| ign="center"> | | | | 3) Inventory Reduction. This one is best described |
| When you turn on the news or open a | | | | with a story. One of my friends on the trade |
| newspaper you're bound to be flooded with | | | | network had about $4,500 worth of high end |
| stories about financial disaster. From the recent | | | | cosmetics on hand. The company decided to |
| mortgage crisis and stock market dives to small | | | | rebrand and repackage to update their image. This |
| business failures and regular honest people who | | | | could have been a disaster, leaving her with an |
| overextended their credit. Money is tight and | | | | obsolete product as far as boutique owners are |
| everyone is starting to feel it more than ever. Of | | | | concerned, so she traded it all in less than a week. |
| course, this isn't news. But this might be. There is | | | | And at full value! |
| at least a partial solution for your business... Trade. | | | | 4) Expanded Customer Base. Trade opens a |
| Trade or barter was around long before money. | | | | whole new world where someone who might not |
| And it worked great in a simple society... If you | | | | have the cash to buy what you're offering |
| were a farmer and had grain to spare you could | | | | certainly has the trade value. |
| trade it for something you needed, like cloth to | | | | 5) Word of Mouth Advertising. Once you get your |
| make clothing. But as our needs increased, trade | | | | foot in any door with a bartered item you might |
| became more complicated. That same farmer | | | | be surprised to see just how quickly that client |
| might want to upgrade from a back breaking hoe | | | | tells a friend about your goods or service. You |
| to a nice plow but the local smithy has all the | | | | might even be forced to take cash (oh no!) |
| grain he needs. What can the farmer do? | | | | 6) Improved Customer Loyalty. Being part of a |
| This was a problem and money was the solution, | | | | barter or trade network greatly improves your |
| easy as 1, 2, 3. Farmer sells grain. Farmer gets | | | | chances of getting repeat business with someone |
| cash. Farmer buys plow. | | | | you might have never had a chance to work with |
| Money might make the world go around but it's | | | | before. Once they know you, there is no reason |
| not always as plentiful as we'd like. This is | | | | for them to even consider paying your |
| especially true for those who provide goods and | | | | competitor to do what you do. |
| services that can in any way be considered a | | | | Of course trade is not the "end all, be all solution." |
| luxury while consumers limit spending on anything | | | | You still need to make money. A good barter |
| but the bare essentials. | | | | exchange or trade exchange can expand your |
| This is where trade comes in. And with it, a trade | | | | market share, offset your expenses and improve |
| exchange. A trade exchange is a central resource | | | | your bottom line. |
| that provides membership to businesses who | | | | If you would like to benefit from any of these |
| want to exchange goods or services for other | | | | things, it's worth looking through your local Yellow |
| goods or services. The manager of the trade | | | | Pages or a stop at Google. Good luck! |
| exchange keeps track of trade dollars in the | | | | Mike Small joined James River Trade Exchange, a |
| accounts, publicizes what's available and even | | | | local Virginia trade exchange, in 2007. In the short |
| helps broker the trading process when needed. | | | | time since, he has nearly doubled his market |
| In short, a trade exchange makes it possible for | | | | share. Want to see if a barter trade exchange is |
| one business to provide goods or services to | | | | right for you? Give one a call. You have |
| another and banks the trade dollars for use on | | | | everything to gain. |
| whatever available goods or services the business | | | | Report this article |
| owner wants, now or later. You use your trade | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| dollars for whatever you want. It's that simple. | | | | Source: |
| Trade is a great way to go, especially when | | | | Republish this article |
| money is tight. I've only been involved with it for | | | | |
| about a year but here are just a few advantages | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| I've witnessed first hand: | | | | >> If you want to be an independent call |
| 1) Improved Cash Flow. Imagine never paying | | | | center agent, what preparations should you make |
| accounting or legal fees out of pocket again? Or | | | | to be sure your computer is adequate to handle |
| how about office cleaning or catered lunches? The | | | | your business? |
| less you spend out of pocket, the more you | | | | >> Is FOREX the best way to earn money |
| have in reserve for when you do need it. | | | | online? |
| 2) Free Business Exposure. The minute I signed | | | | >> Does it really matter which stock broker |
| up in my local trade group, my small marketing | | | | i use online to buy stocks? |
| company was put in front of hundreds of other | | | | >> Is Forex Trading easy? |
| area businesses I never would have reached. | | | | |