We revealed the announcement made on the upcoming IRTA convention that was eagerly looked forward to by many in the industry because of its location—Cancun, Mexico.

There was an article relating the recent convention of the ITEX organization, staged in Denver, which drew as many attendees as the industry’s national conventions. (By 1990, ITEX had grown to be the largest barter company in the U.S.)

We had several stories covering radio. Among them was one that disclosed how executives obtained key man insurance in exchange for unsold time. Another explained how radio stations look at trade; it was authored by Scott Marcus, former station V.P. and general manager of Select Media Services. Additionally, we reported how Chicago Barter Corp. was moving forward with the establishment of a media agency, specializing in broadcast creative services on a cash blend basis.


And we came back to a hot topic of earlier editions (Issues #6, 7 & by focusing on the trading of gemstones. A cycle was being repeated by a new group of promoters soliciting a new generation of traders by using the magic words “appreciable investment.”

But Anna Miller, ASA, GG and a Master Gemologist Appraiser, begged to differ in her exceptional article, “Investment Potential Is Not A Factor Of Value In Colored Gemstones.”

The extensive cover story “Corporate Barter” was delved into in a most ambitious way, providing more information on the subject than has ever been compiled…some 22 pages of insights never before written about.

We also had an inside look at McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company’s $16 million Corporate Barter Program, revealing not only how the giant company identified the possible corporate barter companies to deal with, but how and why they chose the one they did.

Included in this special issue was a 20-topic comparison between a trade exchange and a corporate barter company, see how they’re alike and how they differ.

Then we sat down with IRTA’s thoughtful and articulate executive director, Paul Suplizio, to discuss corporate barter. His conclusion on the possibilities ahead was summed up with two words—staggering potential!

In the countertrade arena, Jim Tullmann, president of the Worldwide Incentive Network, disclosed, “It’s time to strategically market with Countertrade/Offset.” Then Kurt Toppel, the director of East German operations for Countertrade Development International, wrote a very interesting account, “Countertrade In Eastern Europe, A Personal Perspective.”

Dan West, Chairman of the American Countertrade Association, added his thoughts on the opening up of Eastern Europe which has sparked tremendous interest in barter, counter-purchase and offset arrangements.

We closed the issue with comments from Pili Verariu, the U.S. director of the Barter & Countertrade Division in Washington (DC), focusing on the projected scope of activities and services his Department of Commerce division will offer.

This issue and all the back issues of BarterNews are now available in digital format:
DIGITAL

The BarterNews FastStart Barter Program II covers is the definitive guide on corporate barter:
CORPORATE

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