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Barter Optimism |
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| PATTAYA,
THAILAND — Businesses should shake off the pessimism gripping the economy
and seek to capitalize on the opportunities such times present. Laurie Muir, Trade Broker for Bartercard Pattaya, said that too often people were influenced by doomsayers with a negative outlook that risked becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. “There is no denying we are in tough economic times but Bartercard is here to say that it is not all doom and gloom and that business should be looking for positives and opportunities at this time,” Laurie said. “The birth of Bartercard in Australia in the midst of the ‘recession we had to have’ in the early 1990s is proof that you can buck the prevailing negative trend. Bartercard went from being a highly innovative idea to a very successful international business.” Bartercard now has offices in many countries worldwide serving thousands of business owner / members, and in the face of the credit crunch and global financial concerns is actively expanding its business. It is looking to add more franchises and boost staff numbers worldwide. “When customers don’t arrive, how do businesses survive? They need to focus on finding other creative ways to get through tough times instead of just trying to ride them out. Barter is one of the major tools that can assist businesses to survive bleak times. “Over the next five years trade exchanges will stage a major comeback where the advantage of barter is to gain additional customers and keep existing ones – which will be the major focus of every business. “Business is about relationships and Bartercard boosts your ability to create and maintain relationships through the member network worldwide,” Laurie said.
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Angus Plummer,
of Kennerly’s accountancy and audit firm, said the barter exchange system
allowed members to transact business with each other using barter dollars
– retaining cash flow for essential items where only cash is accepted. “With
business lending by banks tightening, certain business expenses, such as
marketing, are considered expendable and are among the first areas to feel
the squeeze of belt-tightening,” Mr. Plummer said. “However, cutting back on marketing is counterproductive as it diminishes a business’ presence and this affects its ability to pick up new business – it’s a vicious circle. In these times my clients need to seek better ways of marketing their businesses and Bartercard does just that. “To recreate the strong network of linked-in Bartercard businesses around the world would cost an inordinate amount of marketing dollars, which most small businesses do not have, especially in economic downturns. “Bartercard helps you cut down on marketing costs because of the number and range of affiliated businesses members have direct access to as potential customers,” Laurie said. Terry Morris, Chairman of Queensland-based Sirromet Wines and Bartercard member, said that now was the time for survival and re-establishment of foundations for the future of a business. “Anyone who thinks that the slack business practices that have crept in to many businesses over the past decade will get you through this phase of economic uncertainty, are kidding themselves,” said Mr. Morris. “Opportunities are still there, but they will need to be approached with today’s conditions in mind and that is where Bartercard comes in. Being a Bartercard member in a period of financial stress in the economy is vital.” |
