From the barter desk of Bob Meyer…04/22/2008

Use Those Gift Cards

Bankruptcy laws do not require companies to redeem their gift certificates, and in an economic downturn you can be sure there will be more bankruptcy filings. So take action now…use those gift cards! (Some companies in bankruptcy will honor their gift cards, others suggest that gift card holders file a claim in bankruptcy court.)

2nd Home—Vacation Spots—Sales Dropping

Surprise, surprise. Speculators are continuing to exit the market with vacation home sales falling 30.6% last year (from 1.07 million to 740,000), according to the National Association of Realtors.

Internet Display Advertising Makes Big Gain

Banner ads and other display ads on the Internet saw big gains in 2007, up 15.9% to $11.3 billion. Ads on network TV dropped by 2% to $22.43 billion. Cable TV jumped 6.5% to $17.84 billion. Newspapers and radio both dropped, 5.6% and 3.5% respectively.

FedEx Sees No Sign of Economic Rebound

FedEx is a diversified transportation company that moves everything from documents to building materials through a network of planes, tractor-trailers, and delivery vehicles. As they move millions of packages daily they are a good barometer for the American economy. FedEx reports that it sees no signs of the U.S. strengthening its economy at this time.


Hilton Olympic Sponsorship Continues

Hilton hotels has renewed sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team, which will extend through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

The renewal also encompasses the 2010/2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team. Thus extending its long-standing relationship with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The agreement entitles the Hilton Family of Hotels—Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and The Waldorf-Astoria Collection—to use the official hotel sponsor designation, and the U.S. Olympic Team and U.S. Paralympic Team logos in all advertising or marketing materials.

The column “From The Desk of Bob Meyer” is the first section of the weekly Tuesday Barter Report. To read the entire Tuesday Barter Report see:
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