From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/10/2013
Southern California
Barter Fairs Scheduled This Weekend
* Orange County's TradeAmericanCard will hold its annual Barter Expo on
Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
Business Expo Center in Anaheim. Free admission and free
parking is available.
Call 949-225-6000 for
full details.
* The following day
(Sunday, December 15), the ITEX Barter Fair will be staged
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the California Fruit Wine location
in Vista, CA.
Call Ana at
619-472-2929 for complete details.
Younger Americans
Fearful Of Entrepreneurship
In a new survey
conducted by Amway�s Global Entrepreneurship Report (AGER),
Americans still see the U.S. as "friendly" toward
entrepreneurship ?
more so than the other 23 countries in the study.
Americans also
identify "more independence" as a top reason they wish to
start an enterprise. And they do not cite a fear of failure
as a chief concern that would prevent them from doing so.
But surprisingly,
only 36% of Americans can envision actually starting their
own business. Plus the research revealed that Americans
under the age of 30 have less interest in pursuing
entrepreneurship than do those of older generations. The
younger people cited loss of reputation, bankruptcy, and
financial ruin as concerns that stifle their ambitions.
Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos Knows How To Generate Buzz
On Sunday, December
1, the CBS 60 Minutes TV show, one of the top-watched
TV shows on television, provided more than 15 minutes to its
Amazon.com story, which included an interview with CEO jeff
Bezos. (A 30-second spot during the show usually costs in
excess of $100,000.)
That means the
Amazon.com feature got about $3 million worth of "earned"
media ? the cost Amazon would have had to pay to reach the
60 Minutes' 13 million viewers.
Thanks to all the
Amazon prime air coverage (about futuristic drone delivery
of packages) garnered on other outlets, many more millions
of people talked about the company on Cyber Monday ? the
biggest e-commerce shopping day of the year. Is it any
surprise that Amazon's sales on Monday were up an astounding
44% over last year's Cyber Monday?
Top Four
Least-Corrupt Countries In The World
Denmark, New Zealand,
Finland and Sweden, are the four least corrupt countries in
the world, according to Transparency International's 2013
Corruption Perceptions Index. The U.S. is listed as the 19th
least corrupt country. Somalia, North Korea, and Afghanistan
are the most corrupt according to the Index.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/03/2013
"Partial Retirement" Is Growing Among Americans
A University of
Michigan study shows that more Americans are becoming
partial retirees, when close to retirement age, in that they
are taking up jobs that provide an income less than half the
maximum annual earnings they had over their working
lifetimes.
Partial retirement
was virtually non-existent for 60-62 years olds in 1960.
Today more than 15% of workers in this age group are
categorized as partially retired.
Living
Alone: Demographics Are Changing
Here are some
statistics that reinforce the dramatic changes taking place
in our country. Today some 27% of U.S. households now
consist of a single person, higher than at any time in U.S.
history, and up from 17% in 1970.
Just 20% of
households are now comprised of a married couple with
children, compared with 40% just 40 years ago. And 61% of
"solo householders" in 2011 were previously married; this
group tends to be older. (There is also a racial component,
with the incidence of solo households higher among whites
and blacks.)
The proportion of
Americans never married has doubled since 1960. The average
marrying age has also increased, to 28 for men and 27 for
women compared with 24 and 22 in 1970.
Here & There
?
-
In
Brazil, credit has soared over the last five years. The
ratio of outstanding debt to gross domestic product jumped
to 56% from 32%. Not really surprising as credit cards in
Brazil have annual interest rates of 120%
-
Local
breweries are booming in America. According to the Brewers
Association, a trade group, the number of U.S. craft-brewers
has skyrocketed from eight in 1980 to more than 2,400. Small
brewers now account for about 10% of the U.S. beer business
and provide 100,000 jobs.
-
The
world's largest department store is Macy's 11-story building
that occupies an entire block in New York's herald Square.
On "Black Friday" 15,000 shoppers waited anxiously for the
doors to open to start their holiday shopping.
-
The
"Coin card" is making waves on the Internet by promising to
slim down consumers' fat wallets by replacing their credit
and debit cards with a single smartcard that can be used for
purchases. Before making a payment, users choose which card
they want to use by pressing a button on the Coin card.
-
U.S.
colleges are presently drawing a record number of
international students. Last year saw 820,000 attending, and
the largest group came from China (236,000), nearly double
the number of students from India, the second-largest group.
USC (University of Southern California) is the most popular
with nearly 10,000 international students.
The University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign had the
second-most international students with 9,800. Purdue
University's main campus had 9,500 placing third, while New
York and Columbia universities ranked fourth and fifth in
the survey conducted by the New York nonprofit Institute of
International Education, in partnership with the U.S. State
Department.
-
U.S.
hotel occupancy was 64.7% in October. The average daily rate
(ADR) at U.S. hotels in October increased year-over-year to
$113.48. The largest increases in ADRs were in Oahu (Hawaii)
� up 11.6% to $291.12; St. Louis � up 9.5% to $98.05; and
Houston � up 8.4% to $106.09.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/26/2013
Amsterdam Barters
Beer To Street Cleaners
Here�s a new twist we
haven't seen before. In Amsterdam city officials are working
with alcoholics under a special program (devised to keep
them occupied and away from disruptive fighting and
noise-making), wherein they clean streets and city parks. In
exchange for a day's work, they receive 10 euros (around
US$13), a half-packet of rolling tobacco as well as five
cans of beer ?
two to start the day, two at lunch and one after work.
Barter's Value Will
Be Discussed At Toronto's TEDx
Swappreneur Marta
Nowinska, the founder of Toronto's swapping community,
www.swapcity.ca, will be talking up the value of barter
in Toronto on December 5. The venue for the TEDx gathering
will be the Musk School for global affairs. Nowinska says
her personal mission is raising the profile of the barter
community, as well as pointing out the importance of today's
barter economy.
Shop Small This
Holiday Season
The National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is encouraging
Americans to spend this holiday season by walking Main
Street and shopping small, in support of local and community
small businesses.
AMA Says Aspirin At
Night Is Best
The American Medical
Association says the secret to lowering your heart attack
risk is to take a low-dose aspirin before going to bed at
night, as opposed to taking one in the morning.
Note: According to
the Mayo Clinic you should take a daily aspirin only if your
doctor recommends that you do so. You should never begin
daily aspirin therapy on your own.
L.A. Company Aims To
Offer �Poolside Workspace� For Workers
"Poolsidepreneurs"
was founded recently in Los Angeles, and they want to invent
a luxury workspace for entrepreneurs. For $99 a month the
members-only club offers entrepreneurs access to private
pools, lounges, and meeting rooms at hotels around the
country as a place to work. The company expects to open up
14 markets next year. (It's expanding on Starbucks' stores
being used as a popular workspace!
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/19/2013
NATE
Wants YOU!
If
you're involved in
the commercial barter industry in any way, the National
Association Trade Exchanges invites you to expand your
knowledge and contacts by attending their annual national
convention. It will be held in Orlando next May 15-18, 2014.
For more details and
registration information,
click
here.
Demand
For Small-Business Financing Is Up
The demand for
small-business financing increased 13% in October over the
2013 monthly average, according to Direct Capital's October
Small Business Lending Demand index. This comes on the heels
of a 12% climb in September, with year-over-year demand up
nearly 25%. The October reading is a good indicator for the
economy at-large.
Will
Stagnation Become The New Norm?
Noted economists
Larry Summers and Paul Krugman are arguing that the U.S.
economy is in a permanent slump, in which high unemployment
and slow growth (also known as stagnation) will be the new
norm for the country
?
and permanent.
They contend the
situation revolves around inadequate demand. Because (a) the
main engine of economic spending and growth "consumers,
companies and the government" aren't spending as much as
they could; (b) there is a slowdown in our population
growth, and (c) borrowing by American consumers (who account
for 70% of the spending in the economy) has been reduced
after three decades.
Television?s "Shark Tank" Panel Believes In Barter
Shark Tank
is the name of the popular ABC show where business owners
pitch their companies to a group of high-profile investors,
including billionaire Mark Cuban. Just for appearing on the
show owners enter into a barter transaction by agreeing to
give up 5% of their company or 2% of future royalties.
Obviously the entrepreneurs believe that both exposure to
seven million viewers and business advice from high-profile
investors is worth the barter arrangement.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/5/2013
Makers of Movie "Last Vegas" Like Aria
Hotel's Barter Offer
The movie Last
Vegas, starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan
Freeman, Kevin Klein and Mary Steenburgen, was shot for only
two weeks in Las Vegas at the Aria Resort & Casino,* which
figures prominently in the story. The Aria offered rooms and
food in exchange for the exposure. It also helped keep the
costs down before the production moved to Georgia to take
advantage of that state�s tax rebates (another form of
trade) for the remaining six weeks of shooting.
(* The Aria Resort & Casino is a colossal hotel complex,
within the faux metropolis of City Center. It boasts more
than 4,000 rooms and a 150,000 square-foot gambling floor.)
Barter Industry Professionalism Grows
At the recent 34th annual IRTA
international convention in Las Vegas, a record number of
individuals (twenty-four) took the Registered Trade Broker (RTB)
and Certified Trade Broker (CTB) programs. The format for
these educational programs had been successfully modified
enabling greater participation.
It was another positive step forward in the building of
professional expertise within the commercial barter
industry. Two professionals, Kim Strabley (IMS) and Dea
Allgood (BizX), were the instructors, mentoring the
attendees. In recognition for their contributions to these
industry educational programs, both Kim and Dea received the
Paul St. Martin Award.
America�s Ongoing Changes Includes Greater Housing
Separation
American families are moving to
areas that are focused more exclusively on either the
wealthy or the poor, according to a study by professors at
Cornell University and Stanford University. The study called
this trend �income segregation.�
Compared with 1970, when 65% of American families lived in
middle-income areas, only about 42% of families lived in
those areas in 2009. In 1970 only 15% lived in one of the
two extreme types of neighborhoods (well-off or poor), but
by 2009 that number had doubled to 33%.
Pakistan & Iran Bartering Efforts
These two countries have been
exchanging electricity and commodities for years. Now their
bartering efforts have been stepped up to include natural
gas, which Pakistan needs from Iran to avert a gas crisis
this winter.
Some U.S. Adults Get Majority Of Their News
From Facebook
A Pew Research Center study
concludes that 64% of U.S. adults get some news from
Facebook. And about 30% get the majority of their news from
Facebook, although they admit they also get some news from
other sources as well.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/29/2013
New
Cornell University Study Reports On Analysis Of Going Green
Going green neither boosts nor dents hotel revenues,
according to a study released this week by the Cornell
Center for Hospitality Research. The study monitored sales
and rates at 9,000 hotels: 3,000 that had earned Sabre�s
�Eco-Certified Hotel� label and 6,000 that had not. The
analysis showed that, on average, the distinction made
little difference in sales and rates.
�We can conclude that going green is compatible with
existing quality standards of hotel service and that
advertising green status doesn�t hurt a hotel�s revenues,�
according to Cornell assistant professor Howard Chong. �But
it may not help, either.�
BXI
Trade Exchange Prepares Nationwide Offices Launch
Global Links Corp. (OTC:GLCO), announced that the company�s
wholly-owned subsidiary, BXI Trade Exchange, is preparing to
open 28 offices nationwide during the upcoming launch of its
trade exchange platform.
All offices will open simultaneously upon the platform�s new
launch, and eight additional locations are in negotiation to
open in the near future.
BXI will have trade offices throughout California and Texas
as well as in Oklahoma, Atlanta, New York, Hawaii, Las
Vegas, Austin, South Carolina, Denver, Utah and Alabama. The
company�s goal is to become the first barter exchange to
have 100,000 members and generate up to $50 million in
monthly trade volume.
China
Plans 100 New Airports As Business Travel Explodes
The Global Business Travel Association predicts that China�s
surging economy will push business travel spending to #1 in
the world by 2016. (China�s Beijing Capital International
Airport is expected to surpass Atlanta�s International
Airport as the world�s busiest airport next year � 2014.)
The demand for air travel from China is expected to grow so
fast in the next few years that several of China�s airports
have had to double or triple their capacity, and the nation
plans to build 100 new airports over the next decade.
Hotel
Spa Spending Growing Faster Than Food & Drink Expenditures
Pampering yourself with a message, after checking in to a
hotel, is growing faster than the sale of food and drinks. A
study by PKF Consulting, a consultant to the hotel industry,
reports that hotel spa services (massages, skin care
services and personal training) jumped 5% in 2012 from the
previous year. By comparison, the sale of food and drinks
grew only 2.3% in the same period.
The growth could be due to an improving economy or the
resurgent health trend in the USA, as Americans try to eat
well and stay healthy on the road.
Millennials Will Be
Working Into Their 70s Due To Debt
Millennials, people in their 20s and early 30s, will be
working longer and unlikely to retire until age 73 (over 10
years later than the current average age), because of heavy
student-loan debt, according to a new study. While the
typical graduate has a �seemingly manageable� $23,300 in
education debt nearly 3 in 10 millennials have had to move
back in with their parents because they couldn�t afford to
live on their own. Those are far higher percentages than the
baby boom or Generation X cohorts ever experienced.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/22/2013
NATE
Eyes 2014 Convention
The next annual convention of the National Association of
Trade Exchanges (NATE) is nine months from now, but their
convention committee has already kicked off the efforts for
its 2014 convention. It is scheduled to be held in Orlando,
from May 15 to18.
The committee�s first item on the agenda is that of asking
the trade exchange industry for input � topics of interest
for the subsequent seminars and panels. The coverage at the
convention will be tailored for owners, brokers and sales
people.
Ideas/topics desired should be sent to
alex@natebarter.com.
TAC
Holiday Barter Expo Scheduled
Saturday, December 14, will be the day for the 2013 Trade
American Card Annual Holiday Barter Expo. Tabletop displays
for the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. event at the Anaheim Business
Center can be reserved by calling 949-225-6000.
Study
Says You Get Stupider When Working Too Much
According to Dr. Tasha Eurich, New York Times bestselling
author, executive coach, leadership expert, and author of
the new book Bankable Leadership, �We actually get
stupider when we work too much.� Over a five-year study,
University College of London epidemiologist Marianna
Virtanen and her colleagues examined the relationship
between long hours and brain functioning in British Civil
Servants.
Participants completed a variety of tests to evaluate
intelligence, verbal recall, and vocabulary. Compared to
those that worked 40 hours per week versus, those that
worked 55 hours per week showed poorer vocabulary and
reasoning. As a result, working fewer hours, taking more
breaks and occasional vacations, can help us become much
more productive.
Consumer Spending Habits Shifting & Savings Rate Dropping
Precipitously
Compared with 1973, Americans are putting a bigger slice of
income to a home and less to food. And, according to an
analysis of a consumer expenditure survey by the Labor
Department, Americans aren�t socking away extra money for
the future. Today�s savings rate is a fraction of what it
used to be: 4.6% today versus 13% four decades ago.
Overall housing costs have risen to 32.8% of income from
30.8%, along with an increase in average home size to 2,700
square-feet from 1,400 square-feet. The average family
shells out 12.8% at grocery stores and restaurants today
versus 19.3%, although today�s average family size is 2.5
people versus 2.9 people in 1973.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/15/2013
Here's Two More Bootstrapping Techniques For
You
Bootstrapping is the
art of learning to do more with less. Entrepreneurs across
America have repeatedly started successful businesses on a
wing and a prayer, and one special ingredient: an
understanding of the art of bootstrapping.
Last week we gave you
two bootstrapping techniques. Here are two more tried and
tested techniques:
�
Hire
student interns who are willing to forego a salary in
exchange for work experience.
�
Share
office space with (or sublease from) a large company that
will offer you access to conference rooms, office equipment,
reception or typing services.
(For last week�s
techniques, see Tuesday Report dated 10/8/13.)
Small
"Mom & Pop" Businesses Spend 3% Online
The Boston Consulting
Group reports that from all web companies selling ads to
small businesses, the average �Mom & Pop� is only spending
3-percent of its marketing budget online.
New
Book Co-Authored By Former Barter Executive
A unique (fictional) book on networking titled, 21 Days to
Success Through Networking: The Life and Times of Gnick
Rowten (Gnick Rowten is networking spelled backwards), is
now hitting major bookstores as well as
Amazon.com.
Co-author Ron Sukenick was an executive in the BXI Los
Angeles-headquarters office two decades ago.
New
Report Shows "Income Inequality" Now An International Crisis
The latest World Wealth Report, compiled by Swiss bank
Credit Suisse says the top 1% now control an astounding 46%
of the world�s assets � and 86% of global wealth is owned by
the richest 10%.
Meanwhile the other two-thirds of the world�s adults have
wealth of less than $10,000, and Credit Suisse projects
wealth for those in this bottom percentile will steadily
fall over the next 60 years. Yet overall, global wealth has
more than doubled since 2000, reaching a new all-time high
of $241 trillion. In short, the rich are getting richer
while the poor get poorer.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/09/2013
Here's
Two Bootstrapping Techniques For You
Bootstrapping is the art of learning to do more with less.
Entrepreneurs across America have repeatedly started
successful businesses on a wing and a prayer plus one
special ingredient: an understanding of the art of
bootstrapping.
Here are a couple of tried and tested bootstrapping
techniques:
-
Ask major clients
to purchase the key equipment that you'll need to
service their account, and then lease it back from them.
-
2) Offer shares
in your company to vendors, landlords and key employees
in lieu of cash, subject to federal and state securities
law and acceptable dilution ratios. (Sam Walton used
this tactic when starting Wal-Mart - and his former
secretaries and office workers are now
multi-millionaires.)
Barter Industry
Attends Money 2020 Conference
Steven White, (CEO of ITEX, largest trade exchange in the
U.S.,
www.ITEX.com ), Bob Bagga (CEO of BizXchange,
www.bizx.com), Ric Zampatti (President of NATE*) and
Gary Oshry (Treasurer of NATE*), were in attendance at the
Money 2020 Conference held in Las Vegas October 6 - 9. The
Money 2020 Conference focused on the macro trends for the
financial services industry.
(*National Association of Trade Exchanges,
www.NATEbarter.com)
Five
Projects That Experts Say Will LOWER Your Home's Value
1.
Converting bedrooms into other spaces.
2.
Hot tubs.
3.
Colored trim and textured walls.
4.
Children's theme bedrooms.
5.
Too much landscaping.
What's
The best "Alternative Investment" These Days?
According to the Historic Automobile Group Index, which
tracks the financial performance of 50 rare and exotic
classic cars, the value of classic cars has jumped 39% this
year. These cars have outperformed collectibles such as
gold, wine, art, stamps and coins over the past ten years.
Although 75% of classic car buyers are based in the U.S.,
interest is rising in other parts of the world.
Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals Mounting
The global elite are sometimes referred to as ultra-high net
worth individuals. And their numbers are growing quite
dramatically. To be considered an "ultra-high net worth
person" you would have a net worth of over US$50 million.
Presently there are 98,700 such individuals, up from 14,200
from last year.
Where do these global elite - very roughly the world's
richest 0.00001387015% live? Mostly in one country: the
United States.
Coming Next Week:
"Turning $40 Into
Millions"
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/02/2013
New
Study Shows Similarities
A new study from JD Power & Associates, of more than 20,000
hotel guests from eight countries, confirmed that price and
location are the top factors in picking a hotel. The only
exceptions were the Italian travelers who ranked a hotel�s
reputation above price, and Spanish travelers who ranked
previous experience higher than price when booking a room.
Talent
Is Undemocratic
If you work hard enough, the maxim goes, you can do
anything. This is one of those notions that is so stupid it
has to embody a deeply held belief. If you work hard enough,
you can be a poet ?
If you work hard enough, you can become
a brain surgeon, a model, the president.
Obviously no one believes those things � meritocracy resists
the fact of talent, because talent is not merited. Beauty,
artistic ability, athletic gifts, big brains: these are all
just things you�re born with, however much you may be able
to develop what you�ve been given. Talent is undemocratic.
William Deresiewicz, American essayist and critic.
Source:
American Scholar blog (August 2012).
Bootstrapping
? A Different Way Of Thinking
Bootstrapping is the art of learning to do more with less.
It's not about writing 200-page business plans, power
lunching with venture capitalists or triple-mortgaging your
home to pay legal and accounting fees. A company that is
started and built around a culture of bootstrap management
understands that all resources are scarce and that cash must
be cherished.
Entrepreneurs across America have repeatedly started
successful businesses on a wing and a prayer, plus one
special ingredient: an understanding of the art of
bootstrapping. Imagine building one of the most recognized
brands in the winemaking industry with a few hundred
dollars. That?s exactly how Ernest and Julio Gallo started
in 1933 in Modesto, California.
They were turned down for a loan by several banks, so they
convinced local farmers to provide them with grapes,
deferring payment until the wine was actually sold. They
also convinced manufacturers to sell them crushing and
fermenting equipment on 90-day terms. Today, the company
started by those bootstrappers enjoys worldwide sales
approaching one-billion dollars annually.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/24/2013
Money
20/20 Financial Services Conference
Some 4,000 attendees are expected at this
year's Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas, October 6 to 9.
The event focuses on the macro trends that form the common
thread in payment and financial services innovation ?
how consumers and businesses manage, spend and borrow money.
BXI
Advisory Board Named
Global Links Corp (GLCO) has announced the formation of a
strategic advisory board for the company's wholly-owned
subsidiary ?
BXI Trade Exchange.
The new board will include Chairman Saul Yarmak, President
Frank Dobrucki, James Roohan, Terry Brandfass and Alan
Elias.
Wealthy Say Retirement Can Wait
The wealthy are in no hurry to retire, according to the
Spectrum Group, a consulting and research firm. Their
findings contradict the notion that the well-off want to
retire as soon as financially possible. Instead, the new
study says they are far more inclined to keep working than
lower income people. Some 31% of the wealthy said they
wouldn't retire until after 70, and 15% said they would
never retire.
190
Square-Foot Apartments Growing In Popularity
Demand for affordable, convenient housing in desirable
neighborhoods has given rise to micro-apartments across the
country. Saving on rent, the residents in these buildings
also share kitchens. They all admit to having more active
lifestyles, too ' not wanting to sit around in the limited
space.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/17/2013
Cable
TV Ads In Los Angeles & Surrounding Areas On Trade
Cable TV reaches
approx 1.5 million cable subscriber households in and around
L.A. area. Presently, there is $795,000 in cable ads
available at on trade ' both 30-sec spots and 60-sec spots.
For more information,
contact:
Jay@BarterAdvertisingSolutions.com.
Looking For Sports Cars?
A new website you may
want to check from time to time, for the buying, selling, or
trading sports cars and coupes is
www.SportsCars4Sale.com.
More
Americans Are Living Alone And Liking It
Despite the economic woes of the recession, the U.S. Census
Bureau shows that more people are living alone. People
living alone make up 27% of U.S. households ?
a marked increase over the 17% who did so in 1970. This rise
of people living by themselves is the greatest social change
of the last 50 years, here in the USA.
Best
Time To Use Craigslist
More and more traders
are looking into Craigslist as a place to trade. The best
times to place an ad are on Friday evening from 6pm to 9pm,
and mornings from 10am to 11am on the weekends. The weekends
are best because most traders are looking to trade at this
time. To go to the top of the list one must renew every 48
hours.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/10/2013
Small Business Debt Hits Six Year High
Small U.S. businesses
took on more debt in the latest month study (July) pushing
an index of borrowing (The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small
Business Lending Index) to a six-year high. More borrowing
could signal more hiring ahead.
Historically,
PayNet's lending index has correlated to overall economic
growth one or two quarters in the future.
ITEX Holiday Fair Announced
The date for this
year's ITEX Holiday Fair, the largest in Southern
California, is Sunday, November 24.
For more information,
call 909-592-7727.
Retirement Insecurity Has Worsened For Most Americans
The Economic Policy
Institute, a liberal think tank, says the 401(k) system has
been a dud for the vast majority of Americans ' with women,
young people and minorities among the broad groups whose
financial well-being is at risk because they're not saving
enough.
For middle-income
earners, the median balance in 401(k) plans as of 2010 was a
lowly $23,000. Not surprisingly, 401(k) savings are
clustered among the ranks of the affluent, with 72% of total
savings held by the top 20% income group.
Less Than One Percent Of Restaurants Barter Thru An Exchange
The independent
restaurant owner is under siege in our country. The way to
help them survive is in your hands (trade exchanges).
BarterNews extensively interviewed five restaurant
owners, and reported their answers in our special report
'Why & How Savvy Restaurateurs Trade.'
The restaurant owners
answered these questions:
1.
What percentage of your gross sales is barter?
2.
Where does your barter business come from?
3.
Does your restaurant issue scrip?
4.
What's your number one want from a trade exchange?
5.
Why aren't more of your peers using a trade exchange?
6.
What could exchanges do to better serve you?
7.
What is the maximum amount of business you can handle
in trade?
These seven questions
are just a small portion of the questions we asked the five
restaurant owners. It was the most insightful report ever
published and would be invaluable for your street sales
staff, inside brokers, and anyone else interested in
building their restaurant inventory. For the first time ever
this report will be available, while supplies last, to trade
exchange owners at a substantial discount.
Further details will be forthcoming.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/03/2013
Birthday Cards Can Pay-Off
Besides special
events like Christmas, birthdays are the number one everyday
occasion cards being sent to business customers. So if you
own a business, try sending birthday cards to your
customers. And, to make a greater impression, provide some
type of discount to them during their birthday month. It
will likely generate more business from them.
ITEX
Declares Cash Dividend
ITEX, the largest
trade exchange in North America with over 23,000 members,
recently sent out the following announcement:
On August 30, 2013,
the Board of Directors at ITEX declared a quarterly cash
dividend of $.05 per share to be payable on September 20,
2013, to stockholders of record at the close of business on
September 10, 2013.
The
Most Expensive House Ever Built
Between 1922 and
1939, William Randolph Hearst built what came to be known as
the Hearst Castle in San Simeon (CA). The cost of
construction at that time was more than $30 million ' that
would be $297.9 million in today's dollars.
BXI
Sponsors Zanderboard Forum In Las Vegas
Traders bartering
personal property and real estate this month from September
10 to 12 at the Zanderboard forum, will be filmed on site at
the Alexis Park All-Suite Resort in Las Vegas. This event is
being sponsored by the BXI trade-exchange headquarters in
Las Vegas.
U.S.
Hotel Occupancy Highest Since 2007
Hotel guest-occupancy
for the year is 62.2%, and expected to rise to 62.9% in
2014. The foundation is in place for room-rate gains,
according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. There is also
sufficient room inventory for more barter endeavors.
Effective Way For Trade Exchanges To Sign Up More
Restaurants
The independent
restaurant owner is under siege in our country. As a trade
exchange owner, the way to help them survive is in your
hands. But if they don't fully understand the myriad
possibilities, you won't be able to sign them up. There is a
very effective tool available, that will be noted in next
week's issue.
It
will be noted next week. If you want to get a head start,
e-mail
bmeyer@barternews.com
and mention 'restaurants' in the subject line.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/20/2013
Las
Vegas Becomes Epic Center For Barter Industry In September
Two major events will be held in Las Vegas next month,
occurring within a week of one another. On September 10 thru
12, the Las Vegas National Zanderboard forum will be held at
the Alexis Park All-Suite Resort.
Attendees from across the nation will congregate for the
three-day event, meeting with top traders to barter their
personal property and real estate.
For more information on the Zanderboard event call Raye
Turner at (404) 680-9790.
One week later, September 19 thru 21, the 34th
worldwide International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA)
convention will be holding court at the beautiful Las Vegas
Venetian Resort Hotel.
For in-depth information on the IRTA convention,
click here.
BizX
On The Move After Series A Financing
BizXchange has closed a $700,000 Series A financing round
from prominent Seattle angel investors. The money will be
used to accelerate development of scalable technology,
including mobile apps and the BizX consumer product, and to
facilitate rapid growth and expansion of its 2,000-member
trade exchange.
A
Record 21.6 Million Millennials Live At Home
Some 36% (21.6 million) of millennials, defined as 18- to
31-year-olds, are living at home with mom and dad. This is
the highest percentage in four decades. The driving factor
is declining employment with just 63% of that age group
having a job ' down from 70% in 2007.
Men are more likely to stay on with their parents than
women: 40% versus 32%. And college graduates are less likely
than less-educated counterparts to live at home, especially
after they turn 25. Unexpected expenses to care for
live-at-home adult children is a burden that can force
parents to make severe cuts in their own spending, delay
retirement, and/or force them to dip into savings.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/13/2013
Embrace Barter - Lessen Your Business Debt
Interestingly, a study by the Small Business Administration
says that from 20% to 25% of small businesses in the U.S.
are 'non-borrowers.' That is, they do not use any credit.
These firms have received virtually no attention from
academic researchers, according to the study by Rebel Cole
titled, Bank Credit, Trade Credit or No Credit: Evidence
From The Surveys of Small Business Finances.
Thought: Maybe leveraging your small business into a big
hole of debt isn't the best solution, even if that's what
many of the 'experts' suggest. Embracing barter effectively
circumvents the borrowing dilemma, and provides one with a
powerful leverage (buying at variable cost) as well.
Consumers More Careful & Cautious With Debt, Too
American consumers are remaining stingy about carrying
credit card balances and are making more of an effort to
keep payments timely, trends that have helped whittle the
rate of late payments on credit cards down to the lowest
level in 20 years. In fact, credit card debt in the U.S.
remains 16.5% below its July 2008 peak, according to the
Federal Reserve.
Suburbs Growth Changing After 100-Year Run
In 2011, for the first time in 100 years, the rate of growth
for USA's suburban population was actually lower than the
rate of growth of the urban population. According to Leigh
Gallagher, assistant managing editor of Forbes
magazine and author of a new book The End Of The Suburbs,
Where The American Dream Is Moving, a monumental shift
is underway. With the American dream moving out of the
suburbs, it could well leave home values behind.
Gallagher's reasons include:
-
Suburbs have
spread too far out
-
Transportation
costs in time and money for commuting is taxing
-
People want more
organic suburbs ' new villages
Bottom line: the new desires are for urban centers where a
closeness and easy walking to stores and restaurants is
commonplace.
Legal
Right To Own A New York City Taxi Is $1.3 Million!
The value of taxi medallions ' the legal right to drive a
cab (the gaudy yellow taxis) in the city ' has soared to a
record $1.3 million. The number of medallions is capped at
13,336 and it's unique, because a medallion is required.
Therefore newcomers can't simply enter the market.
The good fortunes of taxi owners spring in part from an
unexpected source ' advances in technology that have made it
easier to find and pay for a cab ride. Credit cards and smartphone apps have served to enhance the value of
established status quo, rather than its customary role of
disruptor.
Cabbies have definitely benefited from credit card readers,
which allow riders to pay with plastic. Statistics show that
passengers leave bigger tips with cards, an average 20%,
whereas with cash it is generally 10%.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/06/2013
'First
Lady of Barter' To Receive Award At IRTA's Convention
The Hall of Fame Committee has announced that Lois Dale,
barter industry veteran and past president of IRTA, has been
selected to receive the 2013 Hall of Fame Award. The award
will be presented at IRTA's 34th Annual International
Convention, being held September 19 through 21, at the
five-star Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. The Hall of
Fame Committee is comprised of the former recipients of this
award.
Lois Dale's 25+ years of advocacy for the barter industry
was recognized by the famous American financial-journalist
and host of Wall Street Week, Louis Rukeyser, when he
dubbed her the 'First Lady of Barter.' Lois' trade exchange,
Barter Advantage Inc., was a major factor in the New York
City market for decades. She is congratulated on her
well-deserved 2013 IRTA Hall of Fame Award.
$1.1
Billion Investment Dumped For 7-Cents On The Dollar
Imagine making a huge investment and then selling it for
less than 7' on the dollar ' over a $1 billion loss. That's
exactly what the New York Times experienced since purchasing
the 141-year-old Boston Globe newspaper back in 1993
for $1.1 billion.
The new owner is businessman John Henry, 63, better known as
the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He
paid $70 million for the asset that declined in value due to
the digital era changes taking place in today's world.
Lab-Grown Burgers Could Be Globally Transformative
In another decade or two it's conceivable that the world's
population will be eating and enjoying laboratory grown
beef. The first public tasting of the laboratory meat took
place on Monday (8/05/2013). The research-bankroller of the
project for creating meat fibers from beef muscle stem cells
is Sergey Brin, the billionaire founder of Google.
Brin, along with others, believes that the world needs a way
to produce meat that's less demanding on resources than
rearing animals, and the ensuing continual environmental
harm.
Wall
Street Firms Taking Advantage Of Real Estate Foreclosure
Crisis
Major investment firms have quickly become major landlords
after buying tens-of-thousands of single-family homes in
beaten-down markets ' and they say they are in it for the
long haul. New research by Morgan Stanley predicts that the
buy-to-rent sector will grow from $17 billion now, to $100
billion over the next several years. The two biggest players
to date are the Blackstone Group, which has spent $5 billion
(through a subsidiary) on 30,000 homes, and American Homes 4
Rent, which has spent $3.1 billion on a portfolio of nearly
18,000 homes.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/30/2013
America Still Works
Billionaire co-founder Paul Mitchell, of Paul Mitchell and
co-founder of Patron Spirits, says today's current business
environment is still as good as ever. (When he launched Paul
Mitchell Products in 1980 inflation was 12.5% and
unemployment was above 10%.)
The key to success according to Mitchell, 'If
today somebody is very enthusiastic about their service or
product and they can maintain that enthusiasm because they
believe. Then yes, they have a chance to make it now, today,
as well as any other year. And if I started today, could I
do it again? Heck yes.'
Political Antics In Washington Affecting Americans
A recent poll by Pew Research Center found that the
percentage of Americans who feel China is becoming the
world's leading superpower rose from 36% in 2008 to 47% this
year. The percentage of Americans satisfied with life in the
U.S. is close to record lows, plus they are disgusted with
political antics in Washington (DC) ' which 77% of Americans
feel are harming the nation. The nation already is in the
midst of an economic transformation that's upending the
middle class, yet nobody seems to have answers on how to
reinvigorate the economy.
Despite the feelings, one fact is evident. Income per capita
in China is $4,940 (ranking 114th in the world,
according to the World Bank). Nearly 170 million Chinese,
equivalent to half the U.S. population, live in poverty.
Per capita income in the U.S. meanwhile, is about $43,000,
or nearly 9 times the level in China. It takes money to be a
superpower and there's no way for any country to overtake
the U.S. in a meaningful way with such a huge income
disparity.
What really has Americans bummed out is that living
standards are lower than they used to be. Real income,
adjusted for inflation, has fallen by about 9% since it
peaked in 1999. That's a real life setback for millions of
families who now have a harder time making ends meet.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/30/2013
America Still Works
Billionaire co-founder Paul Mitchell, of Paul
Mitchell and co-founder of Patron Spirits, says today's
current business environment is still as good as ever. (When
he launched Paul Mitchell Products in 1980 inflation was
12.5% and unemployment was above 10%.)
The
key to success according to Mitchell, 'If today somebody is
very enthusiastic about their service or product and they
can maintain that enthusiasm because they believe. Then yes,
they have a chance to make it now, today, as well as any
other year. And if I started today, could I do it again?
Heck yes.'
Political Antics In Washington Affecting Americans
A recent poll by Pew Research Center found
that the percentage of Americans who feel China is becoming
the world's leading superpower rose from 36% in 2008 to 47%
this year. The percentage of Americans satisfied with life
in the U.S. is close to record lows, plus they are disgusted
with political antics in Washington (DC) ' which 77% of
Americans feel are harming the nation. The nation already is
in the midst of an economic transformation that's upending
the middle class, yet nobody seems to have answers on how to
reinvigorate the economy.
Despite the feelings, one fact is evident. Income per capita
in China is $4,940 (ranking 114th in the world,
according to the World Bank). Nearly 170 million Chinese,
equivalent to half the U.S. population, live in poverty.
Per capita income in the U.S. meanwhile, is about $43,000,
or nearly 9 times the level in China. It takes money to be a
superpower and there's no way for any country to overtake
the U.S. in a meaningful way with such a huge income
disparity.
What
really has Americans bummed out is that living standards are
lower than they used to be. Real income, adjusted for
inflation, has fallen by about 9% since it peaked in 1999.
That's a real life setback for millions of families who now
have a harder time making ends meet.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/16/2013
Most
Popular Barter Convention Venue Readies For Another Big One
The spectacular five-star Venetian Resort in Las Vegas will
be the venue for the International Reciprocal Trade
Association's (IRTA) 34th annual convention. IRTA expects to
set new attendance records at this year's event, which is
scheduled for September 19 thru 21.
For further information, contact Executive Director Ron
Whitney at ron@irta.com
or at 757-393-2292.
Addicted To Your Smartphone?
A study recently released by Harris Interactive gives a
clearer picture of just how attached users are to their
devices. Here's what the survey unveiled:
Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. smartphone users surveyed said they are
within five feet of their devices most of the time.
More than 30% said they use their devices in movie theatres,
and 12% of them said they use them in the shower.
(Interestingly,12% believe their smartphones get in the way
of their relationships.)
People also use smartphones during dinner dates (33%),
during children's school functions (32%), at places of
worship (19%), and perhaps most alarming, while driving
(55%).
You'll
Need Patience When Flying This Summer
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 79.4% of
domestic flights arrived on time this year in May, down from
83.4% in the same month in 2012.
U.S.
Economic Recovery Is Constrained
Historically, surges in home prices have resulted in what
economists call a wealth effect ' increased spending based
on individual perceptions of growing affluence. But this
time around, the hangover from the housing crash has blunted
that phenomenon, they say.
Previously, every dollar ($1) increase in home prices has
generated 8-cents in consumer spending over the following 18
to 24 months. That figure has been cut in half during this
recovery.
Top
|
|
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/09/2013
Active International
Negotiates Low-Cost Car Leases
The largest corporate barter company in the world, New
York-based Active International, has negotiated low-cost car
leases for the California cities of San Jose, Los Gatos,
Campbell and Mill Valley, through their corporate services
division.
To read the complete story on Active's newly-designed web
site,
click here.
Shadow Economy In USA
Is HUGE!
The shadow economy is described as a grey market made up of
people who aren't on the official payrolls, but are finding
ways to get by nevertheless. People with legitimate jobs
(such as drivers, running small eBay businesses, nannies,
landscapers, etc.) that would be ordinary work, if it were
taxed. But because they're getting paid in cash, these
people are not counted in the monthly job numbers.
Estimates from a University of Wisconsin-Madison study put
this economy at the $2 trillion mark for last year, that's
twice the amount estimated in 2009. In USA Today, the
IRS cites lost tax revenue because of unreported wages at
about $500 billion for last year.
Mark
Cuban's Take On Small Business Failure
Mark Cuban of 'Shark Tank' TV fame, also the owner of the
Dallas Mavericks NBA team and serial entrepreneur, says that
small businesses don't fail due to lack of capital, but
rather they fail because of 'lack of effort and lack of
brainpower.'
'Cities Are Good For You'
According to author Leo Hollis, author of the book titled in
the above headline, cities are the only place to live. In
2007, the U.N. announced that for the first time in human
history 50% of the world's population lived in cities. This
number is rising at the rate of 180,000 every day; and by
2050, it's projected that 75% of the world's population will
live in cities.
Hollis's thesis is that the city is not a rational, ordered
place but a complex space that has more in common with
natural organisms such as beehives or ant colonies. This
complexity theory advocates that our cities are less
inventions than entities, evolving from the ground up. And
the basic unit or cell is the street.
Mini-Apartments Appearing In California
The median-size U.S. home is more than 2,000 square feet,
according to a Census Bureau report. But a recent
residential and retail complex has been completed at a busy
downtown Santa Monica intersection by a local developer
specializing in building mini-apartments in urban centers.
Called 'micro units' these mini-apartments are
375-square-feet, or about the same size as a large
recreational vehicle. They have the same design imperative '
fit as many features as possible into a small space, but
don't make it claustrophobic. Rents start at $1,495 a month.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/02/2013
The #1
Question In A Job Interview
Dick Bolles is the author of the 1970 best-seller, What
Color Is Your Parachute. (With 42 annual editions, it
has sold 10 million copies in 20 different languages, and
was named one of the top 25 books that 'have shaped readers
lives' by the Library of Congress.)
In a recent interview he listed two important actions (for
an interviewee) that will set them apart from others in an
interview:
1)
It's important to keep a weekly diary of
accomplishments at your current job. This will make it
easier to discuss your role in detail, when hunting for a
new job opportunity.
2)
As a finishing move Bolles advocates being bold, by
ending the interview with this statement, 'With all we've
discussed, can you offer me this job?'
World's Top Tourist Destination
The most visited city in the world, by international
tourists, is Bangkok (Thailand) where some 16 million
tourists will visit in 2013. That's according to the third
annual Global Destination Cities Index released by
MasterCard.
Bangkok beat London, last years #1 tourist destination, by
less than 1%. And Paris is rated #3. Part of the reason for
Bangkok's increase in visitors is that tourism in Southeast
Asia has surged among the region's upper-middle class.
Foreign visitors to New York City, despite expecting 4.46
million fewer tourists, will spend a whopping $18.6 billion.
Topping any of the other 132 cities surveyed. However, Tokyo
remains the most expensive city.
Here
and There '
Restaurant Industry:
Almost $2 billion a day is spent at restaurants in the USA.
(Spending is expected to top $650 billion in 2013.)
Interestingly, 50% of U.S. adults have worked in the
restaurant industry.
Travel Industry:
Some 21 million people will go on a cruise this year.
Carnival, after a year of mishaps, is offering 4-night
cruises to the Caribbean for $38 a day.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/25/2013
Supercomputers Top Speed Unfathomable
A Chinese university has built the world's fastest
supercomputer, almost doubling the speed of the U. S.
machine that previously claimed the top spot ' underscoring
China's rise as a science and technology powerhouse.
Their fastest super-computers (Tianhe-2, developed by the
National University of Defense Technology) is capable of
sustained computing of 33.86 petaflops per second, or
33,860 trillion calculations-per-second. The U.S. Energy
Department's Titan machine is second, but far off the pace,
as it achieved 17.59 petaflops per second.
Top
Reason Why Customers Are Loyal To Small Business
It's quite simple: Receiving a smile and a greeting at an
independent business was the most oft-cited reason consumers
felt loyalty to that business, according to a recent poll of
2000 consumers. One-third of respondents cited excellent
customer service as the reason they returned to the
store/shop. The study also found that 3 out of 5 consumers
(60%) are willing to shell out more to buy from an
independent store, rather than a larger retailer.
Time
For Making An All-Important Transformation
According to a survey at Bankrate.com, three-quarters of
Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. The survey showed
that about 27% of those had no savings at all and 50% had
saved less than three-months worth of expenses (less than
half the six months financial experts recommend).
What should one do? James Altucher, author and entrepreneur
says people must start brainstorming and thinking of ideas
by which they can provide services and value to other people
and charge for it ' it's not that you want to make this
leap. You have to make this leap!
Altucher says there are more opportunities than ever for one
and two-person businesses. So start thinking about what has
worked or interested you before (personally or career wise)
and what hasn't, realizing that the transformation won't
happen overnight.
And then prepare yourself: make sure you're physically,
emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy. (This
includes gradually powering those 'motivation batteries' of
yours back up.) Do this and ideas will start to appear and
opportunities will begin happening.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/18/2013
An
Incredible (Really Unbelievable) ROI
According to CNBC's Rick Zantelli (on-air editor from the
floor of the Chicago Board of Trade), as reported on the
6/12/2013 program, for every $1 spent in Washington
D.C. on lobbying efforts by various
companies/organizations/entities the return is an
astronomical $222 ' or a 22,000% return on investment.
Tom
Greco's Mission Underway
Monetary expert Tom Greco has begun an ambitious 9-week
informative mission, which begins in Europe. Succinctly, he
will be spreading the word that there is an option to the
growing worldwide debt crisis, which has been brought about
through the central banks' deficit spending policies. The
debt crisis option is the adoption and the building of
widespread decentralized, community-based, credit-clearing
networks.
You can follow Greco's efforts here:
http://beyondmoney.net.
Peer-to-Peer Lending Growth Is Impressive
Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sites, the online clearinghouses
where people are matched with investors in order to receive
money for paying off debts, starting businesses or funding
home improvements, are growing dramatically.
The two major P2P sites, Lending Club and Prosper, are
poised to have their biggest year ever. In the first four
months of 2013, Lending Club made more than $480 million in
loans to more than 31,000 people ' roughly triple its
numbers from the same period in 2012. Prosper made more than
$50 million in loans in the same period, up about 20%
compared to last year.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/11/2013
Hotels
Going To No-Frills Approach
The next time you check into a hotel, don't be surprised if
the front desk clerk and bellhop are the same person ' or if
there is no clerk or bellhop at all. New York's Hilton
Midtown, the largest hotel in the city with almost 2,000
rooms, will cease to provide room service and will lay off
55 room-service staffers in August. (This past October, the
Hilton Hawaiian Village also dropped room service.)
Bottomline: Hotels, like airlines, are looking for ways to
maximize ancillary revenues and reduce costs.
Overdrafts Accounted For 61% Of Bank Fees
The New York Times reports that overdrafts accounted
for 61-percent of the fees banking customers paid in 2011,
according to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau. The bureau conservatively estimates that the banking
industry made $12.6 billion in such fees.
Americans' Wealth Hits New Record
It's taken several years, but data from the Federal Reserve
show the total value of Americans' financial and real estate
holdings hit $70.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2013.
The biggest gains come from financial investments which
amount to 82% of total net worth ' this category has
recovered much faster than real estate.
While barely 50% of adult Americans' own stocks, the lowest
level in 15 years, housing wealth has recovered from the
recession. However, the total value of $20.8 trillion in
housing wealth is still about $4.3 trillion below the peak
levels of 2006.
Small
Businesses Optimism Up
According to the National Federation of Independent Business
(NFIB) Index of Small Business Optimism, the recent May
reading of the index is the second highest since the
recession started in December 2007. NFIB chief economist
Bill Dunkelberg says Washington remains in a state of policy
paralysis, while the stock market sets records.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/04/2013
Dramatic Shift Occurring In U.S. Households
In 1960 some 11% of U.S. households relied upon the woman as
the chief or only source of income. Today it's more than
40%, a recent PEW study of census data shows, truly a
massive jump over the past four decades.
ITEX
Board Declares Cash Dividend
On May 31, the ITEX Board of Directors declared a quarterly
cash dividend of .05-cents per share. The dividend is
payable on June 20, 2013, to stockholders of record as of
June 10 this year.
Consumer Optimism Growing On The Economic Front
The U.S. consumer sentiment hit its highest level in six
years in May, reports the University of Michigan/ThomsonReuters
findings. The data clearly suggests there will be a faster
pace of growth in consumer spending during the year ahead.
Rebuilding Wealth Isn't Easy
A new analysis by the Federal Reserve reconfirms what many
Americans already knew ' that the rebuilding of their wealth
(aggregately $16 trillion) that disappeared from the third
quarter of 2007 through the first quarter of 2009 is far
from easy. Americans have been able to recapture only 45% of
that amount on average. And most of the gains have come from
the stock market, which benefits mostly the wealthier
families.
U.S.
Not Among The Happiest Countries
For the third straight year the U.S. failed to make the
top-ten list of the happiest countries in the world. The
list of where the residents are the most satisfied with
their lives, according to the latest Better Life Index
report (released by the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development) are:
10. Mexico
9. Finland
8. Canada
7. Austria
6. Netherlands
5. Denmark
4. Sweden
3. Iceland
2. Norway
1. Switzerland
Boom
Times For Disneyland
Disneyland parks in California have announced the 4th
hike in prices in the last three years (28% raise since
2010). Admission to the park for those 10 years or older, is
now $92 per person; for age 3 to 9 it's now $86. Parking is
now $16 per car.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/28/2013
Here & There In The Barter World'
-
A new, clean,
modern website is up at:
www.ITEX.com.
-
Another
noteworthy accomplishment by ITEX is the 31 consecutive
national conventions they've held. To our knowledge, no
other trade exchange in the world has ever held even a
fraction (10%) of the ITEX endeavor.
-
Monetary expert
and barter ambassador Tom Greco has successfully reached
the funding goal for his coming European effort '
generating the needed $4,000. Follow his progress by
clicking here.
A
Worthy Goal Worth Trillions
Eliminating all forms of cancer would have an economic value
of $46.5 trillion, according to economists Kevin Murphy and
Robert Topel at the University of Chicago. That's more than
15,000 times the $3 billion that our nation now invests
annually in cancer research.
Credit
Card Defaults Decline
Americans did a better job of paying their credit card debit
on time, in the first three months of the year. It's a
period when many borrowers use income tax returns to tackle
their holiday season debt.
PayPal
To Be In 2 Million Stores
EBay's PayPal will soon be available in 2 million stores
this year, according to David Marcus the president of the
division. That's up dramatically (due to more in-store
partnerships), from the 250,000 stores in which PayPal was
accepted only a few months ago.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/21/2013
Here &
There In The Barter World
The International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) has
announced the program schedule for their annual convention,
coming this September in Las Vegas. For more information and
registration,
click here.
International Monetary Systems (ITNM) earnings have been
reported for the first quarter of 2013. For more information
on the company and earnings,
click
here.
Monetary expert and barter ambassador Tom Greco continues
progressing toward successful funding his coming European
effort. With 8 days left he has $2,500 of the needed $4,000.
Follow his progress at:
http://igg.me/at/tomstour/x/31801 .
NFIB
Marks 70 Years As America's Leading Small Business Advocate
Founded in 1943 (San Mateo, CA), the National Federation of
Independent Businesses recognized the need to represent the
little guy. Today the NFIB has more members and credibility
than any other small group in history. Headquartered in
Nashville (TN) since 1992, they continue to work to make
America's entrepreneurs heard in Washington and around the
country. Membership now stands at 350,000 small and
independent businesses across the nation.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/14/2013
New UC
Software Platform Announced By IRTA
The International Reciprocal Trade Association's
'Universal
Currency' (UC) trading system is being moved from its
present platform to a new enhanced version of the VBarter
platform. Trade exchanges, that are members of IRTA, trade
with one another using the UC currency.
For more information,
click here.
Weekly ITEX Internet
Show
A weekly 2-hour ITEX show is now hosted from San Diego (CA),
by Jack Warren.
For details,
click here.
Thanks For Industry's
Response For Tom Greco
A special 'Thank You,' to the people who took the time and
effort to provide monetary assistance for Tom Greco's
educational efforts, on behalf of the commercial barter
industry.
If you missed last week's announcement,
click here.
A
Boost For Your Love Life
A new survey of 2,076 adults found that 88% of Americans are
'somewhat likely to be intimate' when taking a vacation with
a spouse or partner. Only 12% said they are 'somewhat or
much less likely' to be intimate on vacation. The survey was
conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Expedia, one of
the world's largest travel sites.
What's more, the study said couples who vacation three or
more times a year are more likely to be satisfied with their
love lives than those who take two or fewer vacations a
year.
(The top city for intimate vacations, from another Expedia
survey, was not Paris or Rome. It was Atlantic City, N.J.)
Price
Of Vino By The Glass Is Rising
Restaurant Sciences, an independent firm that tracks food
and beverage product sales, reports that wine sales by the
glass is rising steadily. The reason? A tightening squeeze
of wine inventories, coupled with swelling consumer demand
for the alcohol. The U.S. is the top wine-drinking nation in
the world ' by both volume and value.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
05/07/2013
31st ITEX Convention Scheduled
ITEX, the largest trade exchange in the U.S., will be
holding their 31st annual convention next week in
Orlando (FL), on May 13 thru 16. Some 140 professional
traders from the company will be in attendance.
For more information,
click here.
America's Future Is Bright With 'Unleashing'
Of Women's Potential
Warren Buffett is optimistic about America's economic
future, as our nation's awareness of women's potential
expands and accelerates. Buffett says as more and more women
excel in the workforce their talent will increase America's
richness.
Big'Box Stores Expand Services, Increasing
Competition
Need to refinance your mortgage? Just put it on your
shopping list ' alongside the jumbo paper towels and
6-gallon bucket of cat kibble ' the next time you visit
Costco. Big-box stores are offering a growing number of
financial services, including check cashing, reloadable
pre-paid cards, small business loans and life insurance.
Ten million American households (1 in 12) don't have any
checking or savings accounts, according to a 2011 survey by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. And twenty-four million
households (1 in 5) have accounts but also rely on
alternative financial services, such as non-bank money
orders, check cashing, payday loans, tax refund loans and
pawnshops.
So
major retailers are developing an ever-expanding menu of
financial products aimed at this underserved population, a
market that generates more than $78 billion annually in fee
and interest revenue.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
04/30/2013
Canadian Revenue Agency Looks At Bitcoins
The Canadian Revenue Agency does not recognize a Bitcoin as
a unit of legal tender. Instead, the CRA says purchases with
Bitcoins are considered barter transactions, and should be
reported as income.
In March, the U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network outlined the rules for buying and selling virtual
currencies, making it clear that Bitcoin dealers are subject
to existing rules that govern financial transactions.
Iran
Will Barter Oil For Food
To circumvent oil sanctions from the West, Iran has
announced it would move in another direction and barter
through the private sector. A few days ago, Iran and
Turkmenistan agreed to barter gas for food. Royal Dutch
Shell, the European oil company, will pay its $2 billion
debt to Iran through barter - sending large consignments of
wheat via a U.S. company to Iran.
Nation's Economic Recovery Exceedingly Uneven
The recent findings and analysis of census bureau data by
the Pew Research Center, which draws on the most recent
statistics on wealth, shows the dramatic uneven nature of
the U.S. recovery.
According to the new report, the richest 7% of American
families saw their average wealth soar by 28% from 2009 to
2011, while the remaining households lost 4% of their net
worth over the same period. In short: The wealthy owned
stocks, while the other 93% had their wealth tied up in the
plummeting housing market.
All-Electric Formula - Race Car Series Announced
Fully electric open-wheel racecars will be competing on the
track in 30 cities globally, within the next few years.
Currently, Miami and Los Angeles are the only U.S. cities.
Other locations will include Rome, London, Rio de Janeiro,
Buenos Aires, Beijing and Putrajaya (Malaysia).
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
04/02/2012
"Cupcake Wars" Food Network Winner Barters Via Trade
Exchange
Mamie Doyle and her brother Ross own Miss Mamie's Cupcakes,
a bakery located in Marietta (GA), just off the Marietta
Square. They recently won first place and $10,000 on the
Food Network's 'Cupcake Wars.'
The owners of the award-winning bakery frequently work 80
hours a week and are savvy entrepreneurs as well, utilizing
a top trade exchange in Atlanta
www.thebartercompany.com to quickly move their delicious
product. Proudly, they proclaim, they never sell a day-old
cupcake.
NATE
Convention Next Month
Independent trade exchange owners will be meeting once again
for their annual convention. This year it will be held at
the beautiful Wyndham Riverfront Little Rock. This year's
efforts will be hosted by Southern Barter Exchange, one of
USA's leading independent trade exchanges.
For further details and registration
click
here.
Small
Businesses Want Immigration Reform Too
Most small firms want the government to overhaul the
immigration system to attract more talented workers and
entrepreneurs, according to a survey by the Small Business
Majority advocacy group. That viewpoint aligns them with
technology companies, which have long been pushing for
immigration reform.
Car
Rental Rates Vary Widely
Cheapcarrental.net reports that in the nation's top-50
destinations the car rental rates have a wide variance. For
example, the average car rental in Los Angeles over the last
twelve months was $30 a day. In New York the average daily
price was $72. The best deal in the nation is found in
Milwaukee, where the rental cost was $27 a day.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/19/2012
Venetian Resort Hotel Selected For IRTA's 34th
Annual Convention
The thirty-six story, all-suite, five-star world renowned
Las Vegas Venetian Resort Hotel will be the venue for the
International Reciprocal Trade Association's 34th
Annual Convention. The upcoming event will be held in six
months, September 19 through the 21.
To register or for more information,
click here.
What's
Needed For Retirement?
According to a new study by the Employee Benefit Research
Institute, if you don't have a company pension coming,
you'll need to save eight to twelve times your annual income
to ensure a comfortable retirement. The institute found that
just 22% of households, with workers aged 55 to 64, had
retirement savings of more than $250,000.
Writer's Answer Not The Usual One
The column Money Talk by Liz Weston, which appeared
in the Los Angeles Times Business Section on March
17, provided a different look to the age old question of
buying a home versus renting.
Here's her answer:
'You would think the recent economic unpleasantness would
have cured people of the idea that homeownership is right
for everyone all the time. In reality, much of the financial
benefit of homeownership comes from the 'forced savings'
aspect of paying down a mortgage. Homes do tend to
appreciate in value over time, but on average the
appreciation usually doesn't exceed the overall inflation
rate.
'Plus, homes are expensive to own and maintain, which can
dramatically reduce the return on your investment.
Investments in stocks and stock mutual funds probably will
give you a better return over the long haul, and you'll
never have to buy a new roof for them.'
Another Dramatic Change Due To Technology
Thirty years ago, nearly half of 16-year-olds had a driver's
license ' their passport to independence. By 2010 that
figure had dropped to 28%, according to research from the
University of Michigan. The cultural shift is largely the
result of technology that keeps teens connected to one
another and the coolest new stuff without ever getting into
a car. The research, in short, deduces that the Internet has
made the freedom that comes with a license anticlimactic.
Carmakers are worried and quickly shifting their priorities.
In the past, it was about horsepower and torque. Now it's
about technology, connecting to smart-phones, and fuel
efficiency.
Entrepreneur's Never Short On Ideas
Two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, frustrated by the shortage
of visas that keep some of the world's brightest science and
engineering minds from building companies on dry land, have
hatched a plan labeled Blueseed. Their strategy is to build
a start-up colony in the Pacific - by parking a cruise ship
12 nautical miles off the coast of Northern California in
international waters. Foreign-born entrepreneurs would live
and work on the ship, building start-up companies within
commuting distance of Silicon Valley.
Under the conditions of living off-shore, foreigners
wouldn't need the work visas that are so hard to come by.
Instead they would get business tourism visas that would let
them ferry back and forth to Silicon Valley once or twice a
week.
Blueseed's current plan is to lease (not buy) a cruise ship
that could house 1,000 entrepreneurs plus crew. The ship
would have cafes, a gym, co-working space, ship-wide
high-speed Internet access, medical professionals, and a
private security force. Entrepreneurs could share a cabin
for $1,200 a month or get their own for $1,600. They would
also hand over a 6% equity stake to Blueseed. The founders
are hoping to cash in when the entrepreneurs introduce the
next Apple or Facebook!
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
03/05/2012
ITEX
Increases Dividend, Now Yields 5.43%
On February 26, 2013, the Board of Directors of ITEX
Corporation approved a 25% increase in the company's
quarterly cash dividend to a new dividend rate of $.05 per
share. It will be payable on March 20, 2013, to shareholders
of record at the close of business on March 11, 2013. The
annualized dividend yield based on average closing price of
ITEX's stock for the trailing 12 months is 5.43%.
The
Number Of Super-Rich Continues To Grow
There were 2,000 billionaires (U.S. dollars) on the planet
in 2012, 185 more than 2011, according to Wealth-X, an
organization that tracks the super-wealthy. These fortunate
few have a combined fortune of $5.5 trillion, equal to
China's GDP. Average age is 63, and 1 in 10 are female. The
U.S. has 408 billionaires and China is second with 317.
Despite a financial crisis that has affected many in the
U.S. and worldwide, the super-rich haven't reined in their
travel spending. According to Conde Nast Traveler's,
luxury hotel companies are actually expanding at a record
pace to meet the demand.
Our
Amazing World
Researchers have created a way to store data in the form of
DNA, which can last for thousands of years. The encoding
method makes it possible to store at least 100 million hours
of high-definition video in a cup of DNA. (Information
obtained from Computerworld.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/19/2013
Polish
Barter-Baron Passes On
Polish businessman Aleksander Gudzowaty, 74, the CEO of
barter-trade firm Bartimpex died in a Warsaw hospital on
February 14. He founded Bartimpex in 1992, a commodity
trading company, and in so doing leveraged his Russian
relationships. (At one time, he represented the entire
Polish textile industry in Moscow.)
He had vast experience in trade with the Middle East, and
Russia. He bartered foodstuffs and industrial products in
exchange for gas from Russia's Gazprom. He was ranked ninth
on the list of the wealthiest Poles in 2008, with a fortune
of $3.8 billion. Forbes magazine named him as one of
the most influential people in Central and Eastern Europe.
Clinton Earns Big Money On Speaking Circuit
What do former presidents do upon retirement? Many put on
their speaking hats and earn a small fortune. That's exactly
the path Bill Clinton has followed, and in the last ten
years he's pocketed $89 million in speaking fees.
Three
Years Has Passed, Has Anything Changed?
In our February 23, 2010, Tuesday Report lead story
we reported on 'the biggest problem for small business
owners.' Guess what? It's now three years later and the
biggest problem mentioned back then is still the biggest
problem. And ' the intelligent embracement of barter is a
major step toward solving the problem!
To read the article,
click
here
Trump
Plaza Sells For A Song
Despite all of Donald Trump's rhetoric over the years, he's
had some real losers, too. Here's one of them: Trump Plaza,
which he built in 1964 for $210 million, was sold for $20
million last week. At one time it was the boardwalk
centerpiece of Trump's Atlantic City empire.
Immediate Actions To Take For Experiencing Identity Theft
According to the Law Enforcement News, these are the
numbers you always need to contact if you're a victim of
stolen identity.
Equifax: 800-525-6285 or
www.equifax.com
Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742 or
www.experian.com
Trans Union: 800-680-7289 or
www.transunion.com
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271
When identity is stolen, you also need to contact the IRS
for a 'personal identity number.'
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/12/2013
Small Business Chamber Creates Trade Exchange
The Delaware Small Business Chamber (DSBC) has started a
trade exchange to help local small businesses increase their
sales while decreasing their use of cash for needed products
and services. The DSBC charges lower fees than the typical
trade exchange, i.e. 2.5% transaction fees on the buy and
sell. (Typically, trade exchange fees are 6% up to 10% on
each side.)
For more information,
click
here.
A Hospitality Network For Adventuresome
Travelers
There are more than 4 million globetrotters and backpackers
in 80,000 cities, who want to share their homes with you at
no cost. Now there is an online hospitality network (www.Couchsurfing.org)
that connects travelers to free places to stay, all over the
world.
The Super Bowl For Women
The 85th Annual Academy Awards show, slated for February 24,
is called the 'Super Bowl for Women' because the TV audience
skews female. Last year more than 39 million viewers watched
the broadcast, and more are expected to view this year's
presentations.
All of the show's commercial time has been sold out since
before Christmas, with 30-second spots going for $1.7 to
$1.85-million. What's the reason for the hoopla? It's
because the 'Oscar' audience has a high concentration of
well-educated and affluent viewers, with plenty of
disposable income.
Satisfied Senior Citizen Says Thanks
BarterNews received an e-mail this week from a long-time,
devoted Canadian reader. He wrote:
Dear Bob,
As an avid reader of BarterNews for many years, I recently
bought your Restaurant Report and also your
Entrepreneur's Package. That helps me, being retired,
while bartering on a personal basis with hotels and
restaurants. Keep up the good work.
A Comprehensive Resource For College
Education Information
Here's a project (http://www.Graduate-School.PhDs.org/education-index)
we came across that is a powerful resource for anyone
wanting to further their knowledge about a college
education, including both undergraduate and graduate
programs, in the U.S. today.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
02/05/2013
The Key To Super Achievement
Authors Camille Sweeney and Josh Gasfield interviewed dozens
of superachievers and profiled their models in a new book
titled, The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What They
Do and How They Do It So Well.
The authors say that the most important thing that all
superachievers shared was that they all had great
self-awareness. They questioned themselves, and when
superachievers hit an obstacle or a roadblock, they were
able to pivot and get through. Instead of blaming someone
else or making some minor tweaks, they really took a very
careful look at their assumptions and biases, and that
allowed them to reinvent themselves.
Delayed Retirement Now The Norm
The Conference Board surveyed 15,000 individuals and found
that nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans between the ages
of 45 and 60 say they plan to delay retirement. That's up
from 42%, just two years ago.
The reasons include financial losses, layoffs, and income
stagnation sustained during the recession and recovery.
Barter Business Opportunity In South Florida
Looking for existing barter network or seasoned barter
professional to work with large regional chamber of
commerce, along with BarterR.com and Barter.us, to conquer
the barter industry in South Florida.
Please call 954-485-3255.
Super-Rich Laker Fans Are Traders Too
A courtside seat to see the Los Angeles Lakers basketball
team is a hot commodity in Los Angeles. For one season seat
the cost is $116,000. Westwood One radio mogul Norman Pattiz
has four courtside seats, located between the Lakers bench
and the scorer's table, that he's owned these seats for 25
years.
Pattiz once temporarily traded two of his seats to
billionaire Haim Saban in exchange for unlimited use of a
private jet.
Barter + Career In Public Relations
An upcoming pubic relations job fair, where students are
paying $80 each to attend an all-day 'Real World' Career
Fair February 22 in Atlanta, needs a dose of reality,
according to a blog by O'Dwyers. They report on inside news
of the public relations business, and recently pointed out
the use of barter in that industry.
'Doing PR for a restaurant on a barter basis is one way to
start a PR firm. Handle PR in return for meals, which cost
the restaurant almost nothing. Plenty of things can be
bartered including possibly cars, apartments, clothes, etc.
Knock on doors, is our advice.
'Barter is a big but largely untold factor in the business
world. Students who take unpaid internships are engaging in
barter ' exchanging their time and effort in return for a
learning experience and a blurb on their resumes.'
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/29/2013
Barter Company Raises $214,000 For Newtown
Effort
Counseling services through The Cove Center For Grieving
Children will be possible for many Newtown (CT) families
because of the efforts of nearby barter company Barter
Business Unlimited (www.bbubarter.com).
BBU has raised $214,000 trade-dollars from the company's
barter members and trading partners (other barter
companies).
Service Sector Growth Pushes Union Membership
Lower
Union membership in the U.S. fell to its lowest rate since
1916 last year, dropping to 11.3% of the workforce, from
11.8% in 2011. The reasons for the decline include: (a) new
laws that have reduced the power of unions in Wisconsin,
Indiana and other states, and (b) the growth of the service
sector, where organized labor has a small presence.
Hometown Money
Book Is Updated
The 1995 first edition of the Hometown Money book,
has been updated by its author Paul Glover. Glover is the
founder of the community currency-system known as Ithaca
HOURS, which was established in 1991.
For more information on Glover and his book click here.
(www.PaulGlover.org)
National Zanderboard Planned
Direct traders will soon be meeting for another real estate
and personal property session on the Zanderboard. It's
scheduled for February, in the Atlanta (GA) area.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/22/2013
Great Entrepreneurs Have Two Key Qualities
According to Ben Horowitz, a founding partner of the venture
capital firm Andressen Horowitz, the entrepreneur is vastly
more important than the idea. That's because if the idea is
lousy, a great entrepreneur will see that quickly and then
change the idea.
Horowitz says all great entrepreneurs have two key qualities
' brilliance and courage. The reason for the first one
(brilliance) is obvious. The second one, courage, is
important because the other virtues that everyone wants to
see in successful people ' honesty, integrity, etc. ' all
flow from courage. And if you don't have courage in times of
stress, then honesty, integrity, and other virtues can
quickly go by the wayside.
Active International Supports Families Of
Newtown Tragedy
Active is joining with other barter companies in raising and
providing funds for The Love for Grieving Children
organization. The corporate barter company will contribute
$50,000 in Universal Currency trade dollars to provide
counseling for all those who are suffering.
For more on Active International click here. (www.ActiveInternational.com)
Geithner Blames Greed For Financial Crisis
Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner explained in a
leaving interview with the Wall Street Journal why
he's uncomfortable with accusations that bankers haven't
been punished enough for the financial crisis. 'A huge part
of what happened across the system was just a mixture of
ignorance and greed, or hope over experience, and not
illegal. Most financial crises are not caused by fraud or
abuse.'
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/15/2013
IRTA
Completes Another Record Year
Annette Riggs, President of the International Reciprocal
Trade Association, reports that 2012 was another productive
year for IRTA and UC, as both organizations surpassed their
numerous goals for the year.
Riggs says that IRTA and UC will continue to pro-actively
advocate for both the barter and complementary currency
sectors; she looks forward to another fruitful year in 2013
filled with creative new initiatives that will benefit
members' business and the commercial barter industry in
general.
For the complete story,
click here.
ITEX
Brokers Board Meet In Seattle
In a couple of days, on January 18, the Board of Directors
of the ITEX Brokers Association (IBA) will be meeting in
Bellevue (WA). The IBA Board is elected by its members and
consists of seven members ' two brokers from three regions
and a president. The group initially gathers alone for a
day, prior to the following day's meeting with ITEX senior
management.
For more info on ITEX,
click here.
Happy-Meal Toys Exchanged For Books
During 2013 and 2014, about 15 million non-fiction books
will be provided to kids in England through the nation's
1,200 McDonald restaurants. The reading literacy program
will be promoted for five weeks at a time, over the two-year
period. It's estimated that only one in three children in
England now have books in the home.
Global
Media Ad Spending Hits $519 Billion
Media ad spending, worldwide, grew 5.4% to just under $519
billion in 2012. This growth rate is expected to continue at
the same levels through 2016 topping out at $628 billion.
How To
Shape Your Leadership & Corporate Culture
An excellent 43-page booklet, 'Neuro-Networking: How
Neuroscience Will Make You A Better Networker,' by Dave
Kinnear is available on Kindle Press for $2.99. In the
e-book, Kinnear explains how to build authentic networking
relationships through trust. It can be ordered through
Amazon.com.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/08/2013
Bank Card Delinquencies Fall To 28-Year Low
Another sign the economy is slowly recovering is a report by
the American Bankers Association. They report that delayed
repayments of bank-card loans dipped to the lowest level
since the 3rd quarter of 1994 ' falling to 2.75%
of all accounts.
Here & There In The Barter Marketplace '
-
Word of Mouth
Marketing has added a barter exchange feature (www.GoBuzz.me)
to its platform.
-
A 30-year barter
veteran, and a member of several trade exchanges, told
BarterNews that BizXchange's (www.bizx.com)
recent Christmas Holiday Fair in Seattle was the best of
the five in which he has exhibited. He cited the overall
atmosphere and attendance at this past holiday fair, as
well as the event's organization and superior offerings,
as the reasons for his top rating.
-
Jack Zufelt, a
national motivational speaker who has appeared at
various barter conventions over the years, is appearing
in a film titled, Openings ' The Search For Harry.
And You Thought Real Estate Prices Were High
Where You Live?
In Hong Kong, ownership of a parking lot space might go for
as much as $385,000! Parking has long been a prized
commodity in land-scarce Hong Kong, as tenants outnumber
parking slots in residential buildings 20-to-1. Pushing the
prices even further for parking spaces resulted when the
government placed a 15% tax on real estate being sold to
nonpermanent residents (namely wealthy buyers from mainland
China).
In comparison, a 600 square-foot apartment (purchased
outright) is about $577,000. And if residential properties
in Hong Kong are sold within six months of acquisition,
another 20% tax is charged. Therefore, investors channel
their money into parking spaces, where certain (taxing)
rules didn't apply.
(Editor's note: A taxi license in Hong Kong will cost
up to $900,000!)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
01/01/2013
U.S. Cash Still King, Worldwide
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing reports that the
fiscal year ending October 2012 had a record production run
' printing 3 billion $100 notes. It's believed that the
majority of those $100 bills are being held overseas, where
they're globally recognized, widely accepted and the easiest
way to store wealth.
And for those in the U.S., who are faced with bank deposit
rates and yields on U.S. treasury bills at record lows,
savers miss out on very little interest if they choose to
hold cash rather than invest it.
BBU Trade Exchange Providing Assistance To
Families of Newtown
Barter Business Unlimited (BBU), a Connecticut barter
company close to the recent Newtown tragedy, is busily
raising trade dollars within their exchange as well as
through the barter industry's two trade associations, NATE
and IRTA. Their goal is to collect and provide $200,000 or
more to the non-profit organization known as Cove Center for
Grieving Children, (www.covect.org).
Reportedly, Debbie Lombardi's BBU (www.bbubarter.com)
is closing in on their six figure goal, having already
raised over $150,000.
Small Merchants Disenchanted With The Online
Coupons
Small businesses are souring on daily online deals.
Companies such as Groupon and LivingSocial make money by
selling discounts for restaurant meals, manicures and resort
packages, then splitting the revenue with the business
offering the coupon.
However, an October survey by online entrepreneur-hub Manta,
showed that 82% of 1,087 responding small-business owners do
not intend to run daily deal promotions this year. Only 3%
said such campaigns have garnered them repeat business,
while 11% said they either lost or made no money on the
coupons.
Top
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