Trades on Display
An alternative currency
A business building tool
Barter: What is it?
Barter is a centuries old tradition that involves the exchange of goods and services instead of cash
Barter is now a computer-driven economy that provides an alternate method of financing your business
Barter will bring you new sources of business and will help to conserve your cash flow
Everything from landscaping to fax machines, printing services, advertising, to employee incentive gifts can be bought for your key employees
Bartering is a growing means of financing businesses
Over 10 million of goods and services are bartered annually in Canada
In excess of 2.5 billion is bartered in the United States.
Barter Works!
The Dutch acquired the island of Manhattan for $28 in barter.
According to the International Reciprocal Trade Association:
More than 470,000 companies in the United States participate in barter
Accounts for more than $12 billion in annual sales
More than 65% of corporations on the New York Stock Exchange are using barter
With Trades on Display, you can turn excess inventory/extra time into cash and reduced cash expenses
Barter is Alternative Currency
Trade your goods or services for barter credit
NOT a one-for-one exchange
Use your credit with any one of thousands of vendors worldwide
Trades on Display tracks:
Balances
Transactions
Year-end tax information
Using website and office
Barter Builds Businesses
Customers with barter credit to spend will browse for vendors/service providers with items to sell
Don’t discount excess inventory/extra time
Sell your goods/services for full cash value with barter
Through Trades on Display, you gain access to a global network
Expand your geographic footprint.
Increase your referral network
Barter customers often refer businesses who exceeded expectations to cash-paying friends and family
Use Barter To …:
Keep your cash:
Barter allows you to utilize your goods and services – rather than cash – to acquire supplies, professional services and advertise your business, growing your business without spending cash
Increase profitability:
Struggling with excess inventory? Sell older or overstock inventory for 100% retail value with barter rather than losing up to 60-70% through a sale or liquidation
Free up your shelves for new inventory and use the barter credits to purchase advertising
Increase sales without using cash and without sacrificing margins!
Service business?
An unbilled hour is gone forever
Use barter to turn down time into profits!
Grow your business:
Barter is an entrée to business goods and services you normally wouldn’t have
Gives you unlimited access around the world with barter credits to spend
Dramatically expand your network and increase your opportunity for referral business
Barter Myth #1
Myth: If I sell to a business who sells a product I can’t use, it’s wasted
Fact: Barter is not a one-for-one exchange
Sell what you have, buy what you need
You accumulate barter credits (retail dollar value) from any network member (tens of thousands)
Utilize these credits with any other affiliated barter network member
Barter Myth #2
Myth: my business has low fixed expenses. I can’t use barter:
Fact: Don’t pay cash to entertain your family and employees
Vacations
Trips
Skiing
Restaurants
Thousands of like minded businesses buy and sell every conceivable goods and services ... goods and services you are paying cash for today
Most of Americas’ Fortune 500 companies utilize barter
Barter Myth #3
Myth: I would like to keep my staff motivated and passionate, but they can’t use barter
Fact: Sure they can! You can motivate your employees with barter
Give the top employee a barter-paid vacation
Send them to the ballgame
Give them a gift certificate for a nice local restaurant
Barter lets you motivate your team without spending cash!
Pay bonuses or commission in barter dollars and let them spend it their way
Offer discounts to your employees when buying with barter dollars
Use barter to pay for some medical benefits with chiropractors, dentists and certain doctors
It’s a win-win transaction
Barter Myth #4
Myth: I’m a service business. All I have is my time
Fact: Barter is perfect for a service business
When you aren’t working, your time is un-billable, and you’re not making money
Turn down-time into barter business, and spend those earned credits instead of cash
Barter gives you the advantage to turn down time into profits!
Barter Myth #5
Myth: My business is inventory intensive and margins are low. Barter can’t help me.
Fact: Wrong! Barter is great for inventory intensive business
Got outdated inventory? Without barter, you’d have to keep trying for a retail sale, or else liquidate it at 10% on the dollar
Barter also buys advertising to sell that inventory
With barter, you can trade that inventory at full retail value, and use the barter credits to grow your business
Barter turns obsolete or outdated inventory into profits!
Barter Myth #6
Myth: Barter sounds great, but I need to increase my cash flow
Fact: Barter expands your business network
Word-of-mouth advertising
Many businesses find that for every two or three barter customers, they pick up one cash customer
Don’t forget, you can buy advertising and PR services on barter to help build your base of customers
With Barter, You Can Purchase:
Accounting, legal and bookkeeping services
Training
Uniforms
Land/Property
Machinery
Real estate
Restaurant equip. & supplies
Translation service
Auto services, including new and used, repair and maintenance
Cell phone accessories
Cleaning service
Computers, including hardware, software and repair
Furniture (new, used, repair, home and office)
Office equipment
Pest control
Telephone equipment
Caterers
Disk jockeys
Flowers
Gifts for all occasions
Graphic designers
Limousine service
Photography
Printing
Video production services
Website design and hosting
Hotel, motel, and timeshare accommodations
Event tickets
Restaurant meals
Why ?
Access to tens of thousands of barter-utilizing businesses across North America
Millions of dollars worth of inventory; All types of hard goods and services
Local office, dedicated account manager
Joining Our Exchange
One-time membership fee of $285
Free to list your products and services through our exchange
Transaction fee of 6%:
When your business sells a product or service
When your business buys a product or service
Line of credit held with our company allowing you to become immediately active in the exchange
Finding Businesses In the Exchange
Other businesses in the exchange will find out about you in the same way that you will find out about them
New members are added daily
Variety of unique and quality products and services
A daily email is generated with new products and services throughout the exchange that is sent to all active members daily
Businesses beyond the barter exchange will also learn about your company if your work satisfies barter customers
Your work and products will be passed on by barter word of mouth to other cash paying potential customers
We suggest you work with your trade broker on a regular basis
Ask your broker to search for certain products or services you are looking for
The exchange has access to thousands of members world wide and will keep you posted on new exciting products and services
Buying On The Barter Exchange
Visit the site to view exciting new products and services of interest.
Or, call the office for specific and current information about any vendor
You can simply click on purchase on line to buy your product or service
Or, you may wish to call the office of the vendor to find out more about it
Selling Your Product Or Service
Fill out the online “sell your product” form
You will need to describe your product or service
Set a Canadian price for it
Tell how many are available
State the taxes that will be charged either in cash or trade
You may also download photos
Members from all over North America will get notice of your product or service
If someone is interested they will buy the item
The trade dollar funds will go directly into your account posted as a sale
Finding Businesses In the Exchange
Other businesses in the exchange will find out about you in the same way that you will find out about them
New members are added daily
Variety of unique and quality products and services
A daily email is generated with new products and services throughout the exchange that is sent to all active members daily
Businesses beyond the barter exchange will also learn about your company if your work satisfies barter customers
Your work and products will be passed on by barter word of mouth to other cash paying potential customers
We suggest you work with your trade broker on a regular basis
Ask your broker to search for certain products or services you are looking for
The exchange has access to thousands of members world wide and will keep you posted on new exciting products and services
Using Other Exchanges
Our exchange has reciprocal agreements with exchanges in other provinces and Countries
These agreements mean that you have access to the goods and services offered by members of other exchanges
This can be particularly useful if you are trading holidays or trips outside your own exchange
How Do I Get Started?
Forms available at www.tradesondisplay.ca website
Trades on Display will provide you a user name and password to access the site
One of our brokers will schedule an appointment to visit with you and customize your barter experience
Your First Listing
Work with a broker to complete their first listing
Trades on Display will distribute that listing to its membership, as well as thousands of businesses across North America
Ideal way to “jump start” your barter experience