Tom McDowell’s Barter Blog

Barter is a great way to move idle inventory. The more customers barter brings your way, the quicker your inventory turns over. This will leave room for the newest, most advanced products in your industry. A barter exchange network can help you sell off your excess inventory and convert it into something you need. [...]

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Barter started out in small communities. Local people trading with other local people. Over time, barter has grown into a world-side reach. Trades between companies from Vermont to California are feasible. Due to modern conveniences such as over night shipping, the internet and other digital means, people can barter for goods and services Nationwide and [...]

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The Disney Parks have a pin-trading program for guests. A guest (Disney’s term for visitor) purchases a lanyard and a starter set of trading pins. The pins are of the various Disney characters and rides. The basic concept is to trade with Disney Cast members (Disney employees) and other guests wearing the lanyards. The starter [...]

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When starting a business such as a trade exchange, it’s beneficial to have an industry veteran mentor you while your company grows. A mentor or consultant can help you avoid typical industry mistakes often made by start-ups. Take advantage of someone else’s experience in what works and what doesn’t. Save valuable start-up time by working [...]

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As an owner of a barter exchange, the key to a smooth operation is effectively tracking the trades and client contact. This can become very complicated especially when barter trading is heavy. Utilizing various spreadsheets and different programs can cause information to be incomplete or missing. This will cause a chain reaction of problems to [...]

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Barter is a resourceful process of transacting business without the use of cash. In organized barter, business members use what they have to buy what they need, with a barter exchange serving as the marketing agency, facilitator and a third party record-keeper.
How can a trade exchange be a marketing agency? All the members [...]

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Barter is a method of transacting business without the use of cash. Trading one thing for another. Sounds easy but you may be wondering how the IRS feels about barter. It’s wise to check out the requirements at www.IRS.gov.
Here’s a general insight to the consumer end of barter by a barter industry veteran. [...]

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Barter. Trade. Swap. Exchange. Just a few common words used to describe something we have all done since we were children. We’ve traded baseball cards, packed lunch items, Barbies, clothes, records, books, and even household chores! We wanted something and traded something we had for it. Everyone was happy. Why did you stop?
Barter is [...]

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A common misconception is that businesses only barter with local businesses. There’s no need to think so narrowly. It doesn’t matter where in the world you barter with as it is based on two parties wishing to exchange or barter goods or services. A factory in Ohio may barter with a company in Texas that [...]

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Barter is the basic concept of trading something you have for something you want…all without cash. As a business owner, you might be wondering what you could get via barter for your business. The answer: virtually everything! Printing of advertising material? Yes. Accounting services? Yes. Computer services? Yes. Security System? Yes. Heating and Air Conditioning? [...]

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