From
the desk of Bob Meyer...06/23/2009
National Association Of Trade Exchanges Names
New Board
On May 18,
2009, the majority of the NATE membership voted to elect a
new board:
Gary Oshry as President,
Rachel Taylor as Treasurer,
Karen Welch as Secretary,
Ric Zampatti, Director,
Mary Nove, Director
the registered agent is Harold Rice.
The new
NATE office is located at 10151 IH 35 North, San Antonio,
Texas 78233.
A Bridge To Better Times
Some 18%
of entrepreneurial small-business owners are working in a
second job to keep their businesses afloat. That’s according
to the latest findings from the American Express Open Small
Business Monitor. Many have sacrificed their personal
finances and have stopped paying themselves a salary to deal
with the current economic reality.
U.S. Ad Spending Fell 14% In First Quarter
TNS Media
Intelligence reports that U.S. ad spending on media such as
TV, print and online display ads fell 14% to $30.18 billion
in the first quarter from a year earlier. The ad downturn
(figures) was worse than anticipated.
Investment World Ever-Changing
Decades
ago the bulk of investors in the stock market was the
“individual investor.” Now, some 70% of the trading volume
on the NYSE and other exchanges is done by large
institutional investors. And the “buy and hold” theory of
yesteryear has changed as well.
Today
major firms employ dozens of PhD’s to develop
computer-driven models to identify when to buy and sell
stocks, bonds and other securities. The latest discoveries
by the brilliant math whizzes revolve around discovery of
hidden stock-pricing patterns similar to speech recognition
technologies.
In other
words, the underlying mathematics of predicting markets is
not millions of miles away from the mathematics of speech
recognition. Welcome to today’s ever-changing world.
Murphy Joins Novus Media Network
David P.
Murphy has been named President of Sales for the Novus Media
Network. Novus is a top ten U.S. media agency as ranked by
Advertising Age Magazine. They are a part of the
Omnicom Media Group, the media division of Omnicom Group
Inc.—a leading global marketing and corporate communications
company.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...06/09/2009
IMS Announces Online Bill-Pay & Statement Delivery For
Members
International Monetary Systems (OTCBB:INLM) has launched an
electronic monthly statement-notification service with an
online bill-payment option. Additionally, the new service
gives members the opportunity to link to desired features
(of their membership) such as the online barter marketplace
and travel center.
Facebook Introduces “Credits” Currency To Increase Income
Facebook will be tapping a new revenue stream by introducing
a new payment system where visitors to their site may
purchase Facebook “credits.” Said “credits” can be used to
buy virtual goods from the third-party applications that run
on the site. Facebook will capture a percentage of every
transaction. (Developers working on Facebook’s platform are
expected to earn more than $500 million this year.)
Favorpals Offers Service For Securing Mutual Benefit Through
Collective Cooperation
Craftsmen, artists, laborers and professionals, can exchange
their services at
http://www.favorpals.com.
Travel
Updates
·
An
online travel service (http://www.sidestep.com)
offers travelers the ability to check a location and gauge
the distance of a hotel from an address or a popular
attraction such as a beach, zoo, shopping mall or ballpark.
·
Virgin
Airlines, the new upstart based in Burlingame (CA), has
become the first airline to offer in-flight Internet service
on every plane.
·
Southwest Airlines has begun letting small cats and dogs fly
with their owners, for $75 each way.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...06/02/2009
25% Early Sign-Up Discount For IRTA
Convention
The
International Reciprocal Trade Association’s Annual
Convention is scheduled for October 1 thru October 3 at the
four-star Magnolia Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
To sign-up
now go to
http://www.IRTA.com.
Hotel Occupancy In The Bahamas Falls To 48.9%
A tourist
drought is creating havoc for hoteliers in the Bahamas. The
most recent casualty is the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma,
as the 500-acre resort has closed down. Opened in 2003 at a
cost of $350 million, they have been unable to move the
property.
According
to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the receiver(PricewaterhouseCoopers) expects the property to sell for
less than $100 million. The hotel’s occupancy had slipped
into the 50% range, as reported by the Bahamas Ministry of
Tourism.
Millionaire Population Dropping
The wealth
of American families has dropped nearly 18% from last year.
The Spectrem Group statistics showed that the number of U.S.
millionaires fell 27% last year, the biggest drop since the
wealth-research firm started collecting data about a decade
ago.
The number
of U.S. households with a net worth of at least a million
(not including primary residences) sank to 6.7 million from
9.2 million in 2007. The population of millionaires is now
at 2003-2004 levels, meaning the economic crisis has all but
erased the millionaire boom of the past five years.
New Book: The Art of Abundance
John
O’Keefe, the founder/owner of The Center For Peak
Performance has published his second book, The Art Of
Abundance.
For more
information see
http://www.nostressforyou.com.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...05/26/2009
Karen Hoffman Authoring Barter Book
Karen
Hoffman, a former trade exchange owner who has served two
years as the executive director of the International
Reciprocal Trade Association, has signed a contract for a
new barter book. It is expected to be published in the
spring of 2010.
Hedge Funds Post Better Record Than S&P’s 500
Index
While the
hedge fund industry experienced a 19% drop in 2008,
according to the Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research, it was
only the second year since 1990 that the industry lost money
as a whole. (The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index dropped
39%.)
Facts About Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief
Act Of 2007
Owners of
a personal residence will benefit from a short sale, in that
the short fall will not be taxable under the Mortgage
Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. However, the act
excludes second homes, rental properties, business property,
credit cards and car loans.
For more
information visit http://www.irs.gov and read Form
982, “Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of
Indebtedness.”
Businesses Will Be More Accountable In Days
Ahead
According
to Ram Charan, a consultant to CEOs of many Fortune 500
companies, the executives he works with are very sensitive
to the societal pressure, and change will occur. Charan
foresees a shift in the compensation of executive pay. And,
he believes corporate boards will try to ease the grip of
Wall Street by adopting pay structures that consider all
stakeholders...including employees and customers.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...05/19/2009
ITEX National
Convention Underway
The 27th
Annual ITEX Convention is now underway in Las Vegas. The
Orleans Hotel & Casino is the venue, May 19-21. Attendance
exceeds 150 with franchisees from all over North America.
Helping Women With Cancer
Do you
know someone who is or are you personally battling cancer?
Pincbubble.com is headquartered in Atlanta and offers a
worldwide program dedicated to the inner and outer beauty of
women undergoing chemotherapy.
For more
on this program go to
http://www.pincbubble.com.
Don Mardak Appears On Bloomberg TV Program
International Monetary Systems CEO Don Mardak appeared on
the Bloomberg TV program Venture Friday evening, May 15.
Mardak discussed the state of the barter industry and
industry trends.
For more
details on Mardak’s interview see
http://www.bloomberg.com. (Click on “TV & Radio” and
then go to “USTV Clips.”)
What If Grandpa Had Bought 100 Shares!
Johnson &
Johnson is the sixth most profitable company in the Fortune
500, and the fifth most valuable (ahead of P&G, IBM, GE and
Berkshire Hathaway). If you’d bought a single share when the
company went public in 1944 at its IPO price of $37.50 and
had reinvested the dividends, you now have a bit over
$900,000...a stunning annual return of 17.1%.
Even if
you hadn’t reinvested the dividends, that single share would
now be 2,500 shares as a result of splits, and you’d be
collecting dividends of $4,500 a year from that $37.50
investment.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...05/12/2009
Five Over-Rated Small Businesses
According to U.S. News & World Report these are the
five most over-rated small businesses:
-
Green businesses
-
Contracting
-
Restaurants
-
Franchises
-
Traffic-driven
web sites
Twenty-Two Percent of U.S. Homeowners Are
“Underwater”
The number of borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than
their homes are worth is 20.4 million (21.9%), according to
the real estate web site
www.Zillow.com.
Ten Popular Categories Within Trade Exchanges
1)
Restaurants
2)
Advertising
3)
Printing
4)
Dentists
5)
Tires
6)
Clothing/Shoe stores
7)
Veterinarians
8)
Dry
cleaners
9)
Orthodontists
10)Catering
Outsource, Bid,
Barter & Make Money
FreeMyTimeNow.com is an online community where
professionals, individuals and businesses can outsource, bid
and barter. Just $5 a year for complete access to their web
community.
Bartering At Breakfast
A trade exchange in Phoenix, Premier Barter, sponsors a
barter breakfast where attendees are charged $30 for the
breakfast cum meeting. Business owners can put together
one-on-one trades as well as learning more about how a
barter company operates and the value derived through
indirect barter.
For more information visit
http://www.thecreativebroker.com.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...04/28/2009
Fabulous Vermont Estate Available On Barter
A 10,000
square-foot mansion on approximately 18 acres overlooking
the mountains, located in a beautiful upscale town of
Dorset, Vermont, is available from the owner on a trade
basis. Reproduction cost $8,700,000, today’s asking price
$5,900,000.
Serious
offers can be made to Carol at
avoid6@aol.com.
To view
property
click here.
27th
National ITEX Convention Scheduled
The
largest trade exchange in the U.S. has scheduled its 27th
convention, to be held May 18 - 21 at the Orleans Hotel &
Casino in Las Vegas. To date, 150 attendees have signed on.
The franchisees will be involved with sales presentations
and contests, national partnership strategies and numerous
awards for efforts of the past year.
For more
information on ITEX go to
http://www.itex.com.
People
Moving Toward Frugality
With
nearly $13 trillion of wealth lost in this recession, a
shaken confidence in the capitalist system is prompting a
more powerful move toward frugality. Ravi Dhar, director of
Yale’s Center for Customer Insights, says the longer this
recession lasts the more it will have an impact on people’s
long-term behavior.
Additionally, according to Dhar, getting credit is likely to
be tougher for many consumers in the next decade than it was
during the subprime-lending boom.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...04/21/2009
Business Owners Are Bartering More
According to the American Express OPEN Small Business
Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners, business
owners are bartering more. Nearly half of business owners
(45%) are open to bartering for new products or services
with customers or suppliers. And nearly one-quarter (23%)
report their barter activities have increased due to the
economic environment.
Baby
Bagga Has Arrived
Bob Bagga, co-founder of BizXchange, and his wife Anita have
announced that their baby boy arrived on April 10, birthed
at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. The baby and mom are
doing great.
Commercial Radio Stations Asking For
Donations
With radio advertising down 9%, commercial radio stations
are taking a page from public radio — asking listeners for
donations. A barter twist of sorts can be included, wherein
top donors get access to the station’s special events.
Consumers Focus On Reducing Debt
A U.S. spending Monitor survey by Discover credit card
company shows that 35% of consumers expect to reduce their
debt level over the next six months. (Households reduced
their total debt last year for the first time since World
War II.)
Countries Bartering For Farmland
Countries fearing food shortages are making bilateral barter
deals with poorer countries to acquire (via leases) farmland
to provide crops for their own citizens. For example, Libya
is leasing 250,000 acres from Ukraine in a barter deal for
oil. While Saudi Arabia is presently seeking deals with
Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...04/14/2009
BizXchange Gets
Exposure On Forbes Web Site
Forbes.com
recently did a 2-minute video news piece on BizXchange.
Here is the
link:
http://video.forbes.com/fvn/byb/forget-cash-barter-instead.
Champagne Exchanged For Advertising
Vienna’s
Albertina Museum, home to landmark Impressionist works by
Monet and Renoir, is embracing barter (asking companies to
fund champagne and cocktails at receptions in exchange for
advertising) as the financial crisis continues. It’s a way
to cope with shrunken endowments, thriftier benefactors and
cuts in state funding.
Transition Towns Embrace Local Bartering
Referred to
as Transition Towns, hundreds of small towns—worldwide—are
supporting local currencies for a “Keep It Local” bartering
system that focuses on growing and improving the success of
local businesses. Resident populations are showing a greater
eagerness to utilize this “Keep It Local” way of (business)
trading.
Barter Aids Hotels By Countering Low
Occupancies
Hoteliers in
downtown Chicago saw February occupancy rates at 48%, down
from 54% a year earlier, according to Smith Travel Research.
The average cost of a room fell by more than $16 to $133 —
an 11% decline. With the hotels hurting, interest in barter
(using trade exchanges) has increased substantially.
Seattle’s New Community Currency
A new Seattle
community barter startup was launched two months ago. Their
barter currency is called dibspace.
For more
information go to
http://www.dibspace.com.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...04/07/2009
Emotional Stimulus Plan To Manage Your Fear
In today’s
economic environment many Americans are feeling anxious,
edgy and vulnerable. While our government and others are
instituting a variety of measures to stimulate economic
growth, there are things that we as individuals can do to
control anxiety and stimulate our emotional growth.
· Talk
with your family and loved ones more frequently. Emotional
and physical intimacy offers comfort when one is feeling
vulnerable.
· Accept that when you feel victimized, anger is an appropriate
response...diffuse it in a constructive way.
· Practice good relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, soft
music, a hot bath, and turning off the phone, pager and PDA
can offer some relief.
· Focus on things you can control. Learn a new skill or sport,
or spend time on a favorite hobby.
· Attend religious or spiritual services. Let go of problems
and open your heart to feelings of peace and love.
· Exercise. It sweeps the cobwebs out and encourages more restful
sleep.
· Do things that give you pleasure. Go for a hike, read an
escapist book or watch a funny movie.
· Make
allowances. Be aware that you’re not functioning at
100%...allow yourself and others more time to complete
personal and professional chores.
· Take
it one day at a time. The onset of stress may be rapid, but
getting rid of it can take a while. Try to resume the
comfort and predictability of everyday routines.
· Manage your fear, getting professional help if you need it.
Counselors and therapists have lots of tools that can help
you get through the troubled times.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...03/31/2009
Barter Plays Needed Role In London Olympics
British
Olympic legend Sebastian Coe (gold medals in 1980 and 1984)
is chairman of London’s Olympic Committee and the 2012
Summer Games. Coe was in the U.S. recently for an
international sports business conference, saying that upon
his return to London he will be looking for sponsors to
barter “in-kind” goods and services. Namely food and
equipment needed for the Games, in lieu of cash fees for the
sponsorships.
New England Trade Garners “Ink” In Boston
Business Journal
Ken Meharg
and Gary Oshrey’s New England Trade received coverage in the
Boston Business Journal recently. The company has 1,300
members and projects $15 million in trade volume for 2009.
Logie’s Member Bartering In New York
An IRTA
member exchange in Scotland is expanding its trade into the
United States. European-based Hebridean Liquor Co. is
bartering its products in New York through Richard Logie’s
The Business Exchange, which is based in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Unusual Barter Deal Possible
The U.S.
is looking into the possibility of “bartering” with Russia,
wherein Russia would assist in convincing Iran to reconsider
its move toward developing nuclear warheads on its
long-range missiles. In return the U.S. will reconsider
employing missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech
Republic.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...03/24/2009
Hotel Barter Expert Advises Independent
Hoteliers
Established in 1992, Jody Merl’s Parsippany
(NJ)-based Innovative Travel Marketing specializes in hotel
and travel advertising using barter to expand buying power —
exchanging unsold room inventory for advertising placement
and services.
It should be noted that while independent
hotels have more of a propensity to trade than hotel chains,
a number of hotel groups have made barter a highly
successful, company-wide strategy.
For more information on ITM see
www.InnovativeTravelMarketing.com.
Trading Barter Company Network Eyes
Acquisitions
Geneva, Switzerland-based HE-5 Resources (Pinksheets:HRRN)
has acquired Trading Barter Bank. HE-5 reports its new
purchase will be targeting acquisitions of micro-market
barter companies in North America and Europe, and merging
them with the Trading Barter Company network.
Beer For Coffee
Since 1993, Kansas City (MO)-based Boulevard
Brewing Co. has been bartering with local coffee company The
Roasterie, which receives beer for events in exchange for
wholesale rates on coffee for Boulevard’s office.
Magazine Has Bartering Tips For Brides
Modern Bride
magazine’s April/May issue offers ideas on how to barter for
an (almost) perfect wedding. Two of the tips: Put your
trades in writing so there is no misunderstanding; and avoid
annual peak wedding times, for obvious reasons.
Knoxville’s Tradebank Expanding
Knoxville’s Tradebank reports signing up 44
local companies the first 75 days of 2009, compared to 25
new members in the same time period in 2008. The company has
700 members in the Knoxville area.
An Effective Cost-Cutting Measure
Canadian Cameron Herold, founder of
Vancouver-based business consulting firm BackPocket COO,
launched one of his most effective cost-cutting measures
during tough times in 2002.
He determined the average cost of business
trips and told his employees that when they spend less than
that, he’d split the savings with them. Employees tended to
cut travel expenses by 40% — fattening their own wallets and
helping the company accumulate annual savings of about
$120,000.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...03/17/2009
Fiji Real Estate Available On Barter/Cash
Blend
Three
lots, all 3/4 acre, are available in Fiji. The lots, priced
at $50,000, $65,000 and $80,000, are available 50% ITEX &
50% cash.
For more
information see:
http://www.heavensdoorfiji.blogspot.com.
InterMedia Founder Dies
Sydney
Yallen, founder and CEO of InterMedia, has passed away at
85. Yallen founded the company in 1974 after a career in
advertising/media that began at the age of 13 as a part-time
office boy at a Los Angeles radio station. In 1967, he
worked as the West Coast regional manager for the barter
company Pepper and Tanner. (Pepper and Tanner later changed
their name to the William B. Tanner Company; they were a
major story in Issue #3 of BarterNews magazine.)
California Community Offers Barter Services
To Volunteers
A hard hit
economic area, Laton (CA) is offering people in the vicinity
the opportunity to trade their time on such community
efforts as street cleaning, teaching literacy classes or
painting selected buildings. In exchange they will receive
“coupons” which can be used to acquire needed goods and
services at selected locations within the locale.
What’s The Color Of Their Eyes
We all
want to make a good impression. Here’s the sure way to do so
—notice the color of a person’s eyes as you shake their
hand! Here’s why it works. You’ll gain strong eye contact in
a way that shows you’re interested in what the person has to
say.
Vail Resorts Knows Barter’s Value
Vail
Resorts, which owns Beaver Creek and a handful of other ski
areas in Colorado and California, is cutting pay for workers
in order to preserve jobs. The ski-resort operator reports
that affected employees salaries will be cut on a sliding
schedule from 2.5% for seasonal employees to 10% for
executives. Employees also will receive a portion of their
salaries in stock.
California Cities Barter Stimulus Funds
Creativity
is alive and well in three cities in California as they are
proposing to barter their anticipated share of federal money
for highway improvements in exchange for funds that they
could use as they see fit.
Officials
at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is
responsible for distributing federal highway and transit
stimulus funds to agencies in Los Angeles County, said they
had no objection to this kind of exchange provided the
projects that are to receive stimulus funds meet the federal
criteria.
But at the
same time officials sent a letter to city managers saying
that efforts by more municipalities to take the bartering
process a step further will not be allowed.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...03/10/2009
Unemployed? Barter Your Services For Your
Next Job
Here’s a
little used technique that will make an impression on an
employer. Suggest that you will work for no pay (bartering
your services) in return for on the job training for a
period of time. There are plenty of employers who have cut
to the bone with layoffs, but still have work to get done.
ITEX’s CEO Presented Overview At Technology
Conference
Steven
White, CEO of the ITEX Corporation, presented a corporate
overview of his company’s current operations and an update
on its web strategies at the Securities Research Associates
Fifth Annual Winter Technology Conference, March 9. The
conference was held at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco. A
video replay is available on the ITEX web site,
www.itex.com
under the Investors Relations section.
Bay Area BizXchange Is Booming
BizXchange,
in the San Francisco Bay Area, has 500 members. But the
interest in barter is so intense that the company is
projecting an 80% growth for 2009. Chief Operating Officer
Chris Haddawy says members today are focusing more on core
business expenses like printing, signage and advertising.
Trade Stock Shares For Plush Vacation
We’ve seen
two different situations where hoteliers and/or travel
agencies are offering top-end hotel rooms for a special
vacation. No cash is needed, instead pay for the rooms with
shares of stock you’re holding—at today’s share price. One
of the entities will even add a 10% premium to the share
price.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...03/03/2009
Asia’s BarterXchange Expectations Growing
BarterXchange expects to see RM30 million of barter
transactions this year for the Malaysian and Singapore
markets.
TradeBay Follows eBay Model, But Operates On
Barter
Teddy
Rader, a student at Bowling Green State University in Ohio,
has started a business called TradeBay. It is much like eBay
but operates on a barter system only. (Click
here.)
Alcoa Aluminum Barter Equity Stakes
Alcoa has
announced that it has entered into an agreement with Orkla
under which both companies would exchange their
corresponding stake in a Norwegian smelting partnership and
a Swedish extrusion joint venture in order to focus on their
respective areas of expertise and best practices.
Direct Barter Internet Sites
Here are
two sites where consumers can barter:
http://www.friendlyfavor.com and
http://www.favorpals.com.
Ford Motor Barters To Fund Retiree Health
Care Benefits
Ford and
the United Auto Workers agreed to change the way the company
funds retiree health care benefits. Ford which faces nearly
$10 billion in health costs for retired union workers, now
may make up to half its contributions in Ford stock rather
than cash. (Ford has 187,000 retirees.)
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...02/24/2009
Dubai Racked By Debt
Dubai’s
economy is contracting after a 40% slump in property prices,
leaving the emirate struggling to refinance $15 billion of
debt this year, the credit-rating company Moody’s divulged.
Great Time For Hotel Room Deals
According
to PKF Consulting statistics, the best deals in the hotel
industry are rooms...with vacancies at a 20-year high. Look
for promotions at hotel web sites and compare prices at
Quikbook.com.
WSJ Says “Barter Fits The Bill For Strapped
Firms”
The
February 17 issue of The Wall Street Journal ran a
significant story about how small businesses, squeezed for
cash (and unable to get loans), are bartering more. NuBarter
and BizXchange were two barter companies listed, along with
six small businesses denoting their barter experiences.
More Barter Internationally As Bank Lending
Dries Up
A recent
article in the Financial Times reports countries from
Malaysia to Morocco say they have reverted to bartering for
food and making deals to import commodities ranging from
rice to olive oil. Officials estimate the deals range from
$5 million for smaller contracts to more than $500 million
for the biggest.
Barter Tops In Cost-Per-Lead
According
to Action International Business Coaching, their evaluations
of small companies using barter shows that barter is tops in
providing return-on-investment and cost-per-lead.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...02/17/2009
Restaurants Barter For Giant Pumpkins
Restaurants in Elk Grove (CA) traded a meal for six to
obtain giant pumpkins during the California Giant Pumpkin
Forum on February 7. The giant pumpkins are used for
decoration. The largest pumpkins will weigh from 700 to 900
pounds.
These giant pumpkins produce 500 to 600 seeds...the highest
price ever paid for a single seed was $200.00
Durango People Looking To Connect Barter
“Dots”
In Durango (CO) a recently formed La Plata Skills Trade
Collective, a local time bank, is looking to galvanize the
local community while strengthening community ties. It’s a
way, say the organizers, for people with skills and
equipment to come together and connect the dots.
“Hours” are earned in performing work for others and then
the “hours” currency is spent for the services of other time
bank participants. Currently a web site is being built for
the new collective.
New Online Barter Communities
Barter Buddies is now open for business. There is no charge
for the first three months, then a small annual fee is
needed thereafter ...
http://www.barterbuddies.co.uk.
A Toronto-based bartering community for Canadians is now
operative. Members can barter their items or skills with the
option to balance an uneven trade transaction with cash ...
http://www.swapsity.ca.
Google Finds “Media Business” Tougher Than
Expected
Google has closed both their print (placing ads in
newspapers) and radio services within the last month. A
company spokesperson said the projects were closed because
they didn’t have the impact the company hoped for.
(The move was a blow to Clear Channel Communications as they
were a major partner in the media efforts. In 2007, Google
signed a high-profile deal to sell a guaranteed portion of
ad inventory on more than 675 radio stations owned by Clear
Channel.)
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...02/10/2009
IRTA Europe Conference Scheduled For Norway
The IRTA
European Chapter Board of Directors has approved a measure
to convene the 2009 European International Reciprocal Trade
Association on June 4 - 5 in the charming town of Kragero,
Norway.
IRTA
members Rob van Hilten and Edgar Kampers of Qoin
International (Netherlands) will host the conference. It
will be just prior to the Annual Kragero Money & Philosophy
Festival which focuses on money, alternative currencies,
philosophy and equality.
The IRTA-Euro
Conference promises to be a great learning experience and a
wonderful time. Look for more details and registration
information in the coming weeks.
BizXchange Featured On Local NBC Affiliate
Chris
Haddawy, COO of BizXchange, appeared on the local San
Francisco Bay Area NBC telecast explaining about how
bartering is good for Bay Area businesses.
New Study Shows Value Of Discounts, Coupons
A new
study by Penn, Schoen & Berland shows the power of coupons
and discounts in influencing buying behavior. The study
reported that nearly 68% of recession shoppers purchased
something online they wouldn’t have otherwise, because of a
coupon or discount. Thus conveying that consumers are
becoming more aggressive when searching for deals and making
smarter buying decisions.
“Cookies By Design” Franchisee Likes Barter
With sales
down 26% over the last year, franchisee Renee King was very
reluctant to just pull out her credit card to make business
purchases, like in the past. She’s now into barter.
Recently
she traded cookie credits (from her store), to cover a $550
membership fee at the Long Beach Convention & Visitors
Bureau, where she expects to meet potential clients. She
also bartered cookie credits with a local newspaper for
advertising space.
Magna Global Trading Name Change
Magna
Global Trading of Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands has
rebranded to become Orion Trading, as part of an expansion
plan that includes opening an office in Australia...its
first in the Asia-Pacific region.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...02/03/2009
Historic Sportsman Lodge Closing, Venue For
First Industry Meeting
The site
of the first IATE (International Association of Trade
Exchanges) meeting of trade exchange owners is closing its
doors. IATE, now known as IRTA (International Reciprocal
Trade Association), held the barter industry’s initial
meeting at the Sportsman Lodge (Sherman Oaks) back in 1978.
The San Fernando Valley landmark is being replaced with an
upscale steakhouse.
More Price Drops for Real Estate Predicted
The
January issue of the International Forecaster
newsletter projects home prices in the U.S. will drop
another 20% to 30%. They also predict inflation will
resurface in April, as the monetization by the government
begins hitting the markets.
President Of IRTA On The Road
David
Wallach will be traveling to Seattle this week to visit with
IRTA members in the Northwest.
Recession Marketing
Have you
seen the new ad by Hyundai? A good example of “recession
marketing.” Here’s their message: “Buy a new Hyundai and if
you lose your income in the next year, we’ll let you return
the car. We’re all in this together...and we’ll get through
it together.”
Here & There...
·
Premier
Barter,
headquartered in Phoenix, recently opened an office in
Firestone, Colorado. Megan Johnson is managing the Colorado
office.
·
In light
of today’s economy, TV stations are pushing
hard for all-barter deals that involve the station only
giving up a certain amount of ad time.
·
Business
guru Tom Peters
says today’s business malaise has a bright spot. Companies
will see the value (and need) for everyone to be more
connected to optimize productivity. Developing people will
be critical. The best way to do that? Engage people, ask
them, “What do you think?”
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer...01/27/2009
Corporate Barter Firm Hires 35-Year TIME Inc. Veteran
ICON International, a corporate barter company, has
appointed Ed McCarrick, former President and Worldwide
Publisher of Time Group, to Executive VP of Account
Management and Media Partnerships.
Five Ways To “Get Free”
On their web site,
www.YesMagazine.com had an article titled, “Stand Up
To Corporate Power: Five Ways To Get Free.” One of the five
ways concerned money...
GOOD: Make sure your investments are socially responsible.
Put your cash in a local bank or credit union.
BETTER: Use a local currency system, or start one. Barter
for goods and services to get away from money altogether.
The Barter Network Reports 58% Growth
Year-Over-Year
The Barter Network, founded in 2006 and located in Winter
Park (FL), reported their trade volume for 2008 was $1.8
million, an increase of 58% over $1.06 million in 2007.
Colorado Town Sets Up Barter System
The town of Hartsel (CO) has set up a barter-type system to
help the locals. One of the ways they work together is
through the impromptu food bank. When residents have extra
canned goods they make a donation, then when they need a
little help they get back some food.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/20/2009
Palm Oil For Fertilizer
Malaysia will be trading crude palm oil for
fertilizer components from North Korea. The same barter
arrangement will be used in deals with Morocco, Jordan,
Syria and Iran.
Barter Booming For New Zealand’s Bartercard
Paul Bolte, CEO of Bartercard New Zealand,
says his 6,300 members are bartering more than ever. He
reports $23.5 million in goods and services traded in
December, a record-setting month. Bolte expects 2009 trading
volume to hit $215 million.
BarterQuest Eyes New Marketplace
According to reports, BarterQuest has heard
from so many farmers that they are looking into creating an
online community for farmers where they could trade grain,
equipment, harvesting efforts, et cetera. Farmers,
historically, have cooperatively bartered with one another
making for tight-knit communities.
Australia’s BBX Contemplates Expansion
BBX, an Australian-based trade exchange, has
announced they will be opening eleven new franchises across
the country in the coming months. The BBX franchises will
open in five states, according to CEO Michael Touma.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/13/2009
Tenants In Las Vegas Getting Barter Deals
With commercial vacancy rates at 17.5% in the
third quarter (9th straight quarter they’re up) landlords
and real estate brokers have been working overtime to close
deals. Rent free space, as well as tenant improvements, have
been bartered to close deals...a far cry from a year ago
when concessions were a market taboo.
WSJ Article Touts Barter
In an article on a Wall Street Journal
blog (Deal Journal) titled, “The Winners From The Year That
Was,” bartering was listed as one of the winners. The
article concluded: “Trading something you have for something
you want used to be the function of money, before money came
from ATMs and plastic cards and home loans. It still isn’t a
bad idea.”
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/06/2009
Microsoft Uses Barter Strategy To Increase
Market Share
Microsoft is putting pressure on Adobe
Systems’ dominance of web design software. Microsoft’s
competing software, Silverlight, has been aggressively
courting the operators of popular websites and advertising
agencies that are Adobe’s core customers. They’re doing so
by bartering “development and support,” which reduces the
new client’s costs tremendously.
Virginia’s Bill Meacham Sees Big Jump In
Trades
Bill Meacham, owner of two Virginia-based
trade exchanges, says he saw a 50% increase in activity for
November over the same month a year earlier.
CBS News Airs Barter Segment
The CBS Evening News on December 31 had a
segment on “The Business of Bartering.” Several direct
trades were illustrated, as well as a story of a trucking
company that utilized the IMSBarter exchange to save its
business.
Credit Card Companies To Reduce Credit Lines
By $2 Trillion
The three largest U.S. credit-card issuers
are J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, and Citigroup.
As of June 30, these three banks had nearly 60% of the
$724.44 billion in outstanding loans of the ten biggest
credit-card issuers, according to the Nilson Report, a
Carpinteria (CA) newsletter that follows the industry.
Analysts following the industry estimate that
credit-card issuers will reduce credit lines by more than $2
trillion in the next 18 months.
Holiday Barter Faires Are Big Winner For
IMSBarter
IMSBarter reported that their Holiday Barter
Expo’s generated over $3 million in income this year...these
sales figures were for
one side of the trade.
Kansas Man Shows Las Vegas Moguls How To Make
Money
Phil Ruffin Sr., a 73-year-old businessman,
has achieved spectacular success in his Las Vegas real
estate dealings. Consider his impeccable moves:
In 1998 he bought his first Las Vegas casino,
the New Frontier (when the casino was mired in a six-year
union strike) for $165 million. Less than ten years later he
sold it for $1.24 billion — when everyone in Vegas
was in a land-buying frenzy.
Then in 2008, with cash in-hand, he
approached the cash-strapped MGM Mirage about buying its
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. He recently did so, for $500
million cash and another $275 million in notes. Ruffin says
it’s a good deal, as a 3,000-room Vegas hotel/casino today
would cost $3 billion to build. In another decade or so
Ruffin will likely pocket another billion in profits!
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...12/23/2008
IMSBarter Appears On CBS Evening News
IMSBarter (OTCBB:INLM) was featured on the
CBS Evening News “Weekend Journal” Saturday, December 13.
Don Mardak, CEO of IMS, was interviewed as were several
members of IMSBarter.
The program can be viewed at
www.IMSBarter.com.
Daughter Of TradeAmericanCard Owner Receives
Raves From Whoopi Goldberg
Allison Ames, daughter of Mike Ames (founder
of TAC) and Sondra Ames, is the founder of Newport
Beach-based Wonderland Bakery. Her gingerbread cookie was
chosen the best from across the U.S. by Whoopi Goldberg on
“The View,” a morning TV talk-show aired nationally. Within
30 minutes of the airing Wonderland Bakery had processed 700
orders.
For more information see
http://www.WonderlandBakery.com.
Barter Party Organized By Women
The Boston Herald
reported that women are shopping from their closets! HUH?
Clothes-swap parties of a dozen women are meeting in homes
to trade their “better stuff” for other niceties desired.
Some women even purchase designer clothes at thrift stores
(at huge discounts), then trade those clothes for something
more desirable at the party.
10% Of Retailers Could Face Restructuring
Colin McGranahan, a retail analyst at Sanford
C. Bernstein & Co., says potentially 10% of retailers could
face significant restructuring, bankruptcy or liquidation in
2009. The International Council of Shopping Centers projects
148,000 storefronts will be shuttered this year by retailers
of all types, including mom-and-pop stores, based on data
collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That would be
the largest since 2001 when 150,000 locations closed.
Countries Barter To Solve Challenges
Worldwide food shortages mixed with a global
credit crisis has some countries getting by bartering food
for other essentials. Thailand, for example, one of the
world’s largest producers of rice, is trading that foodstuff
to Iran for oil. Iran was having difficulty getting the
necessary letters of credit so they and Thailand agreed on
prices and volumes, before bartering the exchange of the
goods.
Saudi Arabia was finding difficulty getting
paid on a cash debt from Pakistan, so to get paid the
Saudi’s are following the strategy, “If you can’t get blood
out of the turnip, take the turnips!” And the Saudi’s are
doing just that, as payment is forthcoming in the form of
various foodstuffs.
Blixseth Willing To Trade Caribbean Island
For Gulfstream Jet Or Manhattan Digs
A barter deal with the U.S. government,
wherein he received 100,000 acres in the Bozeman/Big Sky
area, gave Tim Blixseth his start. He subsequently built an
elite Montana ski and golf community with his now-former
wife. (Bill Gates and his family were members.)
Blixseth later sold his share of Yellowstone
to his ex-wife. Now he is looking to trade his private
five-acre Turks & Caicos island, with a
30,000-square-foot-home, for $75 million of other valuable
assets. He said he’s open to bartering his island for a
Gulfstream G550 jet or a New York apartment.
Swiss Bank Pays Top Management With Junk
Bonds Rather Than Cash
Top management at Credit Suisse Group will be
receiving a substantial percentage of their 2008
compensation in forms other than the traditional
cash-and-stock payment. This year they will be receiving
junk bonds, mortgage-backed securities and corporate loans
in a “Partner Asset Facility”...and they won’t receive a
return on the PAF program for eight years. The move was
necessary because the Swiss bank posted a $4.6 billion loss
this year.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...12/16/2008
TIME magazine Looks At Alternative Currencies
TIME has published an extensive article on
alternative currencies. Read about the growth of these
currencies and their growing popularity...
Click here
Research Group Says Consumer Bartering
Doubled In One Year
According to the American Research Group, a
think-tank that talks to thousands of consumers every week
to assay their spending habits and how they feel about the
state of the economy, barter’s use is booming! The research
group says 67% of consumers have bartered this year,
compared to 33% in the fall of 2997.
Craigslist Barter Queries Growing
Craigslist reported that more than 150,000
barter queries pervade Northern California listings on the
popular classifieds web site at
http://www.craigslist.org.
Match-Value One-On-One Trading
Cynthia Eakin, an associate professor at
Stockton’s University of the Pacific, says its legal to have
matched-value trades without documenting anything. However
the IRS requires barterers to list any profit made as
taxable income. Eakin frequently gives lectures about
bartering to her students.
Column On “The Daily Paul Blog” Looks At ITEX
A blog that is produced by Ron Paul devotees
authored an article about ITEX CEO Steve White’s comments
during his appearance on the Fox Business show. The blog
writer was “given hope” because, as he stated, the use of
barter and trade currencies will be desired by people,
especially in these trying times, and will be very hard to
control by the government.
SBA’s Loan Programs Changing
The U.S. Small Business Administration loan
programs are being dramatically changed. Previously they
were demographic-based, but now are geographic-based
programs. Applicants are now being required to provide more
information as well as mandatory attendance at technical and
financial-assistance classes.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...12/09/2008
ITEX Holiday Barter Fair Pulls Sellers From
Across USA
A business from Toronto was selling golf
clubs, while a Florida-based jewelry retailer traveled to
Ontario (CA) to make holiday sales.
Vendors took possession of the 200 available
booths to move their wares. This Southern California Holiday
Fair is the largest ITEX one held in the United States.
Steve White, ITEX’s CEO, flew down from
Seattle to view the flurry of sales occurring at the Ontario
Convention Center this past Sunday. Peter and Neita Brooks,
owners of the San Dimas-based ITEX Inland Valley stage this
ever-growing, impressive event every December.
To view a short video of this holiday fair
click
here.
U.S. Small Businesses Still Upbeat
Michael Alter, President of Sure Payroll
Services, sent me his latest findings showing that although
the stock market hit the skids, how we view the economy is
based on our personal circumstances. And the small business
marketplace in November was surprisingly optimistic.
To read the report see:
www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2008/november
“Stocks Aren’t Cheap Yet” Contends Pimco’s
Bill Gross
Pacific Investment Management Company’s Bill
Gross, the manager of one of the world’s largest bond funds,
said stocks aren’t cheap when viewed in relation to the
direction the market is heading...with more regulation,
lower leverage and higher taxes.
Gross said he believes in stocks for the long
run, but only when bought at the right price. He said 14000
for the Dow Jones Industrial Average is a stretch, since
about 20% of bank capital is now owned by the U.S.
government.
Sports Illustrated “Sportsman Of The Year”
Believes In Barter
History’s greatest Olympian, U.S. swimmer
Michael Phelps, is endorsing a new protein drink called
PureSport. It’s hardly as well known as competitor Gatorade,
but with Phelps’ name behind it (along with fellow Olympic
swimmers Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Ian Crocker) the
University of Texas spin-off is off to a dizzying start.
Last month PureSport hit the shelves at
Chicago’s Sports Authority, one of a 400-store
sporting-goods chain. Phelps and the other Olympians agreed
to endorse the protein mix before Phelps earned his eight
gold metals. The foursome took a 5% equity stake in the
company in exchange for their endorsement.
Yahoo Barters With CBS To Lower Costs
Yahoo is plugging its Internet radio service
into CBS Corporation’s webcasting network in a move driven
by dramatically higher royalty for airing music online.
Yahoo’s radio channel, called Launchcast,
will combine with CBS beginning in February. Under the
arrangement Yahoo will depend on CBS Radio to power
Launchcast as well as sell all the ads on the service.
Barter comes into play as, in return for the
helping hand, Yahoo’s high-traffic news and sports sections
will feature some of CBS’ top-rated radio stations,
including WFAN in New York and KNX-AM in Los Angeles.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...12/02/2008
Ad Week Publishes Excellent Article On
Bartering Media
Articles about barter are being written about
barter in all the media. Here’s an excellent one that Ad
Week published on media trading...
click here
Construction Loans Under Pressure
Soured construction loans continue to pile up
on banks’ balance sheets in the recent quarter, as
residential-development loans failed in even larger numbers.
Data cruncher Foresight Analytics LLC, of Oakland (CA),
estimates that construction loan delinquencies among all
property types reached 9% in the quarter.
Electronic-Goods Manufacturers Take Action
The U.S. electronics industry last year spent
about $13.8 billion to re-box, restock and re-sell returned
products, according to a study by technology consultant
Accenture Ltd. Defects aren’t even in the top three reasons
for returns, surprisingly. (The primary reason consumers
return products is because they didn’t meet expectations.)
The industry is now focusing on including
more information on its packaging to help consumers avoid
buying the wrong product.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...11/11/2008
Lasater Re-elected
Gary Lasater, CEO of eValues (www.eValues.net)
and a barter industry pioneer, won a citizens mandate for
re-election to the Parker Town Council in Colorado. Parker
is in the southeast Denver metro area, with a population of
50,000. The two other incumbents running were not elected.
$300 Million Real Estate Available On
Part-Barter Basis
Mountain resort home sites as well as cabin
and pedestal homes are available on a part-cash part-trade
basis. The properties are located within fine communities in
the mountains of northern Georgia.
For further details go to
http://barterforrealestate.com.
Wonderland Bakery Promoted Voting With A
Twist
Wonderland Bakery (www.wonderlandbakery.com),
a specialty bakery and gift concierge in Irvine (CA), helped
get the votes with “good taste” in the recent national
election. Customers could purchase cookies depicting their
favorite presidential candidate and political party.
Allyson Ames, founder of Wonderland Bakery,
noted, “We have made thousands of politically decorated
cookies since we received the 2008 California Business of
the Year award in May from Senator Harman and Governor
Schwarzenegger in Sacramento.
PepsiCo Considers Multiple Opportunities
PepsiCo’s CEO Indra Nooyl, an
Indian-American, said her company considers as many as 30
acquisitions globally at any one time. She says it’s
important as a company today to see yourself as a global
citizen, making sure to understand the world around you.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...11/04/2008
Bartercard Thailand Looks For Bullish Growth
Continued above-average growth of 20%, to 1.2
billion baht, next year is expected by Bartercard Thailand.
The company has 3,000 members and anticipates a 15%
membership increase as well. Their present membership is
about 1% of the 3.5 million small and mid-size enterprises
in Thailand.
Hedge Funds Shrinking
According to Eurekahedge, a hedge-fund
research company and consultants, hedge-funds experienced
$44.5 billion of investment losses in September and $34.5
billion of investor withdrawals. Whereas, $10.5 billion of
new money was received.
For the third quarter as a whole, hedge-fund
assets shrunk by a record $210 billion, or more than 10%, an
amount that exceeds the $194 billion that flowed into the
industry in all of 2007. Aggregate hedge-fund assets now
total $1.72 trillion.
Bank Of England Governor Anticipates Another
Crisis
Bank of England’s Governor Mervyn King,
anticipates another financial crisis between 2013 and 2018.
According to King, human nature doesn’t change. Therefore
future crises can’t be prevented, as memories dim and
lessons learned will be forgotten.
Average Tech Entrepreneurs Are Aging
The Kaufman Foundation says the average tech
entrepreneur isn’t a 20-year-old whiz kid, but 39 years of
age. The average founder is now pushing middle age, with
nearly five times as many founders over 45 as were younger
than 25, when their companies got off the ground. These new
entrepreneurs had plenty of time to learn on the job: On
average 16.4 years passed since they finished school and
started their companies.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...10/28/2008
Australia’s BBX Temporarily Waives $65,000 Franchise Fee
BBX CEO Michael Touma has announced the
temporary waiving of its franchise fee due to the tightening
credit market. (Terms and conditions apply.)
Trump’s Paperclip
Donald Trump’s paperclip, being traded by an
economic professor in Missouri, has been traded numerous
times as the professor strives to reach his goal of
ultimately bartering the paperclip for a SUV.
To see the latest trade go to
www.goldenpaperclip.com.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...10/21/2008
Your Services For Room & Board
Immersion Travel USA
by Sheryl Kayne is a book about her travels and experiences.
Included in the publication is specifics about where she
traded her time and skills for various experiences, as well
as room and board. Listings are included for the reader.
The Barter Company Expanding
The Barter Company (www.thebartercompany.com)
announced the hiring of Randy Wolfe and Basil Bethea III.
Both will be developing areas outside of greater Atlanta for
the trade exchange. Wolfe will be focusing on Columbia (SC)
as well as Charlotte and Greenville. Bethea will be working
the Gulf Coast; where, as a lifetime resident of the area,
he has worked in his family’s commercial real estate
business.
ITEX New England Holiday Trade Fair
ITEX New England’s Trade Fair will be held
Sunday, November 9, from 9am to 4pm at the Norwalk Inn, 99
East Avenue, Norwalk (CT).
For more information call 888-294-6393.
BizXchange Expands Barter Finance Services
The Seattle-based barter company is expanding
its business-member finance services to those companies
where bank financing isn’t available. BizXchange (http://www.bizx.com)
will pre-qualify each member applicant for loans and lines
of credit.
Criteria for a loan will focus on companies’
size, the quality of the product or service they have to
offer, and their appeal to other BizXchange members.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...10/14/2008
Entrepreneurs Look To Three Areas For Financing
Small businesses are turning to angel
investors, suppliers, and personal credit cards as the
financial crisis spreads to Main Street and access to
commercial loans becomes more restricted. Today’s
environment is such that smart entrepreneurs will move
toward more barter to increase their sales and cash flow.
ITEX Arizona’s Holiday Barter Expo Date
Announced
Terry Brandfass reports this year’s Holiday
Barter Expo will be held at Brett’s Barn on Sunday, November
30, from 11am to 3pm. For more information call (480)
946-2929.
Office Space Now Available
Businesses are dumping office space at the
fastest pace since the months after the September 11
attacks, increasing the financial stress on commercial real
estate owners and their lenders. Many of them are already
ailing financial institutions.
Because real estate moves slowly, the
financial turmoil of the past few weeks hasn’t shown up in
the numbers. Look for bank failures and consolidations to be
reflected in office space availability later this year and
in 2009.
Transaction Volume Increases For Barter
Company
Catherine Cohen of Premier Barter in Arizona,
reports that her company’s transaction volume is up 114% for
the first half of 2008, compared with 2007.
Financial Woes Will Affect Ad-Spending
Automotive retail and financial services have
already been affected by the financial sector’s ills.
Further declines will be coming from credit-card and
insurance company ad spending, which is $9 billion a year in
or about 6% of the total ad spending.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...09/30/2008
Jet Blue Barters With Texas University
In exchange for advertising, Jet Blue will
provide the University of Texas athletic department with
tickets and vouchers for air travel. The University of Texas
athletics will in turn provide video board animation
advertisements for JetBlue at sporting events, which will
include football as well as men’s and women’s basketball
games.
Airlines have previously been sponsors for UT
athletics...the Longhorn Sports Network had agreements with
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines in the past.
Swap Your Clothes...Change Your Wardrobe
Looking to make a clothing change without
spending a lot of cash? Check out these web sites
http://www.bigwardrobe.com and
http://www.whatsmineisyours.com.
Fifty Percent, Or More, Of Homeowners Income
Going For Housing!
Fifteen percent of American homeowners with a
mortgage (7.5 million households) are spending 50% of their
income or more on housing costs, according to 2007 data
released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s up
from 7.1 million from the year before.
Scheduled Holiday Fairs
· San
Diego ITEX Trade Show will be held Sunday, November 2, from
10 AM to 4 PM at Party Pals. Contact
Charissa.novak@itex.net.
· On
Sunday, November 23, Trade American Card will hold their
30th Annual Holiday Barter Expo. The affair will be from 10
AM to 5 PM at the Grove of Anaheim. Call (714) 532-1610 for
more info.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...09/23/2008
What’s New!
The National Small Business Association
conducted a poll recently among 500 businesses and found
that forty-four percent had used credit cards to meet
capital needs in the previous six months. And fifty-seven
percent said their credit card terms had worsened over the
last year.
Banks are gouging their small business
customers because they need the interest for earnings, and
they know that firms of modest size have nowhere else to go.
Look for rising credit costs and interest rates on your
cards, as well as credit tightening. Do we need any more
reasons to put on our barter hats?
Holiday Fair Announced
The first Holiday Barter Fair has been
announced, coming from Southern California’s BXI Inland
Valley. It’s scheduled for December 7, 9 AM to 4 PM at the
Ontario Convention Center in Ontario (CA).
For more information call the BXI Inland
Valley office at (909) 592-7727.
Bartering Boards Established In Supermarkets
The Asda supermarket in the community of
Colne, Britain, has established an innovative “bartering
board” on its premises to help customers share their skills
and cut costs by utilizing barter. Following shortly will be
other Asda stores with boards in Tonypandy (Wales), Elgin
(Scotland), and Einiskillen (No. Ireland).
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...09/16/2008
Oops!
BarterNews has been informed that the
GrandLuxe Rail Journey, as reported in last week’s Tuesday
Report, is no longer in operation as of August 29, 2008.
Small
Business Owners Aren’t Political
Own your own business? Then you’re working
too hard to be concerned about the coming election. That’s
what the new Discover Card Small Business Watch survey
reports. Furthermore, you don’t believe it matters much who
gains the White House as the small business community,
lacking lobbyists, lacks any power in Congress.
Looking For Flowers On Barter?
A new site,
www.barterflowers.com, will provide flowers—up to
$50—on trade. But over that amount it’s cash, plus all
delivery charges are cash. They will accept several barter
currencies.
Your
House Or Your Business?
According to a study by Experian, the
credit-rating service, business owners in financial trouble
will sacrifice their homes to save their companies. The
study of 2.7 million small U.S. businesses showed that the
most severely delinquent business owners continued to pay
their company’s bills, even as they skipped their mortgage
payments.
Slipstream Radio Available For Barter
A division of the Triton Media Group will
launch Slipstream Radio. Based in Chicago, the new company
will help terrestrial radio stations create customizable
Internet radio stations online.
Triton will offer Slipstream to broadcasters
and other content providers for a flat monthly cash fee or
for barter.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...09/02/2008
Barron Sells Barter Connections
Ken Barron, who ran Barter Connections for
the past 24 years, has sold his 1,000 member Newton Center
(outside Boston) trade exchange to 59-year-old businessman
Steve Romsey. The price was for a reported “just under a
million dollars.”
For more information see
http://www.barterconnectionsinc.com.
Alan Zimmelman Coordinating ITEX Regional
Conferences
ITEX Executive VP Alan Zimmelman is on the
road, working behind the scenes for the largest barter
company in the nation. He will be in three different areas
coordinating ITEX regional conferences, sharing his three
decades of experience.
Bonanzle Is An eBay Alternative
If you are looking for an eBay alternative or
wanting additional distribution for your wares, you will
want to check out
http://www.bonanzle.com.
Trading Collectibles A “Like-Kind Exchange”
We have often heard of like-kind exchanges
for real estate investors, allowing one to defer
capital-gains tax. Such exchanges can also be used with
stamps, coins, gems, and other collectibles. The key is
being an “investor” rather than a collector in order to
benefit tax-wise.
To
prove you are an investor, you must be able to show that you
are tracking the ups-and-downs in the value of your objects.
Thus, it’s a good idea to get appraisals on a regular basis
and subscribe to journals that help you keep a pulse on the
market.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...08/19/2008
Record Month For IRTA’s Universal-Currency
Use
Trade exchange owners used the International
Reciprocal Trade Association’s “Universal Currency” in the
month of July to close $403,419.53 in sales. besting the
previous best month’s record of $367,782.51 back in July
1999.
For more information on the Universal
Currency system see:
http://www.ucci.biz.
Steven White Gives Presentation At Technology
Conference
Steven White has the honor of presenting at
the 4th Annual Summer Technology Conference hosted by
Security Research Associates, on Monday, August 18, 2008.
The conference is being held at the Omni Hotel in San
Francisco.
During the presentation, White will provide
insight about the ITEX web-based trading platform, business
strategy and initiatives. The presentation will also be
broadcast live over the internet, and a replay will be
archived in the Investor Relations section of the ITEX web
site
http://www.itex.com.
Over 80% Of Workers Saving Too Little For
Retirement
According to the Hewitt Associates study,
four of five workers save too little to maintain their
lifestyle after retirement. The study looked at the
projected retirement levels of nearly 2 million current
workers of varying ages at 72 large U.S. companies and used
actual employee balances.
People need to save from 10% to 12% of their
income throughout their career to keep up the same lifestyle
after retirement, the study reported. (Most people
contribute an average of 8% of their income into savings
plans.)
One-Third Of Homeowners Are “Under Water”
According to
www.Zillow.com, about one-third of U.S. homeowners
who bought homes in the last five years now owe more on
their mortgages than their properties are worth. (For those
who bought at the 2006 apex of the housing market, 45% are
now under water.)
Zillow is a Seattle-based service that offers
values on more than 80 million homes.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...08/05/2008
Bob
Bagga Getting Married
Bob Bagga, barter industry veteran and
co-founder of
www.BizXchange.com, will be marrying Anita Ninan on
Saturday, August 9, at the Hotel Del Coronado. (The famed
hotel was the site for “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn
Monroe.)
Australia’s BBX Offers Insurance On
Cash-Blend Basis
Members of Australia’s BBX can now buy
various forms of insurance (business, homeowners, etc.) with
cash and trade dollars. Up to 30% of the premiums can be
paid with trade dollars.
New Barter Site Announced
Jeff Henderson announces a new site designed
for bartering. It’s a classified ads site (like Craigslist)
that allows people to post barter items and services for
free:
www.barterzap.com.
This IPO’s Unbelievable Story...
Since its initial public offering (IPO) in
1970, Wal-Mart stock has increased over 5,300
times...turning a $10,000 investment into $57,000,000!
Had you invested $10,000 in Southwest
Airlines in 1980, you’d be sitting on $916,000. While
$10,000 in Dell, as recently as 1990, would be valued at
$4.4 million.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...07/22/2008
Bartercard’s Tony Falkenstein Inducted Into New Zealand
Business Hall of Fame
The
hall of fame recognizes business leaders who have made
significant contribution to New Zealand business over the
past 200 years. Congratulations to Tony Falkenstein, owner
of Bartercard New Zealand, who was inducted into the Fairfax
Media New Zealand Business Hall of Fame by the Governor
General.
For
more information visit
www.Bartercard.com.
American Travelers Liked By Many
According to
www.gadling.com, the world’s most obnoxious
tourists—after a survey of employees in 4,000 hotels in
Germany, the UK., Italy, France, Canada and USA—were French
travelers, followed by India and China.
The stereotypically obnoxious American
tourist, out of 21 countries, got an impressive 11th place.
Americans got the top spot for trying to speak the local
languages the most.
Medical Missionary Uses Trade Dollars
Andrew Jerrigan, a trader for 15 years, is
now a medical missionary in Africa. He accepts trade dollar
donations through Marc Albano’s
www.transmediatrade.com.
For more on Andrew Jerrigan’s work go to
www.jerriganblog.com.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...07/08/2008
World’s Largest Mall Is EMPTY!!
A seven-million square-foot mall in China is
an unbelievable financial flop. The South China Mall,
located in the Pearl River Delta (China’s wealthiest region)
opened in 2005 with space for 1,500 stores. Currently 12 are
occupied—with a vacancy rate of 99.2%.
80-Year-Old Billionaire Says Today’s Economic
Period Worst Of His Lifetime
Eli Broad, retired home builder in
California, says this is worse than any recession we've had
since World War II and he does not think the housing market
will recover for years. He also sees a sharp rise in
unemployment.
Broad contends that as home sales keep
dropping, most of the equity people in the U.S. have built
over the last twenty years melts away. As jobs disappear,
defaults rise and the matter becomes worse.
Women Helping Women
Amy Swift, is Editor-In-Chief of Ladies Who
Launch (www.ladieswholaunch.com),
a national women’s organization which helps countless women
across the country embark on their own careers and companies
through incubator programs. Their national LIVE events and
online resources have helped other women launch their own
successful business.
Super-yachts Still Very Popular
The Luxury Institute and Camper & Nicholsons
International—a yacht broker and charter company—found that
new orders for yachts of longer than 130 feet are up 18% in
2008. There were 254 new orders for such yachts last year.
The report shows the astounding growth over
the past decade for jumbo yachts. In 1997, there were just
241 yachts of 80-feet or more under construction around the
world...last year 916 such boats were being built.
Interestingly, the biggest constraint to the
industry’s growth isn’t the economy...it’s the staffing. The
report says about 25,000 crew members are necessary for
today’s super-yachts, but only about 15,000 currently work
aboard yachts. Shortages of captains and engineers are
especially acute.
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