long, he
had a fleet of cabbies recommending his diner to all the
tourists they picked up.
Allyson Ames � Ernst & Young Winner For
Entrepreneurial Efforts
The daughter of long-time barter industry veterans Mike &
Sondra Ames (TradeAmericanCard), Allyson Ames is one of
eleven winners recognized nationwide by E&Ys prestigious
2012 Entrepreneurial Winning Women.
Ms. Ames founded Wonderland Bakery in 2005, and more
recently
WonderlandLifestyleBrands.com.
For more information on Wonderland Bakery,
click here.
TeachersPayTeachers.com Launched By Former
Teacher
We always find it intriguing to happen upon a web-site that
provides a need, as does
TeachersPayTeachers.com. It�s one of the largest
web-sites for assisting teachers, not only to distribute
their material but to learn ideas from other educators as
well.
The site was embarked upon in 2006 by a former teacher in
New York. There are presently about 300,000 items for sale,
including more than 50,000 free items. Since its inception,
more than one million teachers have bought or sold items on
the site.
Roy Flis Passes
Long-time trade exchange owner Roy Flis passed away
September 9, 2012, in Houston from diabetes complications at
the age of 73. According to his widow Heidi, Roy had been in
and out of the hospital numerous times during the past year
as a result of his illness.
Flis entered the barter industry in 1980 by founding Empire
Barter in New York. He later was the co-founder of National
TradeBanc, headquartered in Houston (TX).
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/30/2012
IRTA Pushing Social Media Movement
The Marketing & Social Media Committee of the International
Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) is encouraging the
worldwide barter community to embrace the social media arena
by participating in various endeavors.
For more information or suggestions regarding this medium
see, click
here.
NATE�s 2013 Convention Site Selected
The National Association of Trade Exchange�s Board of
Directors has announced that next year�s convention is
scheduled for May 16 - 18, Thursday through Saturday. The
venue will be the Wyndham Riverfront, located on the
Arkansas River in North Little Rock. Southern Barter
Exchange will host the annual convention.
For more information,
click
here.
Barter Expo�s Scheduled�
ITEX
has chosen the Fairplex, located at the Los Angeles County
Fairgrounds in Pomona, for the location of this year�s
Holiday Barter Fair. The all-day event is scheduled for
November 18, the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
For more details call 909-592-7727.
New England Trade
will hold
its 16th Annual Barter Expo on December 4 from 5:30pm to
9:30pm, at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers,
Massachusetts.
For more information call 781-388-9200.
TradeAmericanCard�s
annual
Barter Expo will be held December 8, from 10am to 8pm at the
Business Expo Center in Anaheim, California.
For more details call 949-225-6000.
Massive Deleveraging Underway
Gary Shilling, president of A. Gary Shilling & Co. which
analyzes the global economy and manages money, says a
�massive deleveraging� is the source of the slowdown in the
global economy. It began three years ago and will likely
continue for another five to seven years, driving the global
economy into a recession in 2013.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/16/2012
U.S. Households Pare Down Debt
Households today are paying less than 16% of after-tax
income to cover debt payments and lease obligations, the
smallest share since 1984, Federal Reserve data shows. And
with less debt weighing them down, consumers are feeling
more upbeat today than they have in five years, according to
the University of Michigan survey of consumers this month.
This could translate into a little more spending and risk
taking.
Trade Exchange Member Says �Thanks For The
Great Service!�
Here�s the copy of a letter from a member of the New
Orleans-based Crescent City Trade Exchange (www.CrescentCityTrade.net):
�Just wanted to take a moment to say that I had incredible
service from the CCTE staff in the last two weeks. I am sure
I�m the first to complain when it�s not as I perceive it
should. So, when the stars are all aligned and it�s perfect,
it�s time for acknowledgment.�
Coming Soon, Dining During Peak Hours Will
Cost More
According to Hudson Riehle, Senior VP of research for the
National Restaurant Association, in the next decade it will
make perfect sense for some top-end restaurants to adjust
pricing by not only time of day, but day of week, and even
season of the year.
Micro Businesses � 28 Million Strong!
They�re called micro-businesses because they consist of ten
or fewer employees. And a sweeping 95% of all USA businesses
fall into that category. Even when counting only the firms
that employ people other than their owner, micro-businesses
still represent a whopping 80% of firms.
Companies with up to 49 employees have been responsible for
50% of added jobs overall. Oftentimes, those firms capacity
for expanding is tied to their ability to access working
capital. To that end, the Small Business Administration
(SBA) recently announced it supported more than $30 billion
in loan volume last year � the second largest total ever.
Getting capital into the hands of small business owners is
one way to facilitate digging out of the recession.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/09/2012
NATE�s 2013 Convention Site Selected
The National Association of Trade Exchange�s board of
directors has announced that their 2013 convention is
scheduled for May 16 -18 at the Wyndham Riverfront in Little
Rock, overlooking the Arkansas River. Southern Barter
Exchange will host the annual convention.
For more information,
click
here.
Largest Southern California Barter Fair
Slated For November 18
The Fairplex, at the LA County Fairgrounds in Pomona, will
be the site for this year�s ITEX Holiday Barter Fair. It
will take place November 18, the Sunday before Thanksgiving,
from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
For more details, call 909-592-7727.
�You Can�t Kiss All The Pretty Girls�
Steve Jillings, CEO of TeleSign (a California company that
provides security to some of world�s largest consumer web
sites), says the best business advice he ever received was
from an older businessman when he was working in Canada.
Jillings was trying to tackle several opportunities when
told that he couldn�t kiss all the pretty girls. In other
words a person must realize that instead of having too many
�irons in the fire,� one has to choose one project to focus
on.
Jillings feels that 2012 offers more opportunities (in this
day and age) than there�s ever been in our history. But one
must work smart, and not on a whim. He affirms that building
a plan with the right strategic decisions will allow you to
grow faster than your competitors. It is also beneficial to
choose a field that�s about to take off.
New Real Estate App � HomeSnap
This new application allows you to take a smart-phone photo
of just about any house (the company claims to have 90
million of them in its database) and the app�s GPS functions
will supply you with complete details on current value,
square footage, most recent sale price, taxes, schools and
other information.
It�s the creation of Sawbuck Realty, and is available for
iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, with an Android version coming
soon.
Here�s What Your Representatives Are Worth �
Disclosure and public records for all U.S. Congressional
members from 2004 to 2010 show the following:
By 2010, the median estimated wealth for members of the
House of Representatives was $746,000, and for senators it
was $2.6 million. There was virtually no difference between
the wealth of Republicans and
Democrats in 2010. (However, the net worth of Republicans
was 44% higher than the net worth of Democrats just six
years earlier in 2004.)
Where Do The Wealthiest Expatriates Live?
Singapore is the most favored �expat� destination, for both
making money and accumulating luxuries. Bermuda and Thailand
followed Singapore, with three other Asian countries � Hong
Kong, China and Vietnam � making the top ten.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/02/2012
Greco Begins Five-Week European Tour This
Week
Monetary expert and
author Thomas Greco, Jr., has begun a five-week tour this
month to Switzerland, Greece and the UK. To stay abreast of
Greco�s writings and speaking efforts go to:
http://beyondmoney.net. His latest book, �The End of
Money and the Future of Civilization,� can be ordered from
Chelsea Green Publishing, Amazon.com or your local
bookstore.
Sponsorships For Pro Basketball Team Available On ITEX
The San Diego Surf �
a pro basketball team in the American Basketball Association
� is offering various sponsorship packages through ITEX on
trade.
For further
information contact Ramon Rodriquez at 619-472-2929
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/25/2012
Quick Way To Keep �Em Happy
When business slows, hiring a part-time worker will save a
few needed dollars. But you don�t want to lessen
productivity, so make the part-timer feel valued. What�s
required to do so? Spending a focused five minutes with them
every time they come to work, to bring them up to speed on
anything that�s taken place over the past day.
Florida-Located Holiday Inn Adjusting With
Barter
The director of sales at the Holiday Inn near St.
Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport says bartering
has �come to the forefront because of the economy.� The Inn
recently accepted carpet cleaning in exchange for 6 nights �
normally a $750 cash fee.
Meanwhile, Florida Barter (www.FloridaBarter.com)
reportedly did some $18 million in 2011 transactions.
In
Case You Didn�t Know . . .
�
There
are now 2,160 billionaires in the world.
�
The
organic food purchases are experiencing three-to-four times
the growth rate of the overall food market.
�
Farmland prices nationwide are topping $10,000 an acre. As
an asset class, interest in owning and diversifying in
farmland has been on the rise � especially since a 10-year
Treasury Bond won�t even get you a measly 2% return. Because
global demand for food and grains will only keep rising,
farmland appears to be a sound long-term investment.
Finding The Perfect Cruise
For browsing (and booking, if desired) more than 20 cruise
lines and 200 ships, go to
www.Cruise.com. Its CruiseFinder is a good source,
and runs on Android, iPad, iPhone and Kindle Fire.
Additional sources for finding the perfect cruise would
include
www.CruiseWise.com and
www.CruiseComplete.com.
Do You Have A Phobia Of Being Without
Technology?
Nomophobia, or the fear of being without mobile technology,
is growing. Some two-thirds of the population is fearful of
losing or being without their mobile phone, according to a
Newport Beach (CA) Morningside Recovery Center.
For further
information
click
here.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/18/2012
Bartering Of Bacon Fuels Cross-Country Trek
Oscar Mayer is
sponsoring the cross-country trip of comedian and actor Josh
Sankey. It�s a most unusual ad campaign as Sankey�s only
currency � to pay for various goods and services � is 3,000
pounds of Oscar Mayer�s new Butcher Thick Cut bacon.
Back in 1984
BarterNews magazine sponsored a trip from Los Angeles up
the West Coast into British Columbia, Canada, using a
similar strategy using California-grown products. Several
articles reported on the two-week trip in early editions of
the magazine, highlighting the travelers experiences and how
the products were traded for travel accommodations, fine
meals, and other items.
Who
Needs A Bank? Un-banked Population Grows To 17 Million
About 8.2% of the
U.S. population (17 million people) manage their finances
without checking or savings accounts at insured
institutions. Instead, many of them are relying on
non-banks, such as payday lenders and check-cashing stores.
(This information is
from the FDIC�s National Survey of Un-banked and
Under-banked Households.)
Correction On Last Week�s ZanderBoard Announcement
Our article about the
2-day ZanderBoard trading session of real estate and
personal property, beginning October 1 in the Atlanta (GA)
area, listed an incorrect phone number.
For further
information please call Raye Turner at 404-680-9790.
Kayak
� All-In-One Search Engine For Trip Planners
Planning a trip? This
site is for trip planners in that it has prices and deals
across all major hotel, airline and car-rental sites, plus
online travel agents. The Kayak search engine (www.Kayak.com)
runs on Android, BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone, and Windows
Phone.
Strabley Pens Article
IMS Barter president
John Strabley has authored an article on the merits of
barter, specifically explaining how this business tool can
assist a furniture business owner and increase sales
production.
IMS Barter is one of
the largest trade exchanges in the U.S., with membership of
over 20,000 businesses nationwide.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/11/2012
ZanderBoard Scheduled For Atlanta
A ZanderBoard Trading Session is scheduled for two days in
Conyers (GA), beginning October 1. Traders of real estate
and/or personal property interested in more details should
phone Raye Turner at 770-509-9790.
TransMediaBarter Makes Purchase
TransMediaBarter purchased the Vermont Barter Network.
Leslie Swanson, founder and former owner, will continue
working with her clients under the new TransMediaBarter
management.
Clinton�s Take-Action Conference Meets Again
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton�s 8th Annual
Philanthropic Summit is scheduled for September 23, 24, and
25 in New York City. The idea for the summit came from
Clinton�s frustration (during his tenure as President
1993-2001), at attending conferences that prompted no
action. So far the summit has produced more than 2,100
pledges valued at nearly $70 billion.
Who attends? Heads of state, business leaders, humanitarians
and celebrities meet and make commitments to tackle the
world�s woes. (Note: Both President Obama and Mitt Romney
will be speaking on Thursday the 25th to the
attendees.)
Travelers To Chicago Faced With Highest Taxes
Traveling costs to various cities can be quite revealing,
given the tax burdens charged. These include sales taxes
plus taxes charged to travelers each day for car rentals,
hotel stays and meals.
Here�s a look at the highest average costs-per-day which are
found in the following cities: Chicago $40.31, New York
$37.98, Boston $34.84, Kansas City (MO) $34.58, and Seattle
$34.43.
The three lowest average costs are found in Florida (Fort
Lauderdale, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach) at $22.21 per
day. The next lowest cities are in California: Burbank
$22.74, Orange County $22.79, and Ontario $24.08. The
research for the taxes imposed on traveler costs was done by
the GBTA Foundation (Global Business Travelers Association).
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/04/2012
Free World-Class Education For Anyone,
Anywhere
A dramatic improvement with online education is now
available worldwide via the Internet. Bill Gates� children
are among those using it, as well as some 4 million other
students (mostly Americans) taking advantage of the free,
incredible services in the form of 10-minute educational
sessions.
This movement, according to Gates and other experts, offers
tremendous potential for a more efficient way of learning.
This new opportunity promises the potential to make the
world a better place through education for the masses.
Check this out at
www.KHANacademy.org.
Green Apple Trade Show
The 21st Annual Green-Apple Trade Show & Charity
Gala is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, at the Consol
Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
For more information call Diane Gasper at 412-821-0280.
Southwest Airlines Earns Big Money By Selling
Frequent-Flier Miles
Airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany, says Southwest is
among the top 10 airlines around the world that generate the
most revenue from extra passenger charges. A big chunk of
their extra $1.18 billion (money earned outside of ticket
sales) comes from the sale of frequent-flier points to
credit card companies.
More Money Spent On Vacations Suggests Times
Getting Better
Americans are more interested in having a good time on
vacation, than in saving money, according to a new survey by
MMGY Global. The study found the average spent on vacations
over the past twelve months has grown to $4,461 compared
with $3,874 during the same period two years ago. Today more
travelers are spending time to choose the destination of
their trip versus first setting up a budget for the
vacation.
Highest In 50 Years: Americans Over 65
Looking For Work
Many older workers are not claiming their Social Security
benefits just yet. In fact, seniors claiming Social Security
benefits fell last year to the lowest level since 1976.
That�s because nearly 20% of Americans ages 65 and older are
working or looking for jobs � the highest in half a century.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/28/2012
Americans� Middle Class Feeling The Squeeze
A Pew Research study
reports that the middle-class share of America�s income is
shrinking. The middle class is defined as those adults with
annual household incomes ranging from $39,000 to $118,000,
which is 50% of the population.
Some 85% of
middle-class Americans say it�s more difficult to maintain
their standard of living today, and 62% of them blame
Congress for the difficult times. Median net worth for the
middle class fell 28% over the last decade from $129,000 in
2001 to $93,000 today, wiping out two decades of gains.
RIP:
Yellow Pages Publishers
Recently the last two
significant public players in the struggling
local-directories business merged � Dex One & SuperMedia.
Little is left of this industry which previously had vast
cash flows, that supported tens-of-billions in debt (loans)
used to fund both buyouts and robust shareholder dividends.
A decade ago, four
publishers plied this field, each owned by the big telephone
companies. Just two large players remain today � At&T and
the merged company as mentioned. Their demise: U.S. spending
on print Yellow Pages advertisements last year was down 40%
from its 2005 peak seven years ago.
Mind-boggling Technology Just Around The Corner
Harvard University
molecular geneticist George Church is the senior researcher
of a new project that is expected to produce data-storage
devices with vastly more capacity for their size than
today�s computer chips and drives. According to Church it
will be �a device the size of your thumb that will be able
to store as much information as the whole Internet.�
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/21/2012
U.S. Entrepreneurship Turning Downward
The non-profit New American Foundation says America is
seriously in danger of losing its entrepreneurial spirit,
because the number of small businesses created has been
declining since the 1970s.
The entrepreneurial businesses of 30 or 40 years ago have
been consolidated � specifically in the retail space. With
the advent of big-box retailers like WalMart, Costco and
Walgreen�s, as well as internet operators like Amazon, it�s
very difficult to start a new retail business selling
toasters and appliances.
Maybe we need a new definition of entrepreneurship, too.
People used to start a business with the idea of building
wealth and passing it on to their kids. Now, what�s
considered a small business is more and more someone working
on a contract for a company that may have laid them off
recently.
Creativity Aids Small Business Marketing
Small businesses can save marketing costs through free
marketing options such as speaking engagements, local
networking events, and engagements in social media and
business review sites.
Writer-Actor Uses Barter In Directorial Debut
Actor Martin Papazian raised $50,000 through small loans
from friends and family to fund his directorial feature-film
debut, �Least Among Saints.� The film follows the unlikely
friendship between a suicidal Marine sergeant, suffering
from posttraumatic stress disorder, back from two tours in
Iraq and the 10-year-old boy next door who is being raised
by his drug-addicted mother.
Papazian, who wrote the scrip and plays the protagonist,
shot the story at a �breakneck speed,� wrapping up the
photography in 19 days. And he bartered with the cast and
crew for a profit participation wherein they all become
investors and owners of a share of the movie.
To help get the word out, veteran groups and military
families will see screening of the film and create a
social-media presence concentrating on the armed forces.
IRTA Extends Convention Discount
The 33rd annual IRTA convention, to be held in
September, has extended the convention discount through
August 31.
For details and registration
click here.
David Siegel, King of Timeshares, Updated
Fifteen years ago BarterNews interviewed the CFO of
Central Florida Investments (CFI), parent company of
Westgate Resorts, the largest privately held timeshare
company in the world, and a company started in the garage of
founder, CEO David Siegel. The interview showed how CFI
astutely used barter to cover many of their on-going
expenses.
Now, some 15 years later, a new film titled Queen of
Versailles is in the movie theatres. It graphically
illustrates how the housing balloon explosion of 2008
affected the Siegel family�s fortune, and the lives of some
7,000 Westgate Resort employees who were subsequently laid
off.
The title of the movie refers to the 90,000 square-foot home
David and his wife Jackie were building (modeled after the
famous French Versailles palace) prior to the real estate
downturn. Hailed as the largest private residence in the
U.S., their unfinished $100 million home is now in
foreclosure.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/14/2012
Australia�s Bartercard South Gold Coast Has
Facebook Page
The well-managed Bartercard South Gold Coast is led by
Andrew Federowsky, one of the founders of Bartercard and a
member of the International Reciprocal Trade Association�s
Barter Hall of Fame. The Australian trade exchange has a
most interesting Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/BartercardSGC.
Hot-Dog Chain Founder Asks $25 Million For
Colorado Property
John Galardi, founder of the hot dog chain Weinerschnitzel,
has his Snowmass (CO) ranch on the market for $25 million.
(Its location is about fifteen minutes from downtown Aspen.)
Galardi, who worked at Taco Bell before he went out on his
own, often appears in his company�s TV ads which promote 5
chili hot dogs for $5.
He is selling the 56-acre ranch which includes a
12,000-square-foot main house, a three-bedroom guest house,
along with a 7,000-square-foot equestrian facility with a
12-stall barn, because his children are grown.
Immigrants Favor Opening Up Small Businesses
Immigrants coming to America are more inclined to own small
businesses than native-born Americans. In doing so they�re
energizing local economies and reshaping communities.
Immigrants represent 13% of the population, but account for
19% of the country�s small businesses, according to the
nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute. Small businesses are
defined as companies with fewer than 100 employees.
New Technology: Experimental Camera Boasts
1-Billion Pixels
Scientists at Duke University have built an experimental
camera that allows the user � after a photo is taken � to
zoom in on the image in extraordinary detail. Although a
long way from becoming a salable product, the device, called
Aware-2, could fundamentally alter the way images are
captured and viewed.
The new camera collects more than 30 times as much picture
data as today�s best consumer digital devices. Existing
cameras can take photographs that have pixel counts in the
tens of millions. The Duke device produces a still or video
image with a billion pixels, that is five times as much
detail as can be seen by a person with 20/20 vision. The $25
million project is funded by the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency.
Small Business Suppliers Being Strong-Armed
By Larger Firms
Small businesses are waiting longer for commercial customers
to pay their bills, as many big companies continue to hoard
cash to bolster their own working capital. Many small
business owners say they�re seeing payments from larger
firms stretching from 30 days to 60, and even 90 days after
an invoice is issued. The longer wait is taking a toll on
the small businesses, which often have to borrow at costly
rates to fill their cash-flow gaps in between payments.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/31/2012
Charlie Sheen�s Huge Barter Deal
Actor
Charlie Sheen�s barter deal, on his starring role in the
comedy �Anger Management,� is very big bet on himself. If
the show is purchased by the FX Network for an additional 90
episodes, which is expected, Sheen will be a far richer
actor. That�s because Sheen took less salary per show in
lieu of a 40% equity stake (bartering for an ownership
position). His stake would be immensely valuable when the
show is syndicated in both overseas and domestic markets.
Potential More Exciting Than Performance
It�s not
what you have achieved, but what you might achieve, that�s
most exciting. According to a new study by scholars at
Stanford and Harvard, people get more excited about
individuals with potential and promise than those with
actual proven performance. Plus, they are more willing to
hire and pay more for these high-potential candidates.
Time Your Purchases �
� The best
time to book a cruise is January through March, known as the
�wave season.� Because that�s when cruise lines unleash
summer cruise deals to compete for customers.
� For
airlines,
Farecompare.com found that Tuesday at 3 P.M. is the
cheapest time to buy a ticket. And the cheapest day to fly
is Wednesday.
� When
buying a car, you�ll get the best deal with the best
selection of options if you buy in August � but for a steal,
wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Changing Attitudes Cause Another New Trend
More than
90% of colleges now offer some sort of programming for
parents of incoming freshman, and 31% of colleges have a
parent office on campus, according to data collected by the
National Orientation Directors Association in 2011. Twenty
years ago parent-specific programs were rare at colleges,
according to Joyce Holl, executive director of the
association.
Technology Affects Post Office
The U.S. Postal Service is likely to default on two upcoming
payments of about $5.5 billion to its pension plan, although
service will not be affected. The reason for the revenue
shortfall? Internet technology. First-class mail volumes are
down 25% since 2006, and are expected to fall another 30% in
the next 5 years. A radical reshaping of the agency appears
to be the only way out of this adverse situation.
Top
|
|
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/24/2012
NATE Convention Registration Extended
Registration for the annual NATE Convention, to be held
August 16-18 in Atlanta at the Marriott Gwinnett Place and
hosted by The Barter Company (www.barterco.com),
has been extended through August 1. An exceptional pricing
offer is available for owners who wish to bring their top
brokers to the national convention.
For
information and registration
click
here.
BloombergBusinessWeek
Writes About IMSBarter
The former
magazine, BusinessWeek, now known as
BloombergBusinessWeek after Bloomberg�s acquisition of
the famed business magazine, has published an extensive
article on the 16,000 member International Monetary Systems�
IMSBarter trade exchange.
CEO John
Strabley was interviewed for the article titled, �Using A
Barter Exchange To Conserve Cash.� It was published under
the heading �Small Business.�
Reshoring Interest Is Growing In USA
About 14%
of U.S. companies surveyed by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), definitely plan to move some of their
manufacturing back home � the latest sign of growing
interest among executives in a strategy known as �reshoring.�
Among the
main reasons cited for reshoring: a desire to get products
to market faster and respond rapidly to customer orders,
savings from reduced transportation and warehousing, plus
improved quality and protection of intellectual property.
What�s Larger Than Credit Card & Auto Loan
Debt?
Would you
believe that student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion and
is now larger than auto and credit card debt combined?
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, that
is now the case. And, statistically, middle-aged Americans
appear to be struggling the most with their debt payments.
The delinquency rate �percentage of debt of which no payment
has been made for 90 days � was 11.9% for debt held by
borrowers aged 40 to 49, as of March. That compares with a
rate of 8.7% for borrowers of all ages.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/17/2012
Speakers At IRTA Annual Convention Announced
Following
welcome remarks by IRTA President Michael Mercier and Ron
Whitney, IRTA�s Executive Director, the opening keynote
address, titled �Barter 3.0 � 21st Century Credit
Clearing and Beyond,� is scheduled at 9AM. on September 14
(Friday). The speaker, Chris Cook, is the former Director of
the International Petroleum Exchange. He will be contrasting
the various architectures of prior barter business models
with today�s models, and present his vision of the industry
in the 21st century and beyond. Cook is now
Senior Research Fellow at University College London and a
principal of Nordic Enterprise Trust.
On
Saturday, September 15, the second keynote speaker will be
Jason Richards, former Director of Marketing at BizX and the
current owner of social media firm Project Bionic. Richards
will talk about �Navigating In The Social Media Sphere In
The Barter Industry � And Maximizing Linkedin.�
For more
information and registration
click here.
Financial Services Professionals Report
Alarming Slide In Ethics
According
to a survey from The Ethics Research Center, some 45% of
Americans working in financial services think they may need
to engage in unethical and illegal activities to get ahead
in their careers. And 26% of the 500 survey respondents have
observed or know first-hand of wrongdoing in the workplace.
Angel Investors Still Actively Prominent In
Innovation Economy
Angels
(investors putting money into young, growing companies)
invested $22.5 billion in 2011, the Center for Venture
Research reports. Angel investors, even in groups, make
their own decisions about where to put their money, and most
like to contribute expertise to their portfolio companies as
well. (Seventy-five percent of angel groups co-invested with
angels in other groups,)
The median
angel investment was $700,000, and angel-funded firms have a
median valuation of $2.5 million before receiving angel
money. More than a third of the deals (35%) were in internet
companies, 21% in software, and 11% in
mobile/telecommunications. California accounted for 18.8% of
the investments, followed by the New England states at 14.5%
and the five-state Great Lakes region at 13.8%.
Looking Into The Future � It�s Amazing!
Someday
Boeing will be making airplane wings without cutting or
bending any metal. The wing would be formed, one razor thin
layer at a time, by fusing powered metal or other materials
with a device resembling a giant office printer.
Such
technology, known as 3-D printing or additive manufacturing,
has been around for 25 years. (It�s been used for making
models, prototypes and smaller items from hearing aids to
hip implants and jewelry. But now bigger manufacturers like
Boeing, General Electric and Honeywell, are exploring ways
to use it for making bigger pieces in higher volumes.
(Boeing already makes about 300 different smaller aircraft
parts using 3-D printing, including ducts that carry cool
air to electronic equipment.)
Some
makers of 3-D printing equipment believe that car-part
stores eventually will keep their inventories in digital
form � as software containing the instructions for making
each item � and �print out� items on demand.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/10/2012
Inflation�s Effect On Earnings
Here�s an
example on the effects of the gradual loss of purchasing
power over time. To keep up with inflation, for example, on
a $100,000 salary earned in 1990 you would have to earn
$172,103.29 in 2011. And what would have cost you $100,000
in 1976 would cost you $381,000 today.
Anbell Trade Exchange Opens With Much Fanfare
In Jamaica
The first
trade exchange in the English speaking Caribbean, Anbell
Trade Exchange, was launched on June 29 at the Wyndham
Kingston hotel. Among the honored guests and speakers were
the country�s prime minister, the minister of Industry,
Investment and Commerce, and the International Reciprocal
Trade Association�s (IRTA) executive director. Anbell Trade
Exchange is an IRTA member.
IRTA�s
33rd annual international convention will be held in Jamaica
on September 13-15, at the all-inclusive Sunset Jamaica
Grande Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios. A never before offer of
$500 UC trade-dollar discount is being made by IRTA, if
convention plans are made by August 1.
For more
details on the first-ever offer
click here.
Professional Advice Online
A new
question-and-answer site offers professional advice to
people willing to pay for it. On Pearlcom LLC�s web site,
answers on legal and health topics will average about $30
apiece, and response times generally take 7.5 minutes. (Pearlcom
raised $25 million in financing from investors.)
One Trillion Is A Staggering Number �
As a
nation we spent $3.6 trillion last year on federal
government services, and about 33% (one of every three
dollars) of that was borrowed. That�s why our national debt
stands at $15.8 trillion. But how do you get your mind
around such numbers?
Consider
this, if you stacked $100 bills on top of one another, the
pile would be 678 miles high to reach $1 trillion. For our
national debt, which is 15.8 times that amount, the stack
would be 10,712 miles high!
NATE Convention Coming August 2012
The
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) convention on
August 16 thru 18 is coming up soon. This year�s venue will
be the beautiful Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, with
special pricing available for early registration. Plus big
discounts are offered for brokers who attend.
For more
information on the convention and its activities check out
www.natebarter.com or e-mail
Lauren@natebarter.com.
Employee Training Programs Are Huge These
Days
According
to the American Society for Training and Development,
companies are offering more employee training and leadership
development than ever before to boost company efficiency and
output. In 2010, the most recent year of data available,
U.S. businesses spent $171.5 billion on training and
education programs.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/26/2012
Secure Communications Technologies Aiding
Remote Work
The number
of full-time, non-self employed workers who work remotely
(out of the office) has nearly doubled over the last decade,
according to a recent study by the research group Conference
Board. A rapid rise of cheap and secure communications
technologies has sparked a quiet revolution. Despite the
rise, only about 2% of the nation�s full-time employees work
primarily from home.
Are You Ready For Driverless Cars?
Google�s
driverless cars have clocked more than 250,000 miles in
America, and self-driving vehicles are being tested around
the world.
And The World�s Busiest Airport Is ...
The
world�s busiest airport is in Atlanta. Last year 92.4
million passengers traveled through Hartsfield-Jackson,
nearly 15 million more than passed through Beijing, the
world�s second-busiest airport.
Dwindling Estates
Just 55%
of baby boomers said it was important to leave money to
their children, according to a U.S. Trust survey of
investors with at least $3 million in investable assets.
Immigrants Increasingly Becoming
Entrepreneurs
Immigrants
accounted for 18% of the country�s small business owners in
2010, a six-percent increase from two decades earlier. The
study, from the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute,
confirms that business ownership remains a favored way to
earn a living among immigrants.
What�s Better Than Muzak?
Scent
marketing, which is the practice of enhancing an environment
and boosting a brand with evocative scents, has become
almost as ubiquitous as piped-in music from Muzak.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/19/2012
NATE Convention Coming Up In August
The
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) convention is
just two months away. This year�s venue will be at the
beautiful Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, August 16-18.
Special pricing is available for early registration, plus
big discounts for brokers who attend.
For more
information on this year�s convention plus activities
click
here or email
Lauren@NATEbarter.com.
U.S. Worker-Training Programs Gaining
Adherents
They�re
big in Germany (nearly 2/3 of the country�s workers are
trained through partnerships among companies, technical
schools and trade guilds), and these worker training
programs are expanding in the U.S. as manufacturers grapple
with a paradox � though unemployment remains stuck at 8%,
companies can�t find enough machinists, robotics specialists
and other highly skilled workers to maintain their factory
floors. Thus, an estimated 600,000 skilled, middle-class
manufacturing jobs remain unfilled nationwide.
Time To Embrace People With Ideas
Both of
our political parties claim to love entrepreneurs, yet
America�s immigration system is strangely unwelcoming to
foreign entrepreneurs, even as other nations are rolling out
the red carpet. (Australia, for instance, grants 13 times as
many permanent visas on the basis of skills as the U.S.
does.)
All
countries, however, need entrepreneurs to create new
businesses, new products and new jobs. And migrants are
usually likely to have the necessary get-up-and go. Fact:
40% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or
their children.
American Real Estate Attractive To Foreigners
A
property-buying binge by Asians, Canadians, Europeans and
Latin Americans, is taking place nationwide. International
buyers accounted for $82.5 billion, or 8.9%, of the $928
billion spent on residential U.S. real estate over the last
12 months, according to the National Association of
Realtors. (That was up 24% from the previous 12 month
period.)
Nearly 55%
of all international buyers come from five countries:
Canada, China, Mexico, India and the U.K., and 62% of them
paid all cash for their purchases. The most popular
locations for acquisitions were Florida, California, Texas,
Arizona and New York.
On The Go More Than Ever
Americans
are eating more on the go than anywhere else in the world,
and the trend is growing. Drive-through orders at fast food
restaurants now make up over 70% of all sales. And 17% of
all meals ordered at restaurants in the U.S. are now eaten
in cars, according to the NPD Group, a consumer research
firm.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/12/2012
IRTA Makes Unique Convention Offer
IRTA�s
upcoming 33rd annual international convention, scheduled for
September 13-15, will be held at the all-inclusive Sunset
Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. A never
before discount of 500 UC trade-dollars is being offered by
IRTA for members solidifying their convention plans by
August 1.
For more
details on the unique offer
click here.
Check Your Local TV Listings For �Barter
Kings�
Airing
June 12, on the A&E channel (9pm PDT), is a new show on
bartering that focuses on the fascinating technique of
cashless trading. One example reports on the vintage Elvis
memorabilia that was parlayed into a speedboat.
Financial Vulnerability Abounds In America
According
to a 2011 poll by the Retirement Confidence Survey,
published by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research
Institute, more than 50-percent of all workers or their
spouses have less than $25,000 in household savings
and investments.
Zillow Findings Are Staggering
About 6.2
million U.S. households � one in eight � owe at least 40%
more than their homes are worth. While nearly 2.4 million
households owe more than double what their homes are worth.
85 & Older, Fastest Growing Segment Of U.S.
Population
Thanks to
medical gains a 65-year-old man has a 60% chance of living
to age 80, and a 40% chance of reaching 85. For women, the
odds are 71% and 53% respectively.
Glut Of Attorneys Causes Law Schools To Apply
Brakes
Nearly
45,000 (44,495 this year) law graduates enter the work force
each year. However, the employment of these graduates is at
an 18 year low. Consequently, of the 200 law schools
accredited in the U.S., ten are planning a reduction in
student enrollment. The suggestion of a new reality is
beginning to sink in: The legal profession may never return
to its pre-recession prosperity.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/29/2012
NATE
Convention Details Announced
The National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) has
announced the dates and location for their 2012 convention.
This year�s venue will be at the beautiful Atlanta Marriott
Gwinnett Place, August 16-18. Special pricing is available
for early registration, plus big discounts offered to
brokers who attend.
For further details on this year�s convention, see
www.natebarter.com or e-mail
lauren@natebarter.com.
Fraud
Costs Comprise 5% Of Companies� Revenue
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners,
fraud costs companies 5% of annual revenues, regardless of
the firm�s size. Most fraud � 43% � was exposed because of
an informer�s tip. Internal audits caught 14.4% , management
reviews uncovered 14.6%, 7% are caught by accident, 1.5% by
the thief�s confession and 1.9% through surveillance.
Most
Americans Don�t Trust Real Estate Market
Where do you put your money these days? Home-price tracker
Zillow Inc. reports that 31% of borrowers remain
�underwater� on their mortgages, thus are unable to sell. At
the same time, there is a backlog of foreclosure homes that
the banks have yet to put on the market. Additionally
household income will have to rise when mortgage rates
increase, from today�s artificially low levels, to keep
affordability constant. So it is premature to predict a
boom.
Meanwhile just 15% of Americans trust the stock market,
according to a quarterly survey by the Chicago Booth/Kellogg
School Financial Trust Index.
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
Tired of meetings where no one contributes? Schedule a
mandatory meeting and tell everyone their �admission ticket�
will be an index card with an original idea written on it.
Then, collect the tickets at the door and start the meeting
by reading every person�s idea.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/15/2012
Bragging Is Fun & Pleasurable
Harvard University neuroscientists say that self-disclosure
is extra rewarding. In fact, talking about ourselves �
whether in a personal conversation or through social media
sites like Facebook and Twitter � triggers the same
sensation of pleasure in the brain as food or money.
(About 40% of everyday speech is devoted to telling others
about what we think or feel.)
Noted Financial Expert Defines Inflation
Noted monetary expert James Grant recently defined what
deflation is and isn�t �
Deflation is a derangement of debt, a symptom of which is
falling prices. In a credit crisis when inventories become
unfinanceable, merchandise is thrown on the market and
prices fall. That�s deflation.
Deflation is NOT a drop in prices caused by
technology-enhanced decline in the cost of production.
That�s called progress.
IRTA Pushes Social Media Program
The International Reciprocal Trade Association�s (IRTA)
Board of Director�s has approved the launch of IRTA�s social
media program. The expansive effort will include Facebook,
Twitter and a web site blog, along with the Executive
Director�s Linkedin profile.
Members are encouraged to go to IRTA�s web site (www.irta.com)
and get involved, thereby increasing awareness of the barter
industry to the general public.
Borrowing�s Up For Americans � Except For
Mortgages
In last week�s issue we reported on the big increase of
�renters� in America. Now new reports on consumer borrowing
confirms the movement away from mortgages. Consumer�s
borrowing shows that debt on credit cards, car loans and
student loans, all rose at a seasonal adjusted annual rate
of 10.2% with the exception of mortgages.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/01/2012
Ideas � The Currency Of Success
Ideas also
separate you from your competition. So in today�s capricious
marketplace you should continually ask yourself: �What am I
doing to incorporate barter � the world�s most innovative
business tool � into my company�s plans?�
Postage Rates In Other Countries
The cost
for a postage stamp to mail a first-class letter in the U.S.
is 45-cents. Here�s a look at rates in some other countries:
-
Denmark $1.46
-
Norway
$1.25
-
Liechtenstein $1.06;
-
Cyprus
46-cents
-
Israel
42-cents
-
Hong
Kong 18-cents
-
Brunei
15-cents
-
Qatar
13-cents
Coca Cola, Quite An Investment
One share
of Coca Cola stock purchased for $40 in 1919 would be worth
about $9.8 million today, with all dividends reinvested
annually, the company recently reported. Warren Buffett, CEO
of Berkshire, says Berkshire owns 200 million shares of Coke
($74 a share) and has never sold a single share.
Student Loans Approaching $1 Trillion
Outstanding student loans keep growing and the Federal
Reserve of New York projects that there are 37 million
Americans � 15% of the population � actively paying off this
student debt. Approximately two-thirds of student loans are
held by people under 30.
Women More Goal Oriented Than Men
According
to Pew Research, young women who have already passed young
men in education are now more career-driven as well. About
two-thirds of women between ages 18 and 34 cited a
high-paying career among their top priorities, compared with
59% of young men.
(About 44%
of women age 18 to 24 were enrolled in college or a graduate
program in October 2010, compared with 38% of men the same
age.)
Rogers High On Food Commodities
Renowned
commodities investor Jim Rogers says agriculture will be one
of the most prosperous commodity of the world economy during
the next several decades. He contends that countries will be
scrambling to feed their growing populations, and all food
commodities are set to rise in price.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
04/17/2012
Barter Exchange Software By NexTrade360
Kent
Scrivener of NexTrade360, a management system of barter
exchange software, invites trade exchange owners to view
their offering of lower monthly user fees.
For more
information
click
here
Scamming Of Timeshare Owners Thriving
When times
are tough a lot of former timeshare buyers want to become
sellers. And there are plenty of scam artists posing as
timeshare owners wishing to sell. They will pocket the
upfront fees, as much as $5,000 in some cases, but fail to
provide anything in return.
Don�t be
pressured into paying fees upfront. Structure it so the
agreed upon fees are deducted from the actual sale. And
remember, to finalize a timeshare sale requires a real
estate broker licensed in the state where the timeshare is
located.
Millionaire Ranks Expanding Worldwide With
Asians Leading The Pack
Consulting
firm McKinsey & Co. expects the number of rich people in
Asia to rise 14% a year through 2015, compared with a 4%
growth in Europe and a 5% growth in North America. Led by
India and China, Asia�s millionaire ranks rose 10% to 3.3
million in 2011, just behind the 3.4 million in North
America and ahead of Europe�s 3.1 million, according to the
Merrill Lynch/Capgemini Asia-Pacific wealth report.
America�s Leading Export Is ... TRASH!
According
to the Journal of Commerce, trash has become America�s
leading export, i.e. mountains of waste paper, soiled
cardboard, crushed beer cans and junked electronics. At 7.1
pounds of trash per day, each U.S. citizen is on track to
produce a staggering 102 tons of waste in an average
lifetime. (The average Dane generates four pounds of trash
daily, and the Japanese produce 2.5 pounds per person.)
Small Business Owners Report More Stress
Some 47%
of small business owners fear losing their companies
altogether, according to a new survey by small business
insurer Hiscox USA. Fear of losing a business is second only
to fear of losing customers among entrepreneurs. A third of
these owners say they�re averaging 10 hours of work per day.
Despite
increased stress, 69% said they feel mentally prepared to
tackle the businesses challenges of the year ahead, and 57%
said they expect their businesses to grow in the coming year
� even though only 15% think the economy is recovering.
Here & There �
�
In June
2008, solar-panel manufacturers looked poised to conquer the
world. The 12 largest companies had a combined market value
of about $70 billion, according to Sanford C. Bernstein.
Today they are worth about $6.4 billion. And front-runner
companies don�t always end up dominating their field � First
Solar was solely worth more than $20 billion in 2008, today
they�re worth less than $2 billion.
�
A driver�s
license in Japan costs $2,000, one of the major reasons why
Japan�s automobile-sales market is shrinking.
About 84% of gas stations in the U.S. (92,100) have
convenience stores, with overall profit margins reportedly
only 2% of all revenues. It is the major reason for a 30%
increase in defaults in California, Arizona, and Nevada over
the past two years, according to FedReceiver Inc., a Los
Angeles firm that specializes in taking over distressed
businesses.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
04/10/2012
Barter Reality TV Show Rescheduled
The
filming of the Zander Board reality TV show has been
rescheduled for April 30 (Monday) and May 1
(Tuesday), at the 4-star Hawthorne Suite Hotel. The
facility, just outside Atlanta (GA), was built for the 1996
Olympic Games held in that city.
For
further details and reservations contact Raye Turner,
president of Rayedar Productions, at 678-661-1499.
China Now World�s Largest Art Market
Art
auction house Sotheby�s is launching its own (15,000
sq.-foot) year-round gallery in one of Hong Kong�s prime
commercial areas, the Admiralty Business District, in
mid-May. China�s appetite for art is booming and now has
surpassed the U.S. as the world�s largest art market.
Quick Cash For 1% If You Own Luxury Personal
Assets
Do you own
fine wines, art, diamond jewels or antique cars? If so, and
you want to borrow money, it�s available to you at an
interest rate of 1% through
Borro.com.
Typically they will lend 50% to 70% of the collateral�s
value.
Donate Time To Experience �Time Affluence�
Are you
feeling starved for time? Then it�s time to make a change,
says researchers at the Harvard and Wharton Business
Schools. Their studies show that people who donate time to
others actually experienced a feeling of �time affluence,�
i.e. a sense of having ample time to complete other tasks.
While even small tasks can provide this sense of expanded
time, the more accomplishment one feels the more time they
feel they have.
Sales At Fast-Food Restaurants May Surprise
You
The top
three fast-food chains in America, McDonald�s, Wendy�s and
Burger King, compete feverishly in the marketplace. Their
average annual sales (per restaurant) are: McDonald�s $2.4
million, Wendy�s $1.5 million, and Burger King $1.2 million.
Delta�s �Out Of The Box� Business Plan
Delta Air
Lines is buying an idle Pennsylvania oil refinery for $150
million, which is about the cost of a new wide-bodied
aircraft. They would be the first U.S. airline to own a
refinery. It�s estimated Delta could save up to $20 a barrel
on some of its $140 a barrel fuel costs.
Inasmuch
as they spent $11.7 billion for fuel last year, the world�s
second largest airline likes the potential of the
possibilities.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
04/03/2012
Reality Show About Barter To Be Filmed In Atlanta
Television production company Rayedar Productions Inc., will
be filming a two-day session for a reality TV show on the
Zander Board. Zander Board is a unique way of trading in
real-time using a bulletin board. The scheduled shoot will
be in Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday, the last weekend in
April.
More details as they become available.
Easter
Spending Bodes Well For Economy
Easter is the third biggest holiday in the U.S., behind
Christmas and Valentine�s Day, according to he National
Retail Federation. This year the average person is expected
to spend $145.28, up 11% from last year�s $131.04. All told,
a record $16.8 billion is projected to go into
Easter-related spending.
A
Market With Great Growth Potential
Starbucks plans to triple the size of both its work force
and network in China over the next three years. And why not,
the Chinese consumer drinks an average of three cups of
coffee per year, well below the world�s average of 240 cups,
according to a 2011 study by the China Coffee Industry
Association.
Restaurant Industry Expects More Business
Although about 1% of the restaurant industry�s 560,000
locations have closed so far this year. Restaurant sales are
expected to increase 1.5% over the next three months.
Market research firm Mintel Group predicts that overall
restaurant industry sales for all of 2012 will increase 2.8%
to $416.4 billion, following just a 1.4% gain last year.
(However, sales increases are expected to come from price
increases rather than from additional customer visits.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/27/2012
Bartercard�s SGC Franchise Tops Australia�s
Operations
In 1991,
Andrew Federowsky and Wayne Sharpe � both members of IRTA�s
Barter Hall of Fame � along with Brian Hall were the
founders of Bartercard, which is now the world�s largest
trade exchange.
Federowsky
presently operates Bartercard�s South Gold Coast franchise,
and is very proud of the operation. At the annual Bartercard
Australia Franchise Conference, Bartercard South Gold Coast
was named �Franchise Of The Year,� as well as earning �Top
Trading & Sales in all of Australia.�
Their
management team is comprised of Darryl Toreaux, who was
named �Sales Manager of the Year,� and Renee Drew, who was
runner up for the �Trading Manager of the Year.�
For more
on Bartercard Australia
click
here.
Green Is Growing Dramatically
Hazel
Henderson, futurist and president of Ethical Markets Media (www.ethicalmarkets.com),
reports that over $3.3 trillion has been invested globally
in green companies and technologies by the private sector
since 2007.
Luxury-Fashions Market Booms In China
Sales of
luxury fashion and accessories to Chinese buyers at home and
abroad totaled $40 billion last year, up 33% from the year
before, according to consulting firm Boston Consulting
Group.
Luxury
spending in Greater China, including Hong Kong and Macau,
ranked third globally after the U.S. and Japan. Research by
Bain & Co. reports that China is poised to become the #1
luxury market overall by 2020, with anticipated sales of
$101 billion.
Predictions By Top Economist, Who�s Been
Mostly Right
Gary
Shilling of A. Gary Shilling & Co., is a low-key type of guy
who has been remarkably correct in his statements on the
economy. He was the first and only voice to predict the huge
housing bubble months prior to the 5-year debacle. So what
is Shilling saying these days about the economy?
He doesn�t
have a reassuring message that the economy is recovering,
like so many of the analysts do. He contends most analysts
are much too optimistic about the stock market and earnings
this year, believing that deflation is a bigger problem than
inflation. Furthermore, he says housing prices have another
20% to fall before that market can turn around.
Wayne Sharpe Steps Down As CEO Of Bartercard
There will
be a new management team for Bartercard � the world�s
largest trade exchange. Pioneer Wayne Sharpe, after 21 years
in the business, has sold his interest in the company and
will be building a new carbon-trading company, Carbon Trade
Exchange (CTE) based in Sydney.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/20/2012
A Quick Look At America�s Debt
U.S.
household debt is $13.32 trillion in the fourth quarter,
reports the Federal Reserve. Well off the peak reached in
2007, but historically it still looks awfully steep. (In the
1990s, the debt-to-income ratio averaged 85%, today it�s
113%, but better than the 2007 peak of 130%.)
The value
of household assets, adjusted for inflation, is at 2005
levels. The value of real estate holdings � where most
middle class wealth is tied up � is at 2001 levels, which
leaves many families ten years closer to retirement, with
little or nothing to show for it.
Trans Media Barter Opens Office In South
Africa
Des
Langkilde will be heading up the Trans Media Barter office
in South Africa from Durban. Langkilde has a background in
the publishing business.
For more
information Trans Media Barter
click here.
Tradebank Sponsors Car In NASCAR Series
Tradebank
International celebrates its 25th year of business with a
NASCAR sponsorship of a car and driver (Tommy Baldwin
Racing) in the Sprint Cup Series. Tradebank is a
privately-held trade exchange headquartered in Laurenceville,
(GA).
For more
information on Tradebank
click
here.
Many Small Companies Are �Going It Alone�
The U.S.
Census Bureau and IRS says there are more than 21 million
businesses in the United States with no employees.
Nationwide there are approximately 8 million companies with
employees.
How To Quickly Ascertain �Fair Value� For A
Home
To quickly
measure if homes in your area are overpriced versus a fair
value, simply multiply the nearby gross annual rents about
15 times. Real estate economists say when home prices are 15
times annual rents or lower, it makes more sense to buy than
rent.
That�s now
the case in about three-quarters of American cities. Here
are some of the price-to-rent ratios in large urban areas:
-
Las
Vegas 6
-
Sacramento 8
-
San
Antonio 10
-
Miami
13
-
Chicago 15
-
San
Francisco 24
-
New
York 36
Celebrity Endorsements Aren�t Done Quickly
A
celebrity product endorsement is like a marriage, in that
the relationship runs deep. A 360-degree package might
include blog posts, tweets and attendance at sales calls. In
return the celebrity can demand stock options or a
percentage of sales, with a multi-year deal sometimes paying
tens-of-millions of dollars. Of course, the not so fun part
of the transaction is the approximately four months of
negotiations with agents, publishers, as well as the record
label and musicians, if the celebrity is a singer.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/13/2012
American Consumers Improving Their Balance
Sheets
Americans
are reducing their debts and increasing their incomes �
either from working longer and saving, or by investing in
the financial markets. U.S. households� net worth (the value
of their homes, stocks and other investments minus debts and
other liabilities) rose $1.2 trillion to $58.5 trillion from
October through December. The increase came as the Dow Jones
Industrial Average rallied nearly 12%.
New Game For Sellers Of Businesses
Looking to
sell your business? Don�t expect to throw the keys to the
buyer, grab a check, and hit the exit. Today you�ll be asked
to help finance the sale (typically 50% to 80%) and be paid
in installments over time.
Plus many
buyers will want you to continue working at the firm post
sale, so they can more easily take over the managerial role
without disrupting employee or customer relationships. The
median sale price of a small business sold last year was
$155,000, 18% less than in 2008.
Most Business Travelers Go It Alone
According
to PhoCusWright research, some 30.7 million Americans or
roughly 13% of the adult population, took at least one
business trip last year. It was also noted that 70% of
surveyed U.S. business travelers work for companies that had
no policies on booking channels or supplier usage. Companies
with managed travel programs were found most often to have
5,000 or more employees.
Plastic Surgeon Will Barter For A Video
Dr. Michael
Salzhauer, leading Miami Plastic Surgeon at Bal Harbour
PlasticSurgery Associates, recently announced �A Nose Job
Love Song Giveaway.� Dr. Salzhauer�s contest involves
creating your own video about needing a nose job to the
newly released song �Nose Job Love� by the Groggers.
The
contestant who gets the most views on YouTube will win a
free Rhinoplasty, with free airfare to Miami and lodging.
For more
information contact Kathryn Kelly at (508) 643-8000.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/06/2012
America�s Wealthy Losing Their Homes
Multi-million dollar homes are becoming more commonplace in
America�s foreclosure pipeline. According to RealtyTrac, our
nation�s wealthiest families are now losing their homes at a
faster rate than the rest of the country.
Out of all
foreclosure activity, the share of foreclosure activity on
multi-million dollar properties � homes valued at more than
$2 million � jumped by 273% ( almost triple) since 2007.
Whereas more than 36,000 homes valued at $1 million or more
were foreclosed on, or at least served with a notice of
default, last year. RealtyTrac anticipates that number will
rise in 2012.
Where To Find Cheapest Gas When Traveling
Before
taking off on your next road trip, save cash by knowing
where to gas up along the way. Consider these three web
sites:
www.fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com,
www.costtodrive.com, and
www.gasbuddy.com.
You can
also enter your start and finish address or city, and your
car�s make and model, for the approximate cost of gas for
the journey. Phone apps are available for both CostToDrive
and GasBuddy.
All Areas Of The Country Showing Growth
Good news!
The U.S. economy has started off the year with higher retail
sales, more jobs and growth in home sales, in all 12 of its
banking districts, as reported by the Federal Reserve.
Insiders Selling Stock
The people
running America�s listed companies (those publicly-traded)
are selling shares at the fastest pace since May 2011,
TrimTabs Investment Research disclosed. Company insiders
bought just $1 of stock for every $13 of selling.
(Company
insiders sold $6.8 billion of their companies� shares in
February.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/28/2012
Manhattan Law Office Offers Different Bonuses
Young
lawyers in the law offices of Adam Leitman Bailey enjoy a
different perk than most � new suits and shoes from Brooks
Brothers as well as Saks. The goal, according to Mr. Bailey,
the firm�s namesake, is to help his young lawyers step up
their game in court. �It�s not about looking flashy, it�s
about being credible.�
Small-Business Loans From Starbucks
Starbucks
has raised $7 million, and that amount has been leveraged
into $50 million in small business loans. A partnership
between Create Jobs for USA (donations taken at Starbucks
stores) and Opportunity Finance Network was launched last
November. For a $5 donation, an individual receives an
�Indivisible� wristband that is made in the USA.
All money
(100%) donated goes directly to community development
financial institutions in economically distressed
communities, according to a letter to U.S. Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner from Starbucks Chairman Howard
Schultz and Mark Pinsky of the Opportunity Finance Network.
Thus far,
the Create Jobs for USA campaign has provided 278 loans to
small businesses in 31 states. In March and April, the
Create Jobs organization will introduce new corporate
partners that will donate money, sponsoring awareness
campaigns and outreach to their customers.
Who Do You Trust?
According
to the public relations firm Edleman and their 2012 Trust
Barometer, Americans trust technology the most (80%) and
bankers the least (35%). Other most-trusted industries
include: Food and beverage (72%), brewing/spirits (67%),
consumer packaged goods (67%), automotive (64%),
telecommunications (60%), energy (54%), pharmaceuticals
(52%), media (44%), and financial services (39%).
IRTA Convention Scheduled � Jamaica Will Be
The Site
September
13-16 will be the dates for the 33rd Annual
International Reciprocal Trade Association�s (IRTA)
worldwide convention. The all-inclusive Sunset Jamaica
Grande Resort and Spa will he hosting the fall classic. More
details on the convention will be coming.
TV Show About Barter Filmed
A
30-minute show on barter, with individuals trading products
and services, has been made and recorded. It is now being
presented to various entities with the objective of becoming
a 13-week show. Further details will be reported here when
they become available.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/21/2012
Jamaica Will Be Site For IRTA Convention
September 13 -16 will be the dates for the 33rd
annual International Reciprocal Trade Association�s (IRTA)
annual worldwide convention. The all-inclusive Sunset
Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa will he hosting the fall
classic.
More details on the convention expected next week.
TV Show About Barter Filmed
Our sources report that a 30-minute show on barter �
individuals trading products and services � has been made,
and is now being presented to various entities with the
objective of becoming a 13-week show.
Further details will be reported here when they become
available.
42 Million Freelancers In America
About 30% of the U.S. workforce, approximately 42 million
Americans, are independent freelance workers. At
www.freelancersunion.com nearly 1,000 positions are
broken down by category.
Other sites for freelancers include:
elance.com,
odesk.com
and
freelancer.com.
Home Ads For Mortgage Payments
Would you allow your home to be painted and a large
9-foot-long sign be placed above the garage in exchange for
your monthly mortgage payments?
Then check out
www.adzookie.com or
www.brainiacsfrommars.com.
Ames� Wonderland Bakery Creates Cookies For
Obama
Allyson Ames, founder and owner of the Wonderland Bakery in
Newport Beach (CA), is the daughter of Mike & Sondra Ames �
long-time barter industry pioneers. (Mike Ames was the
founder of TradeAmericanCard nearly 40 years ago.)
Most recently Wonderland Bakery provided cookies for a large
fundraiser in Corona del Mar for President Obama�s visit.
For more information
click here.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/14/2012
Attendees
At �World Money Show� Learned About Barter
International Monetary System (OTCBB:ITNM) made their
presence known at the 2012 World Money Show in Orlando (FL),
February 9 through 11. Senior executives from IMS gave a
30-minute presentation and provided an exhibit booth for
investors, fund managers, and investment bankers to learn
more about the company�s investment opportunities.
For more
information
click
here.
Sessions On Real Estate & Personal Property
Barter Planned
The
Barrett Exchange is holding a national marketing session
real estate and personal property in Oklahoma City, March 2
to 4 at the Four Points Sheraton.
For more
information
click here.
Football Player Barters For 50% Ownership In
Team
Terrell
Owens, former NFL star, still wants to play in the NFL. But
until that happens he�s staying in shape by taking his
football services to the Allen Wranglers (Allen, TX) of the
Indoor Football League.
As payment
for his services Owens will receive a 50% ownership in the
franchise.
Aging Population Forcing Big Worldwide
Changes Ahead
A
forthcoming book titled �Global Aging in the 21st
Century� reports that the world�s supply of working-age
people will soon be shrinking, causing a shift from surplus
to scarcity. About 11% of the world�s people are over
60-years-of-age at the moment. In the next 25 years that
will double, to almost a fifth, and 17% of those people will
be over 80.
In China
12% of Chinese are now over 60, and in two decades there
will be more than 29% I n that category. Brazil faces a
similar blow. Experts say that it will be very difficult for
countries that are just emerging from poverty to suddenly
face huge elder-care costs.
Coming
soon: Within two decades we will see an era where jobs
compete for workers, rather than vice versa. If that happens
cheap labor will vanish.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/07/2012
Barter Deal Provides Graffiti Artist Enormous
Riches
David Choe,
a graffiti artist, was hired to paint murals on the walls of
Facebook�s Palo Alto office in 2005; instead of taking cash
as a payment he accepted several hundred stock options. Due
to Facebook�s coming IPO, those options when converted into
shares could be worth more than $200 million, according to
news reports.
Gallup Poll Finds 72% of Adults Worry About
Worsening Economy
A recent
Gallup poll showed that 72% of those surveyed (1,011
adults), fear the economy will get worse rather than better
in the coming year. Some 57% worry they will outlive their
money after they retire. And 51% believe the value of their
homes will not increase. Gallup said American worries are at
the highest levels in 20 years.
Staples Offering Small-Business Owners
Advertising Money
Some 52%
of small-business owners contend they would advertise if
they had the money, according to a Staples led survey. Now
Staples is taking action by offering five $50,000 awards in
local TV advertising. Small-businesses can enter to win the
contest by submitting a 15-second video about their company
on
facebook.com/staples.
Other
findings from the Staples survey:
�
$2,000 is
the average advertising budget for small businesses in 2012
�
60%
changed their sales and marketing efforts as a direct result
of the U.S. economy
�
29% use
nontraditional media to advertise
More Barter Deals ...
Tiger
Woods has bartered for equity in Fuse Science in exchange
for his endorsement. (Fuse Sciences specializes in sports
nutrition and energy categories.) Signage on Woods� golf bag
will be emblazoned with the phrase, �Powered By Fuse
Science.�
A similar
barter agreement between rap artist Curtis Jackson, known as
50-Cent, and Vitaminwater took place a while ago. The stock
he received subsequently made him a wealthy man � when he
cashed out after Vitaminwater was sold to Coca Cola.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/03/2012
U.S. Government Adds Barter Component To
Property Sales
The
government is selling a lot of property these days � namely,
obsolete air bases around the country. Unfortunately, real
estate markets have shifted dramatically and values are
below what they were several years ago, such as in 2006 and
2007.
In
November the government announced a new program for handling
the sales, embracing barter in the form of a profit-sharing
type of agreement. Essentially, before this change, all-cash
sales were required. But the new type of arrangement allows
the government to sell land to real estate developers at a
discounted price, and then share in the profits generated by
the developers purchasing the land.
Online Barter Transactions Noted
International Monetary Systems (OTCBB:ITNM) reports that
their online barter transactions increased 19% over last
year�s efforts. The increase was a result of a large, cyber
sales-event known as the �12 Days of Christmas� holiday
promotion.
For more
information
click
here.
It�s That Time For Opening A New Business
The first
three months of the year are the most popular time to start
a new business, according to a study by the National
Federation of Independent Business and Wells Fargo bank. A
two-year national study found that 34% of businesses start
in the first quarter, 23% in second and fourth quarters, and
20% in the third quarter.
Turk Barter Moves Into Romania
Long time IRTA member Turk Barter opened a new office in
Bucharest, Romania on December 7th, 2011. Turk Barter�s
President and IRTA Global Board Member M. Sirri Simsek
asserted, �We are delighted to open operations in Romania,
and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial
relationship with our friends there.�
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