ARTICLE :: Small Business Center

Massage on Barter!/ Courtesy of Thomas Swanhoff via flickr

My Love Affair with Barter

02. Jun. 2008

Live The Good Life on Zero Cash

One of my favorite ways to save cash for my personal life and business is through barter. It started back in 1994 when I was an intern at a record label in the marketing department. I learned early on that it was about who you knew and I made every little intern errand a networking excursion. Delivering interoffice mail, getting someone's lunch, running some lowly gopher errand ... that was all okay with me, because I was reaping the benefits of amazing connections and of course the free music and tickets to concerts didn't hurt either.

The promotion departments always had surplus CDs they'd give away to staff. Each floor I'd run errands on, there was a beat-up cardboard box in the hallway marked "give aways". What I didn't realize is that on the other side of the building, which was Doubleday books ... they had the same beat up box deal. I met a lot of friends in the cafeteria who worked there and would ask me about any music that I had.

"Hey, Simone, you got the new Toni Braxton or WuTang Clan?"

"Sure, I heard that new Stephen King came out. Can you meet me after work with it?"

The deal was set. That was my introduction into the wonderful world of barter.

Do you really know what barter is? The basic definition is: The exchange of resources or services for mutual advantage; and it dates back to the beginning of humankind. Bartering certainly pre-dates the use of money. Today individuals, organizations, and governments still use, and often prefer, bartering as a form of exchange for goods and services.

I was in love the moment I started to realize how many things I could get this way. Once I graduated from college, I was promoted in the company and had even more access to music. I also started my own side business as a marketing coach. At that time, I would treat myself to a massage at a local spa to get the knots out of my neck from long hours on the computer working two jobs. My massage therapist and I became friendly and she told me she was leaving the spa to branch out on her own. Of course, the light bulb went off in my head. I said to her, "You're definitely going to need marketing and you know I love massages. So, let's make a deal."

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What People Are Saying…

From: Salima
06:38 EDT, 04.Jun.08

Thank God for barter & trade! & thank you Simone for reminding us of this age old tradition. For those of you who have yet to try this method, all I can say is: What are you waiting for!!! This is a great way to build & increase your business...I'm hooked!
From: TJ
16:52 EDT, 02.Jun.08

At my previous place of employment, we had an arrangement with a Yoga instructor to barter for web work. The instructor showed up 1 hour per week regardless of how much work we had or had not done in the last week. We just simply kept a tab as to the amount of time we spent working for her. Then we'd simply tally up our time, compare it against the number of hours she instructed. This way we didn't need to concern our selves with who did how much work each week. Keeping this approach in mind may make it easier to barter with those when the value of the goods/services to be exchanged are not equally valued at the unit level. It may take 10 somethings to equal 1 of yours, and since you may not be able to "redeem" all 10 at once (hotel stays, dinners, etc...) you'll need to keep track of the balance somehow. Lastly, if money is tight, I'd suggest focusing your barter efforts on those items in life you need, not want. If you can exchange your goods/services for $50 in groceries rather than a $50 dinner, you'll eat for a few days rather than a night. And since money was tight, it's not like you would have been going out to dinner in the first place. Spend your barter wisely, just like your cash!!! :)
From: GnT Kim
16:48 EDT, 02.Jun.08

Bartering definitely worked for me. I've gotten so much more business and benefits from bartering.
From: Audra
16:48 EDT, 02.Jun.08

When I was just starting as a freelance writer, bartering was my best friend. I was able to work for 'something' and get my name out in the area. As my reputation grew, it helped me land more jobs for more money. It really does work!
From: Vision Match Events
16:26 EDT, 02.Jun.08

Wow that sounds great! I told my co-worker about your article and he told me his wife used to work for a bartering firm. I had no idea this was and still is such a big thing. I think we all do some type of bartering in our daily lives but didn't connect the dots. I really need to brainstorm and see what have to barter. Thanks Simone

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