I was looking through a back issue of Rural Builder recently and found an article on how builders and contractors use barter to generate cash-flow.

It’s another indication, and example by an industry publication, that shows the emergence of barter as a growing, serious business tool.

A couple of examples were given: Ron Winkler of Merlin Heating & Cooling in Portland (OR) said barter was the key to getting his business started years ago.

He explained how he worked through a trade exchange to paint a truck, obtain dental work, office supplies, tires, two computers, and the production and air time for several TV commercials.

Winkler said a current Merlin contract was signed to replace the rooftop heating and cooling units on 52 post office buildings in Oregon and Washington.

By using trade dollars Winkler intends to buy meals and motel rooms for his crews. This will be accomplished by giving his trade exchange broker a list of the cities and towns involved.

(He also indicated he would be spending a few days in Las Vegas attending a heating and cooling seminar, thanks to trade dollars.)

“The best thing I use trade dollars for is the employees. Since we’re a new business we can’t afford company benefits yet, but I use barer to put on pizza parties for the employees’ kids,” Winkler exclaimed. One worker and his family will soon spend a week-end at a beach resort.

Builder and horse-barn specialist Bruce Draper of Winter Park (FL) told how he finds barter often indispensable in locking up a deal, wherein a client can use personal property as a partial payment for contracted work.

He has taken boats, trailers, cars, motorcycles, guns, TVs, a satellite dish, desks, typewriters, copiers, fax machines, carpeting, carpet cleaning, yard work, window washing, vacations, and spas.

Draper then trades the acquired items through a trade exchange to earn trade dollars which he uses for his business as well as enhancing his personal life style.

Isn’t it about time that you learned how to barter in a professional, fail-safe way?
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 7:06 pm and is filed under Best & Brightest Barter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.