Hello arosca-ga,
This has been a tough search . I took to heart your request that you
wanted to understand the business models involved with barter exchange
networks rather than just a list of sites. Just as you said, there are
lots of directories available to help you find barter exchange web
sites. It?s somewhat tougher to find market research information,
statistics, market reports, case studies or white papers on the
subject of barter exchange.
In your question you indicated that a listing of web sites
demonstrating various business models along with a short explanation
of each would meet your needs. As I was doing my research I concluded
that this didn?t make sense if I wanted to give you a good overview of
what is involved with the barter industry.
I first took a close look at the web sites you offered as examples of
variety in barter approaches. I discovered that the first three are
all less than six months old and are consumer or small business barter
sites. This is a small segment of the barter industry. The fourth site
you offered took me into the world of alternate/complementary
currencies. Clearly, there was a lot to explore.
My research leads me to believe that there is a lot of hope and hype
around the barter industry but the prospects for it are very much up
in the air. The consumer barter sites that originated in the late
nineties were all pretty much wiped out in the dot-com bust. The ones
that had worthwhile enabling technology went forward with leveraging
that capability. Some were acquired by stronger, bigger traditional
trade exchange or barter companies. Many simply vanished.
This is especially true of the consumer-to-consumer barter/swap sites.
Part of the reason for this is the rise of eBay. As eBay grew it
heavily impacted not just the consumer oriented barter sites but also
started competing with the more commercial business-to-business trade
organizations. What?s going to happen next is not clear. There has
been tremendous consolidation in the barter/trade exchanges and some
pundits predict that a small handful will survive. Auction houses,
especially eBay are still a major competitor. Note that last week at
its eBay Live conference, eBay announced the launch of ProStores for
small to medium businesses. This capability could entice SMB?s to move
from barter to opening their own online store linked to eBay.
http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/essentials/ebay/article.php/3515221
Live from San Jose: eBay Launches ProStores for SMBs
By Devin Comiskey
June 24, 2005
I?ve organized the material I?ve collected so that explore that topic
step-by-step. Here is what I?ve got for you:
-- AROSCA-GA?S SAMPLE SITES ? Review of your websites and issues and
questions raised.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? DEFINITIONS, TERMINOLOGY, CONCEPTS AND
ASSOCIATED BUSINESS MODELS ? Review of the vocabulary used in the
industry and overview of broad categories derived from industry web
sites and papers along with alternate, less common classifications.
Direct Barter vs. Trade Exchanges
Consumer vs. Business Barter or Trade Exchanges
Tangible Products vs. Service Products
Tangible Products vs. Perishables
Retail/Commercial Barter or Trade Exchanges
Corporate Barter or Trade Exchanges
Countertrade Exchanges
-- ALTERNATE MONETARY SYSTEMS ? Overview of current status of these systems.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? UNIVERSAL CURRENCIES ? These currencies are
emerging for trade exchange networks
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? COMPLEMENTARY CURRENCIES ? These currencies are
used in community oriented applications.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? MAJOR PLAYERS ? Review of the leaders in the
commercial sector.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES ? Some of these are
emerging as key players and competitors and/or partners in the
industry.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE -- DIRECTORIES, PORTALS, ORGANIZATIONS ? These
websites should be very helpful for continuing your explorations.
-- BARTER EXCHANGE ? ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES ? I was able
to find some excellent articles and reports and a few white papers and
case studies.
As you can see, figuring out what are the basic business models is
more complex than you would expect, although barter and trade
exchanges can be put into highly simplified categories depending on
what lens you want to use. Here are some options.
You can look at barter divided into two classes, direct or trade
exchange. Direct barter is ?I trade something for something you have.?
There is no cash payment involved. A variation is to offer a trade
exchange where cash payment is permitted. But then we?re approaching
an auction system. The alternative to direct barter is using a trade
exchange where each member earns trade currency for their sales which
they can use for their purchases.
Since direct barter is very cumbersome, trade exchanges arose to help
facilitate bartering. At first trade exchanges were local and were
organized to help merchants in the community to exchange goods and
services. The exchange kept track of who bought and sold what. The
accounting was done in trade dollars. There are very few direct trade
web sties. Most use some kind of trade exchange.
As trade exchanges grew and with the advent of the Internet it became
possible to interact with people farther away, it became necessary to
develop methods for accepting trade dollars from other exchanges. This
trend is growing and the leaders in the industry are developing
universal currencies. The trade associations for the industry are also
behind this movement.
Another way of classifying barter exchanges is to categorize them as
consumer or business oriented. The possibilities are C2C, B2C AND B2B.
There are very few consumer to consumer barter exchanges, more
business to consumer but the majority of barter exchanges are business
to business. These are classified into commercial/retail or corporate.
The corporate sector has grown tremendously and there has been a lot
of consolidation in the industry. This is driven by globalization and
the emergence of enabling technologies.
There is another twist on barter with the emergence of community
development barter systems that use alternate or complementary
currencies. One example is time dollars.
As you can see, getting a comprehensive report on barter exchange
systems is a huge project. I?ve given you a basic introduction and
provided a lot of links so that you can continue your explorations on
the facets of this subject that interest you the most.
This is a changing field and there may be some issues that I failed to
cover. Please don?t hesitate to ask for clarification if any of this
isn?t clear.
Wishing you well for your research project.
~ czh ~
========================
AROSCA-GA?S SAMPLE SITES
========================
Review of your websites and issues and questions raised.
http://pdfserver.prweb.com/pdfdownload/255593/pr.pdf
SwapThing Experiences Unprecedented Growth and Momentum -
Under-the-Radar Company Redefines Age Old Practice of Barter
CUPERTINO, CA (PRWEB) June 28, 2005 -- SwapThing, Inc., the premier
online swap market, enabling individuals, collectors, enthusiasts,
businesses and communities to swap goods and services, announced today
an unprecedented wave of growth since its inception in January 2005. A
growing user base, new retail partners, enticing partner programs,
world-class technology and industry expertise all add to the mounting
evidence of a burgeoning Swapping revolution.
http://techstartups.blogspot.com/2005/06/swapthingcom.html
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
SwapThing.com
"Used books to music LPs and CDs; trading cards and comic books to
home and garden items; and children's clothing to antiques and
personal services. Swap the things you have for the things you want,
save cash. It is easy to get started: "
The dirt:
-- Management does not have domain expertise in the space.
-- Key to their model is scale and recurring usage from existing and new members.
-- Swapthing will compete head on with the likes of craigslist and
even ebay down the road.
-- User interface is average.
------------------------
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb201279.htm
New Web Site Makes Swapping Items and Services Easy for Consumers and
Small Businesses
SwapThing.com Enables Users to Swap Unwanted Items for Things They Need
Cupertino, CA (PRWEB) January 26, 2005 -- SwapThing.com officially
launched today, giving individual consumers and small businesses the
ability to swap goods and services quickly, efficiently and
affordably.
***** SwapThing is a very new company and has fierce competition.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb222899.htm
Internet's Consumer Trading Site Goes Live
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- After 5 months of consumer beta testing,
Mydrew.com has gone live. Mydrew.com was developed as the Internet's
Consumer Trading Site. It is not an auction, it is however the auction
alternative. Market research has shown that consumers are growing wary
of auction sites where price fixing and bid jumping were common
practice. The founders of Mydrew had developed the site solely with
the consumer in mind. The company provides a technological advance
trading platform where members can buy, sell and trade goods and
services over the internet with other members.
***** This is an even newer company and it?s difficult to guess its
prospects. It?s competing in the same space as SwapThing.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.whois.net/whois.cgi2?d=u-exchange.com
Registrant:
John Moore
43 Memory Lane
Cambridge, ON N3C3X7
Canada
Registrar: DomainPeople Inc.
Domain Name: u-exchange.com
Created on .............Tue Sep 21 08:18:14 2004
Expires on .............Wed Sep 21 11:18:14 2005
Record last updated on .Tue Dec 07 08:45:13 2004
------------------------
http://newyork-press-release.com/12/SMALL%20BUSINESS%20BARTERING%20MADE%20SIMPLE%20AND%20AFFORDABLE,%20u-exchange.com%20Is%20Ready%20For%20Business.php
SMALL BUSINESS BARTERING MADE SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE
u-exchange.com Is Ready For Business
Released on = April 20, 2005, 1:55 pm
U-Exchange.com combines business bartering with consumers to open new
trading possibilities.
Cambridge, Ontario? Small businesses that barter gain new customers.
www.u-exchange.com provides small business owners with a platform for
exchanging
goods and services for a very small fee. ?We supply a meeting ground
for people who enjoy bartering, a membership gives access to contact
information, and they set up the trade between themselves,? says Owner
John Moore. ?It?s a simple and ancient
way to do business,? he adds.
U-Exchange is also an affordable way to do business. ?Once a company
becomes a member there are no transaction fees, no commissions, and no
pressure to make a trade,? says Moore. There are no borders at
U-Exchange because businesses can barter on a local, regional,
national, or international level.
***** This is another brand new company with no track record competing
in a very tough market.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.cebcglobal.org/Publications/ExecutiveSummary/EXS_0694.htm
New Currency System Adds Economic-And Social-Value
There is a new economic development game in town. It's called the
Currency Exchange Network, and it's the brainchild of Joel Hodroff and
Minnesota-based Commonweal, Inc. One reason this new model looks so
promising is that it requires neither tax nor charitable subsidies. It
is entirely market driven.
June 1994
Center for Ethical Business Cultures
------------------------
http://ceres.ca.gov/tcsf/pathways/chapter2.html#herodollars
Designing Bioregional Economies in Response to Globalization © 1999
HeroDollars: A Complementary Currency Design by Commonweal, Inc., of Minneapolis
------------------------
http://le.org.nz/tiki-index.php?page=CommonWeal
The Commonweal Service Dollar of Minneapolis, Minnesota
This is a currency based on the idea that you can earn time dollars
and then have them put on a credit card. It uses a specially invented
dual currency credit card, a Herocard, together with patented
card-reading technology for merchants to receive volunteer hours as
part payments for goods and services in Commonweal Service Dollars
(C$Ds). Launched as a trial in February 1997, and formally in 1998,
this currency enables charity volunteers to use Herocards and have
their balance updated instantly as they shop from store to store
Volunteers are 'paid' for their contributions to the community.
Volunteer organisations issue Herocards to volunteers and report each
volunteer's hours to Commonweal. Commonweal credits the volunteer's
account on a Herocard electronic network. They are awarded C$D10 for
every hour worked.
***** This is a current web site that seems to say that the Commonweal
Currency Exchange Network is still in use.
=================================================================
DEFINITIONS, TERMINOLOGY, CONCEPTS AND ASSOCIATED BUSINESS MODELS
=================================================================
General Introduction
--------------------
Review of the vocabulary used in the industry and overview of broad
categories derived from industry web sites and papers along with
alternate, less common classifications.
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=2
What is Reciprocal Trade?
Reciprocal Trade is also known as barter trade, or commercial barter
trade or corporate trade. For centuries, barter has been an effective
way for businesses to work together. It used to be ?direct trade? when
people swapped one thing for another. However, since not all direct
trades are done of equal value (not to mention the challenge of
finding someone who has what you need and wants what you have), modern
day barter has evolved considerably to become a proven method of
increasing sales, conserving cash, moving inventory, and making use of
excess production capacity for businesses around the world. All of
this can be done through a commercial trade exchange or corporate
barter company.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/visitor.htm
Introduction To Bartering
Commercial barter or business barter is done on three levels. You can
learn about the three different ways by going to our home page and
referring to:
A. Trade Exchange Section
B. Corporate Barter Section
C. Countertrade Section
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.ntatrade.com/company_overview.htm
NTA Trading Program
-- Corporate Trade Model
-- Retail Trade Model
-- Hospitality Trade Model
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/about.html
Strategy for Planned Success:
Bentley Commerce has mapped its plan to successful world dominance in
the barter sector by combining all aspects of trade with an online
trade marketplace, a trade exchange management system, multiple
payment methods, and knowledge transfer, giving exchanges and
businesses the tools, technologies and knowledge they need to succeed.
Unlike other barter business models that have unsuccessfully attempted
to acquire exchanges, franchise or launch an online only exchange
without brokers, Bentley's model is to empower already existing
independent exchanges and trade brokers and new emerging exchanges to
all collaborate in a unified global trade marketplace, and like Visa,
MasterCard and American Express, take just a little piece of each and
every purchase and/or sale on all barter transactions processed
throughout the world.
---------------------------------
Direct Barter vs. Trade Exchanges
---------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/trade_exchanges.htm
Trade Exchanges
Trade exchanges, initially known as barter clubs when the concept was
introduced 42 years ago, now number over 500 nationally.
Although independently operated, their collective client base forms a
"business-to-business" network comprised of an estimated 450,000
companies (retailers, services, and manufacturers).
When trading through a trade exchange members have the opportunity to
make multi-lateral trades?rather than one-on-one trades. Which means
many greater options are available to you.
That's because when you make a trade with another party within the
exchange you do not take their product as a payment, but rather you
receive trade dollars.
Those trade dollars are deposited by the exchange into your account,
and are then available for spending within the exchange. As a member
you can spend your trade dollars with others within the exchange
whenever you wish to buy their products or services.
The trade dollar is equivalent to one cash dollar for use of
accounting purposes. Sales are normally made at full retail with a 10%
to 15% cash commission paid to the exchange for its services.
Under the Tax & Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA Act)
trade exchanges are classified as third-party record keepers, having
the same fiduciary obligations as bankers and stock (securities)
brokers. For tax purposes trade dollars are taxable in the year they
are "earned" and reported as such on 1099-B forms to the IRS.
***** Browse the long list of articles discussing trade exchanges.
-----------------------------------------------
Consumer vs. Business Barter or Trade Exchanges
-----------------------------------------------
http://www.tradeaway.com/
Trade Away
------------------------
http://www.tradeaway.com/fees.phtml
TradeAway Fees
Standard Listings - $3.00
Registering on TradeAway is always FREE. New TradeAway members will
receive their initial listing FREE. Standard/General Listings are
$3.00 per listing. Your ad will stay on TradeAway until your ad
expires, or until you delete the ad. Pay only $9.95 if you would like
to post unlimited ads for 180 days and $14.95 if you would like to
post unlimited ads for 365 days!
***** See page for additional fees
------------------------
http://www.tradeaway.com/TradeCreditInfo.phtml
What are TradeCredits?
TradeAway TradeCredits can be used to purchase other items, services
and real estate on TradeAway from users that have agreed to sell all
or a portion of their listing with TradeCredits. TradeCredits can be
spent immediately or held for future use to buy items, services or
real estate from other TradeAway users that may be willing to accept
TradeCredits. You may also make offers to any TradeAway user referring
them to this page. These users may or may not agree to the sale of
their item for TradeCredits.
***** See page for additional details about trade credit and cash options.
***** This is an example of a basic consumer to consumer site.
Individuals or small businesses post items for sale for a small fee
and can either accept trade credits or ask for cash.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/
Bentley's Trade Exchange Network
Bentley's Exchange Network is comprised of 180 independent barter
exchanges and about 50,000 small to midsize businesses that trade
through them, representing approximately 30 percent of the barter
exchanges in the USA, and 50 percent of those in Canada.
Bentley's Global Trade Marketplace
Bentley's Global Trade Marketplace is comprised of 72 online exchanges
and about 15,000 small to midsize businesses that trade through them.
Bentley Commerce enables the members of these exchanges to manage
their trade account online and to trade in a collaborative trade
marketplace with other members in other exchanges throughout the world
in addition to the exchanges in the Bentley Trade Exchange Network.
-------------------------------------------------
https://www.ctebarter.com/static/company_info/who_is_cte.php
Continental Trade Exchange, Ltd.
https://www.ctebarter.com/static/company_info/policies.php
Exchange Rules and Regulations
I. General
1. Nature of the Parties
Continental Trade Exchange, Ltd. is a trading company that sponsors
and manages a trade exchange (the "Exchange") and also acts as a
clearinghouse and third-party recordkeeper of barter transactions
among its clients, which are businesses that contract with CTE to
organize and facilitate barter of their goods and services with other
clients.
"Client" is a business that has contracted with CTE to exchange its
goods and/or services with other clients and wishes to subscribe to
CTE's recordkeeping and barter services. The terms "Client" and
"Member" may be used interchangeably in this agreement.
2. Nature of Trade Dollars
Client will offer its products and/or services to other clients of CTE
for Trade Credits (also referred to as "Trade Dollars") posted to
Client's account pursuant to these Rules and Regulations. Neither CTE
nor any Exchange members shall consider or treat Trade Dollars as
legal tender, securities, or commodities, and cannot redeem them from
the Exchange for cash. The terms "Trade Credits" or "Trade Dollars"
refer to an accounting entry with an assigned arbitrary value which is
used by all affected parties as a practical method of recording the
value of every transaction which results in a transfer of goods or
services between Exchange Clients. CTE specifically disclaims any
responsibility for the negotiability of goods and services from any
source. It is understood and agreed that Client may not be considered
a creditor of CTE or the Exchange in relation to Client's ability or
lack thereof to utilize or spend Trade Dollars in Client's account.
Furthermore, Client recognizes and grants to CTE and its officers and
directors the authority to regulate and control the amount of
outstanding Trade Dollars in the barter network and to borrow and
spend Trade Dollars in accordance with the rules, guidelines, and
recommendations established by the National Association of Trade
Exchanges
II. Sales/Purchases
5. All Transactions are Between Buyer and Seller
CTE shall use its reasonable efforts to administer the Exchange,
however. it shall bear no responsibility for the quality of the
products and/or services exchanged. Seller must furnish Buyer with all
items relating to the purchase, including but not limited to
materials, products, labor base price, sales taxes, etc. Seller will
receive the full Trade Dollar value for the sale. The Seller must
stand behind its products and/or services as with cash transactions,
and the Buyer's sole remedy shall be against the Seller. In no event
shall CTE be obligated to Client or Guarantor for any other Exchange
member's breach of this Contract or of the Exchange Rules and
Regulations. Both Buyer and Seller should protect themselves as they
would in a cash transaction. Normal contracts. deposits, and agreement
forms used in ordinary cash transactions should still be utilized, in
addition to Exchange sales slips. Quite simply, all ordinary legal
rights between a Buyer and Seller on an Exchange transaction remain
the same as if it were a cash transaction. Only the method of payment
is different, and CTE's stipulated forms, rules, and procedures must
be adhered to. It is understood that CTE is not a party to any
transaction between buyer and seller, but is merely a third party
recordkeeper.
***** Be sure to read the whole website. This is one of the leading
companies in the industry and the information about how they operate
seems to be directly related to your question about business models.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.thebanc.com/files/BANCAPP.doc
Barter Association National Currency Application Contract Agreement
The Fiscal Philosophy
The BANC shall operate as a zero (0) balance accounting system. The
sum total of all positive and negative accounts shall equal zero (0)
at all times.
The BANC, itself, shall work from the NATE general operating account
within the system. However, neither NATE nor The BANC shall not have a
credit line and must operate from a positive trade balance status at
all times.
The Fee Structure
The BANC offers three (3) different fee options for independent trade exchanges:
-- Option One: $50 cash and $25 trade monthly, one-quarter of one
percent (1/4%) in cash on purchases, one-quarter of one percent (1/4%)
in trade on sales.
-- Option Two: A flat fee of $150 cash billed each month, one-quarter
of one percent (1/4%) in trade on sales and $25 trade monthly. This
is an annual agreement, with monthly billings.
-- Option Three: A annual flat-fee of $1,500 cash (only accepted
between January 1 ?31) or a second half flat-fee of $750 cash (only
accepted between July 1 ? 31) One-quarter of one percent (1/4%) in
trade on sales and $25 trade monthly.
Corporate barter companies, media brokers and all other members of The
BANC shall pay, $50 cash and $25 trade monthly, one percent (1%) in
cash on purchases and one percent (1%) in trade on sales.
Interest Charges: All members who borrow from The BANC (use their
credit lines) will be charged interest at a rate of one-half of one
percent, (1/2%) in trade per month, on the outstanding negative
balance in their account.
The board of governors, with approval of the NATE board of directors,
may change the interest rate from time to time in order to maintain
the fiscal integrity of The BANC.
Payment of BANC fees: All members shall be billed electronically at
the beginning of the month. Members may submit payment by check until
the 15th of the month. On the 16th of the month (or the next business
day thereafter) The BANC administrator shall charge the member?s
credit card for all fees due.
Late Fees: Any member whose fees are not paid in the month due shall
be charged a late payment fee of $10 cash and shall automatically have
their credit line (if they have one) reduced by twenty percent (20%)
for a period of not less than one year. These penalties shall reoccur
each month that the fees are not paid on time.
Any member who does not have, or does not wish to put up a credit
card, must post a deposit of $250 cash with the National Association
of Trade Exchanges and receive special approval by The BANC board of
governors and the NATE board of directors. Such deposit shall not be
considered as payment of fees and shall not be used as such unless
member defaults on their account.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.itex.com/aboutus/
ITEX!
Founded in 1982, ITEX is a leading marketplace for cashless business
transactions across North America. ITEX processes over $170 million a
year in transactions across 13,000 member businesses and sixty
regional licensees. Member businesses increase sales and open new
markets by utilizing ITEX Dollars to exchange goods and services. ITEX
is powered by ITEX Payment Systems, the leading payment technology
platform for powering cashless business transactions headquartered in
Bellevue, Washington.
Franchise Opportunities : Frequently Asked Questions
What upfront investment is required?
In addition to the $20,000 Franchise fee, there are the costs of
setting up a basic office as outlined in the UFOC. Travel to Seattle
for a week for training. On going business education from all sources
is encouraged.
How do I generate income?
With ITEX there are three sources of revenue: new member application
fees, association fees, and transaction fees. ITEX members pay an
application fee to join the ITEX system. As they use the system, they
are charged association fees every four weeks and transaction fees
when they buy and sell. As an ITEX Franchisee you earn the majority of
the total fees paid by your assigned ITEX members. Please review the
UFOC for full details on these fees and the actual commission rates.
In addition, as a member as well as a franchisee, you have the
opportunity to trade products and services through the system.
--------------------------------------
Tangible Products vs. Service Products
--------------------------------------
http://barterco-op.com/
Trade what you HAVE or DO for the things you NEED and WANT....without
spending cash!
---------------------------------
Tangible Products vs. Perishables
---------------------------------
http://www.vipbarter.com/
VIP Barter
VIP Barter is a specialist in corporate barter. We have built a
reputation that is synonymous with quality and reliability - we
coordinate the distribution of your ?unsold inventory? through our
clients and affiliate barter offices nationally.
We only barter your ?unsold inventory? and we help you maximize your
cash business and become more efficient.
VIP Barter specializes in turning your company's ?unsold, perishable
inventory" into "revenue generating assets." VIP Barter excels in
converting your potential loss into a media purchase (radio, TV,
billboards, newspapers, magazines) that will advertise your property
and generate additional ?cash!? Think about this concept for a moment:
VIP Barter turns your ?unsold, perishable inventory? into advertising
to increase your occupancy rate by increasing your exposure to your
client base!
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/no_rooms_for_empty_hotel_rooms.htm
There?s No Room For Empty Hotel Rooms!
-------------------------------------------
Retail/Commercial Barter or Trade Exchanges
-------------------------------------------
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=28
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=29
Commercial Barter Facts:
-- Commercial barter may also be referred to as ?Retail Barter?
-- A Commercial Barter Exchange is defined as a company that performs
as a third party record keeper to facilitate transactions among
members of the exchange using a non-cash currency called a trade
credit. The barter company may be a member of the exchange, using the
exchange currency to buy and sell goods and services on its own
account.
-- Commercial barter exchanges typically employ trade brokers. Trade
brokers communicate information between members to facilitate trades.
For example, a broker will put a member who is looking to purchase
auto repair in touch with a member who they know provides auto repair.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.internationalmonetary.com/
IMS History
Trade exchanges, or barter networks, are financial service firms that
permit companies and individuals to exchange goods and services
utilizing an electronic currency known as "trade dollars" (T$), which
are used in lieu of cash to purchase the various offerings of other
members of the barter network. Because trade exchanges enable
companies to generate new business, conserve cash, and convert excess
inventory and capacity into needed goods or services, the barter
industry continues to grow at a consistent pace.
IMS' subsidiary, Continental Trade Exchange, is one of the world's
largest barter systems, serving more than 8,500 business and service
professionals throughout the U.S. Led by Don Mardak, former chairman
of the National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE), IMS has a
seasoned management team with more than fifty years of combined
industry experience. Through its customer-driven business model, the
Company has grown more than 350% in the last five years and is well
positioned to capitalize on a highly fragmented market. By expanding
its network through strategic acquisitions, IMS expects to become the
dominant player in the barter industry
-----------------------------------
Corporate Barter or Trade Exchanges
-----------------------------------
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=31
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=32
Corporate Barter Facts:
-- A Corporate Barter Company is a company that takes a principle
position in goods or services by purchasing these assets with trade
credits and/or cash-equivalent credit (not trade dollars/pounds/marks,
etc). These trade credits may be combined with cash when spent and can
only be redeemed with the corporate barter company.
-- Corporate barter is typically used to move excess capacity and
under-performing assets. It differs from Commercial Barter because the
Corporate Barter Company actually owns the asset(s) after they
purchase it with trade credits or a blend of trade credits and cash.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/corporate_barter.htm
Corporate Barter
Corporate barter for the most part deals and focuses on "big
business," companies with gross sales in excess of $10 million per
annum.
Larger companies, primarily manufacturers, will trade their excess
inventory, rather than continuing to sell through usual distribution
channels wherein they employ over-zealous discounting; scraping or
junking and writing off the inventory completely; going outside normal
markets, like selling to the third world export markets; selling to
recyclers or going the auction route; employing commissioned brokers
or consigning the inventory; donating the inventory to a charitable
institution; or selling inventories to liquidators for pennies on the
dollar and taking a substantial write-down.
Through barter the manufacturers move their inventory to a corporate
barter company (title changes hands) for trade credits, usually at
wholesale or book value.
Then the manufacturer spends the trade credits, with the assistance of
the barter company, on a part cash/trade credit basis to make selected
needed purchases. The technique is known as AR (accounts receivable)
trading.
To a lesser extent, barter brokers will assist companies by brining
two parties together and collecting a cash fee for doing so. However,
sometimes the fee is paid in "like-kind" inventory in lieu of cash,
which enables the broker to build a "bank" of inventory.
***** Browse the long list of articles discussing corporate barter exchanges.
----------------------
Countertrade Exchanges
----------------------
http://www.barternews.com/countertrade.htm
Countertrade Exchanges
An umbrella concept that has come to mean all forms of reciprocal or
compensatory trade arrangements. A countertrade contract or agreement,
recognized under law, is used to denote the countertrade arrangement
between two or more legally competent parties in proper form, such
that either party may seek legal sanctions in a court for the other's
non-performance.
In the countertrade context, there are three contracts involved in
most transactions. The first covers the underlying business
transaction; the second covers the countertrade transaction and the
third covers the protocol or linkage that ties the two together.
Compensatory Arrangements: Also referred to as countertrade,
reciprocal trade, offset, or counter purchase. A seller of a product
or system (usually a multinational, diversified or decentralized
company) is compelled by the buyer (usually a foreign government) into
a direct or indirect reciprocal purchasing relationship as a condition
of sale.
Often the seller must agree to one of a number of possible
arrangements: Local manufacturing of components related to the product
or system (direct); Purchase of unrelated commodities (indirect);
Purchase of unrelated manufactured goods (indirect); Transfer of
technology/licensing/investments to the buyer country (direct or
indirect); Create foreign exchange to facilitate original sale. (The
seller would "sell" an unrelated product from Buyer Country first and
then uses the resulting foreign exchange to help the Buyer pay for the
product or system.)
***** Browse the long list of articles discussing countertrade exchanges.
==========================
ALTERNATE MONETARY SYSTEMS
==========================
Overview of current status of these systems.
http://www.insyte.com/default1.htm
Global Currency Exchange System
The Payment Management System (PMS) is being developed for the London
based Global Currency Exchange Network Ltd. (GCEN). GCEN provides
worldwide payment and currency services for individuals and businesses
for purchasing of foreign real estate, emigration, business payment
transfers, payroll processing; any function requiring the transfer of
funds in a variety of currencies.
The Payment Management System is being developed to integrate and
automate their payroll transfer service offered to clients worldwide.
This service allows companies with staffing drawn from around the
world to provide their employees with the ability to transfer funds to
their banks in their home, or other, countries. Clients such as
shipping lines, cruise lines, airlines, currently make use of this to
provide enhanced payroll service for their employees to transfer
allotments to a spouse or other family members, home mortgage or other
loan payments, etc., while they are away from home.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.gcen.co.uk/
Global Currency Exchange Network (GCEN)
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.scripxchange.com/
scripXchange is YOUR Personal Marketplace to Buy, Sell or Trade almost
any established Private, Business or Government sanctioned Scrip or
Currency in the World!
------------------------
http://www.scripxchange.com/index.cgi?PAGE=aboutus
The Participants
Until recent years the players in this unique market were exclusively
retail barter firms, barter associations, buy-sell-trade companies and
large corporations. Today the principal participants include: barter
associations, barter firms, brokerage companies, buy-sell-trade
companies, commercial banks, governments, multi-national and other
corporations and individual participants. Recently, private
individuals have been the driving force behind the growth of the
market. Thanks to the boom in computer and communication technologies
the liquidity of the scripXchange Market is now easily accessible to
everyone.
Transactions
scripXchange is the newest traditional market place for trading, which
brings buyers, sellers and traders together in a central location (a
cyber trading floor). In addition, scripXchange is an
over-the-counter market where participants conduct business over the
telephone, computer terminals and via worldwide internet connections.
Presently, transactions in the scripXchange market are only available
in Spot Trading. However, in the near future, transactions can be made
either through Spot Trading or Futures Trading. The difference between
the scripXchange Spot Trade and Futures Trade Markets is that the Spot
Market is available for settlement a short time after the "meeting of
the minds" between two or more buyers, sellers or traders; while the
Futures Market will have a settlement within scripXchange in 1 week, 2
weeks, 1, 3, 6 or 12 months or even longer.
The most effective way to use scripXchange for short term trading is
through Spot Trade Market transactions.
------------------------
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:odYCLTe_E-8J:www.tradeworldnews.net/index.php+%22barter+OR+bartering+industry%22+trends&hl=en
JOHNNY BLUESTAR INTERVIEW -- John LeVoie, Founder of ScripXchange
I guess we should start by asking you to define ?near money,? the types of
instruments you deal with in www.scripXchange.com?
Near money is a liquid asset that is not cash but can be readily
converted into cash or a cash equivalent. Near money instruments
include bank deposits, barter scrip, due bills, ticket stock, treasury
bills and stamps, to name a few.
======================================
BARTER EXCHANGE ? UNIVERSAL CURRENCIES
======================================
These currencies are emerging for trade exchange networks
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/about.html
Universal Trade Currency (UTC):
At present, trading options are limited by the inventory available
through a trade exchange or local broker and any other brokers that
share a currency. A UTC removes these constraints, but current systems
are basically manual and labor intensive. By providing members with an
e-commerce enabled marketplace, the process can become much easier to
use and therefore will become a continuous circle. As more
transactions are completed, more inventory is made available,
resulting in more transactions completed, and so forth.
The value added, is that the system allows trade exchanges and
corporate barter companies to maintain their own brand, independence
and close relationships with their clients, yet it gives them world
class online tools necessary to compete and excel.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.ucemarketplace.com/
The Universal Currency (The UC)
The Universal Currency (the ?UC?) is a central accounting center for
corporate barter companies and trade exchanges throughout the world.
It allows member trade companies to expand their own members? ability
to sell into new markets and purchase goods and services that are not
available within their own system, while eliminating the inconvenience
and confusion of individual reciprocal accounting.
To accomplish the above mission, the IRTA Board of Directors
established the Universal Currency in 1998. The UC has the support of
many of the world?s top barter companies, and has grown from its
original 35 participating companies to more than 100 member companies
representing over 100,000 corporate and retail businesses in over 15
countries around the world.
The Fee Schedule for Universal Currency
UC Fees are as follows:
Application and credit line processing fee: $50.00 cash
Monthly administrative fee : $50.00 cash
Bad debt reserve fund fee T$25.00/month (trade)
Sales fee (on the gross value of each sale) 0.25% in trade per transaction
Purchase fee 0.25% in cash per transaction
Deficit account fee (to bad debt reserve fund) 0.5% on the deficit
balance at month end (trade)
-------------------------------------------------
https://www.thebanc.com/
Barter Association National Currency
Just as EuroBank is consolidating the currencies of 11 European
countries, 75+ members of the National Association of Trade Exchanges
in Canada and the United States have expanded their selling and
purchasing options by acceptance of the BANC.
For over 8 years, the BANC has been a stable barter currency for
participating NATE members, removing the constrictions of reciprocal
bartering and bringing limitless opportunities for trading
==========================================
BARTER EXCHANGE ? COMPLEMENTARY CURRENCIES
==========================================
These currencies are used in community oriented applications.
http://www.transaction.net/money/index.html
Transaction Net
Currency Systems
Design Characteristics of Representative Currency Systems
***** See table summarizing a variety of currency systems. Then
explore how each can be used for various transactions.
------------------------
http://www.transaction.net/payment/
Payment Methods
Payment transfers may be completed by a variety of means. All of these
payments are applicable to mainstream national currencies, but many of
them also apply to the various local or community currencies (e.g.
LETS, Ithaca HOURS, Time Dollars) as well.
We have classified the different payment mechanisms in five categories as follows:
-- ATM-model transactions
-- Unmediated Two-Party Payments
-- Mediated Three-Party Transactions
-- Micropayments
-- Anonymous digital cash
Take a look at our payment method directories, each of which contains
a brief (and impartial) description of all the possible variations on
that particular method. And be sure to tell us if we missed one.
***** It?s important to review these models in light of the changing
methods of payment available in today?s economy.
------------------------
http://www.transaction.net/money/cc/cc01.html
Community Currencies
A New Tool for the 21st Century
http://www.transaction.net/money/community/index.html
Complementary Community Currency Systems and Local Exchange Networks
Complementary currencies may be issued as
-- "fiat" currency (as in Ithaca HOURS)--issued, managed and
guaranteed by a central authority;
-- mutual credit (as in LETS, ROCS, and Time Dollars); or
-- commodity-backed money or scrip that may be redeemed for a
particular product or service.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.appropriate-economics.org/
Local Exchange Systems
------------------------
http://www.appropriate-economics.org/materials.html
Information and Materials
***** This site offers a huge library of materials on complementary
currency systems;
------------------------
http://www.appropriate-economics.org/materials/principles_of_ccs/index.html
Principles of Complementary Currency Systems
------------------------
http://www.appropriate-economics.org/materials/rationales_for_complementary_currencies_-_Seyfang.pdf
Rationales for Complementary Currencies In A Global Economy
------------------------
http://www.appropriate-economics.org/materials/cc_in_usa.pdf
Community Currency in the United States
------------------------
http://www.openmoney.org/
the open money project
Open money is a means of exchange freely available to all. Any
community, any association - indeed, any body - can have their own
money. Open money is synonymous with LETS - an invitation to come
inside and play, as in open door and open house; collaboration as in
open hand and open for all; attitude as in open mind.
The purpose of the open money project is to bring together and
organize the people and resources necessary for the development and
propagation of open money everywhere.
The open money project is a work in progress - a continuation of
almost 20 years of LETSystem development all over the world, two
community way projects in Canada using smart cards, the Japan open
money project, and, most recently, a community currencies server
program, cybercredits.
------------------------
http://www.openmoney.org/top/omanifesto.html
open money manifesto
The problems with money stem entirely from how conventional money is
normally issued - it is created by central banks in limited supply.
There are three things we know about this money. We know what it does
- it comes and it goes. We know what it is - it's scarce and hard to
get. And we know where it's from - it's from "them", not us.
These three characteristics, common to all national currencies,
determine that we constantly have to compete for a share of the
limited amount of the "stuff" that makes the world go round. This
money can go anywhere, and so it inevitably does, leaving the
community deprived of its means of exchange.
It is simply the nature of conventional money that by its coming and
going it creates conditions of competition and scarcity, within and
between communities.
Money is just information, a way we measure what we trade, nothing of
value in itself. And we can make it ourselves, to work as a complement
to conventional money. Just a matter of design.
There is no good reason for a community to be without money. To be
short of money when there's work to get done is like not having enough
inches to build a house. We have the materials, the tools, the space,
the time, the skills and the intent to build ... but we have no inches
today? Why be short of inches? Why be short of money?
Open moneys are virtual, personal and free. Any community, network,
business can create their own free money - "free" as in free speech,
free radical, freely available - but NOT free as in free lunch, or
free ride. It's not something you get for nothing.
Open money is money that must be earned to be respected. When you
issue it, you are obliged to redeem it - your money is your word. It's
just a matter of your reputation in your community.
***** This is a website that will help you explore new models of
money. It relates to your 4th example in your question.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5592376
-------------------------------------------------
http://dev.openmoney.org/tiki-index.php
This is the main development site for the CCSP open money software.
This system is in early stages of formation and evolving as we
continue to work on the concretisation of our vision.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.thetransitioner.org/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Open+Money+Software+Requirements+and+Analysis
Open Money Software Requirements and Analysis
Overview
This page is the main entry point for all documents that relate to the
requirements and analysis documents for the open money platform. Still
in early stages and much remains to be done and organized here.
High level requirements for the community currencies service provider
module (ccsp)
The components of a free/open source open money software platform /
toolkit will support the creation, management, and use of open money.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.thetransitioner.org/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Complementary+Currencies
Complementary Currencies
Complementary currencies are all currencies other than scarce national
currencies that we practice everyday. They are ''complementary"
because they extend our transactional power. They can harmonize or be
in competition with national currencies.
To avoid some of the evils that national currencies tend to have,
alternative currencies are designed to be free from charging interest
rate to users. Some are equipped, on the contrary, with the demurrage
system to give rise to some positive effects that ordinary currencies
are almost incapable perform.
***** Complementary currencies are currencies that are used in some of
the barter exchange systems.
===============================
BARTER EXCHANGE ? MAJOR PLAYERS
===============================
Review of the leaders in the commercial sector.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=BLYC.OB
Bentley Commerce Corp (BLYC.OB)
Bentley Commerce Corporation operates as a business to business
Internet e-commerce company. The company designs, develops, and
launches Internet barter enabling services. It provides companies with
the ability to trade nonperforming or underperforming assets at full
value for the products and services they need. The company?s
VirtualBarter, an integrated family of Internet barter services,
enables independent exchanges and their members to manage,
merchandise, and market their products and services to an integrated
worldwide network of trading partners. Bentley Commerce has strategic
alliance with Intertrade Capital Group, Ltd. The company was
incorporated as Fogilstone Development, Inc. in February 1992 and
changed its name to Premier Mining Ventures, Inc. in January 1997.
Subsequently, Premier Mining Ventures changed its name to Pure Air
Technology in February 1998 and to Startek.com, Inc. in February 1999.
Further, it changed name to Bentley Communications Corp. in November
1999 and to Bentley Commerce Corporation in January 2004. Bentley
Commerce is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.
------------------------
http://www.otcbb.com/sandp/BLYC.htm
Bentley Commerce Corp.
Symbol: BLYC
***** This site offers you Standard & Poor?s information on this company.
------------------------
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/about.html
Internet Strategy:
Bentley's vision is to create an alliance of trade exchanges,
enterprise exchanges and corporate barter companies throughout the
world. Trade exchanges, their members and corporate barter companies
and their clients are empowered to facilitate their own trades
anonymously, relying on their existing trade exchange or corporate
barter company to facilitate transactions. Each exchange retains
responsibility for its client base, but all has access to each other's
managed excess inventory, which each exchange controls. In this way,
small and large member and client companies alike will have greater
choices in the products and services they can buy with their trade
dollars and a larger market for items they offer for sale.
***** Be sure to read the whole website. This is one of the leading
companies in the barter exchange industry and reviewing their
initiatives will give you a good overview of the various business
models they are implementing.
-------------------------------------------------
http://press.arrivenet.com/ent/article.php/659485.html
Bentley Commerce Has Record Trading Day as Most Active Stock and
Second Highest Percent Gainer on OTC Bulletin Board
Jun 27, 2005, 15:50
News Source (MARKET WIRE)
Stock Ticker: BLYC
SARASOTA, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/27/2005 -- Bentley Commerce
Corporation (OTC BB: BLYC) (www.bentleycommerce.com), the leader in
Internet-based barter and trade, broke all company records when 169.7
million shares traded on Friday, June 24, 2005. On this date, BLYC was
the most actively traded stock on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board,
as well as the day's second largest percent gainer on the OTC-BB, with
a 200 percent same-day increase in BLYC's share price.
-------------------------------------------------
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=INLM.OB
International Monetary Systems Ltd (INLM.OB)
International Monetary Systems, Ltd., through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Continental Trade Exchange, Ltd. (CTE), engages in the
acquisition, ownership, management, and operation of trade exchanges
and other related businesses. Trade exchanges are financial service
firms that permit companies and individuals to exchange goods and
services utilizing electronic currency. CTE serves approximately 7,000
customers in 24 markets in the United States. In addition, it acts as
a third party record keeper, as well as principal in certain
transactions in which it acquires products, fine arts, real estate,
and other commodities held as investments or sold at profit. The
company?s proprietary transaction network enables companies and
individuals to trade goods and services throughout North America.
International Monetary Systems, Ltd. was founded in 1989 and is
headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
http://www.internationalmonetary.com/
International Monetary Systems, Ltd.
Press Releases
International Monetary Systems Acquires Barter Business Unlimited
Connecticut trade exchange is one of nation's largest and strongest
New Berlin, Wis. -- June 6, 2005 -- International Monetary Systems,
Ltd. (OTC BB: INLM), a worldwide leader in business-to-business barter
services, today announced that it has acquired Barter Business
Unlimited (BBU) of Newington, CT. The Hartford-area operation is one
of America's leading trade exchanges.
Debbie Lombardi, BBU's founder and president, is the current president
of NATE, the National Association of Trade Exchanges. She is the first
woman ever elected to that prestigious position. Recognized as a
renowned visionary, Ms. Lombardi will participate in IMS' future
planning and marketing.
As a result of this merger, a new barter industry giant has been
created. International Monetary Systems now serves more than 8,500
businesses representing 14,000 cardholders.
------------------------
http://www.internationalmonetary.com/
IMS Subsidiaries
Continental Trade Exchange, Ltd.
http://www.ctebarter.com
Continental Trade Exchange is one of America's largest barter systems.
Since its inception in 1985, CTE has continued to expand its
membership roster by way of acquisitions and a strong program of
internal growth. As a result, the company now serves a client base of
more than 8,500 businesses and professional people.
CTE's participation in nationwide trade organizations such as the
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) and the Barter
Association National Currency (The BANC) offers its members the
opportunity to market their goods and services, not only in Wisconsin,
Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, California, Nevada, Tennessee, Maryland,
Virginia, Connecticut, and Washington D.C., but across North America.
------------------------
http://www.finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?symbols=BWIRE:100&story=200506131440_BWR__BW5707
International Monetary Systems Has Another Record Month in May Revenue
up 53% over last year
13 June 2005, 10:40am ET
NEW BERLIN, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2005--International
Monetary Systems, Ltd. (OTC BB:INLM), a worldwide leader in corporate
and consumer barter services, today announced that its gross revenue
for May shattered all previous records. The company processed more
than $5.2 million worth of trades which produced gross income of
$540,000. This represented an increase of 53% over the same period in
2004, and an increase of 31% over the outstanding April, 2005 sales.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.tradefirst.com/
TradeFirst.com
TradeFirst.com (TF) is a nationwide e-commerce network of businesses
that work together, trading their goods and services in order to
generate new business, offset cash expenses, and increase profits by
utilizing excess capacity and inventory.
TF has been an innovative leader in the rapidly growing e-commerce
business-to-business model of computerized barter.
Since opening in 1978, TF has become one of the largest
independently-owned trade exchanges in the country, with over 5,000
member companies providing thousands of different products and
services. It is estimated that more than $16 billion was bartered last
year in the U.S. alone, and barter is becoming one of the
fastest-growing segments of the world's economy.
Since its inception, TradeFirst.com has concentrated on building
strong local barter economies for retail businesses in Michigan, Ohio,
and Florida. Through our website, we can effectively bring the
benefits of barter to companies throughout the country. We can also
provide current members with full account and listing information, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
=======================================
BARTER EXCHANGE ? ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
=======================================
Some of these are emerging as key players and competitors and/or
partners in the industry.
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/
Bentley Commerce
Bentley Commerce is the online leader in worldwide barter and trade.
Through its Bentley Trade Exchange Network, Global Trade Marketplace,
Enterprise Exchanges, VirtualBarter Software and Corporate Trade
Group, Bentley Commerce is empowering companies and organizations
throughout the world with the invaluable benefits of trading their
excess production, capacity and inventories at full value in an online
global trade marketplace.
------------------------
http://www.bentleycommerce.com/software/overview.html
Virtual Barter Software: Overview
Powered by VirtualBarter software features real time trading with real
time transaction fee processing, online statements, online transaction
posting, real time reporting and world class exchange administration
functionality in an easy to use web browser interface. virtualBarter
features a front end HTML graphic based website for your members and
your own trading account, and a back end management platform for
exchanges.
The back-end Windows-like interface enables an exchange to manage
their website content, graphics, logo and information that is
displayed to its members, in addition to managing all of the functions
of your exchange including managing members, items, trading,
accounting, email marketing, notes, reminders, reporting and more?
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.vbarter.com/
virtualBarter
VirtualBarter the world's premier Global Trade Alliance, gives you the
resources you need to build your bottom line. Tens of thousands of
business owners and professionals already trade in the VirtualBarter
Alliance. Earn Trade Dollars from these new customers and put your new
purchasing power to work running your business, expanding your
operations, or enhancing your personal standard of living without
spending cash.
Unlike being a member of a small independent barter exchange, member's
of trade exchanges that participate in the VirtualBarter Alliance are
empowered with online worldwide trading combined with a broker-centric
network of barter professionals to assist you in facilitating trades
locally, across the country or across the globe. Enhance your trading
experience and apply for a trade account today.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.xraymedia.com/ms/barter/index.html
XR Barter
XRAYMEDIA?s XR Barter unites live media negotiating with trade/barter
modules giving our registered buyers and sellers the unmatched
flexibility and negotiating power, XR Barter enables the general
public to choose the way they wish to purchase advertising in the most
powerful and cost effective manner possible It includes the ability to
negotiate the cash value of the media as well as the cash values of
the trade items, allowing users to select the number of items being
negotiated on in each purchase, and allowing all users to negotiate
and change values in real-time.
There are NO SIGN UP FEES or monthly charges for buyers or sellers.
Place your orders and start negotiating live, in a private secured
128-bit encrypted media trading floor.
------------------------
http://www.internetadsales.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2640
XRAYMEDIA Set for This Friday's Worldwide Release of Its New XRBarter
Live Negotiating Site
NEW YORK & VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20,
2004--XRAYMEDIA, Inc., (OTCBB:XRYM), the leading real-time Internet
negotiating technology provider to the media industry, is pleased to
announce release of its new XRBarter website, this Friday, July 23,
2004. The XRBarter system is the Company's most recent live
negotiating platform release, designed to provide instant worldwide
reach and live negotiating technology to the $30 billion barter
industry
As experienced in prior test markets, through its corporate trade
partners, the Company accumulated a hefty $55 million in corporate
media trade/barter transactions. XRAYMEDIA meets the corporate need
for live negotiating technology in the barter industry, accommodating
the diverse array of barter transactions observed in the business
world today. At present, the Company is preparing to process over $100
million in corporate media trade/barter transactions utilizing the new
XRBarter website.
------------------------
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/factsheet.xhtml?&ID=116726&abforward=true
Xraymedia, Inc. (OTC: XRYM)
Xray wants to be the eBay of advertising. Xraymedia provides
advertising and public relations services through its Media
SuperPortal, covering corporate culture, media services, and community
resources. Through the portal users can access information, tools, and
resources related to the advertising and media services industry. The
company's Live Media Marketplace is an online auction site that
facilitates the media buying (and selling) process. The company also
provides design services and other resources catering to the needs of
advertising cognoscenti. Xraymedia markets its services to business
owners, executives, media professionals, and business entrepreneur.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.dwwsoftware.com/
TradeWorks Software
If you?d like to visit our barter company in California,
Continental Trade Exchange,
visit www.ctebarter.com
======================================================
BARTER EXCHANGE -- DIRECTORIES, PORTALS, ORGANIZATIONS
======================================================
These websites should be very helpful for continuing your explorations.
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=1
International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA)
The IRTA is a non-profit organization of companies committed to
promoting just and equitable standards of reciprocal trade and raising
the value of reciprocal trade to businesses and communities world wide
by educating, self-regulating and leading by example.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.nate.org/
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE)
Through approximately 400 barter companies, over 400,000 businesses in
the US and Canada trade billions of dollars worth of goods and
services each year without the use of cash. It is estimated that
almost half of that activity is through NATE members.
NATE has been very successful in helping members to trade with each
other through the industry?s strongest currency, The BANC (Barter
Association National Currency). This truly unique system allows
businesses that are members of one NATE exchange to share in the
opportunities to trade with thousands of other NATE Member clients.
BARTER EXCHANGE -- DIRECTORIES, PORTALS
-------------------------------------------------
http://gigafree.com/barter.html
Barter Exchanges
Barter transactions represent about 40% of the world's economy. About
85% of USA Fortune 500 companies use barter to increase their market
share and improve productivity. Here are listed links to hundreds of
the Web sites of the many barter exchanges which have developed
internationally.
-- Barter Exchanges Based Primarily On The Internet
-- Barter Exchanges Based In The USA
-- Barter Exchanges Based In Canada
-- Barter Exchanges Based Outside Of The USA Or Canada
-- Barter Exchanges Without Currency & Free Ad Sites
-- Trading Companies Specializing in Corporate Trade (moving large
excess inventories)
-- Trading Companies Specializing in Specific Industries
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barterexchange.info/sitemap.xhtml
Barter Exchange Guide
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.maximumedge.com/dir/Business/International_Business_and_Trade/Barter/
Top à Business à International Business and Trade à Barter
***** Listing of 34 bartering companies.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/barter.html
Barter - Relevance and Relation to Money
Is barter still relevant in the modern world?
A collection of links to information sources on barter and a brief
account of its history and contemporary relevance.
***** This is a collection of about two dozen links to various
resource sites for understanding current and historical bartering
systems.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.internet-web-directory.com/Business_and_Economy/International_Trade/Barter/index.html
Web Directory à Business and Economy à International Trade à Barter
***** This directory lists about three dozen barter and trade exchange companies.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.wolist.com/wo/business/international-business-and-trade/barter/
Business à International Business and Trade à Barter
Total Barter sites: 53
-------------------------------------------------
://www.google.com/Top/Business/International_Business_and_Trade/Barter/
Business à International Business and Trade à Barter
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.internetworldstats.com/links2.htm
Trade Exchanges - B2B
Business to Business, eCommerce, Barter Trade
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.onemovement.net/altmark.html
Alternative Marketplace
===================================================
BARTER EXCHANGE ? ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES
===================================================
I was able to find some excellent articles and reports and a few white
papers and case studies.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,319918-1,00.html
Trading Up
No cash? No problem. Here's how smart entrepreneurs use barter to help
save money, create connections and grow their businesses.
Entrepreneur's Be Your Own Boss magazine - February 2005
Barter Background
Barter--the cash-free exchange of goods and services--is a huge and
long-established activity for businesses old and new, large and small.
The International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA), a nonprofit
organization of commercial and corporate barter exchanges based in
Rochester, New York, estimated in 2001 that $7.5 billion in sales
flows through commercial barter channels each year. The IRTA also
estimated that figure was growing at 8 percent a year, and that
300,000 companies, including startups and Fortune 500 firms, would
participate in trading exchanges in 2002.
The numbers reported by barter exchanges are minuscule, however,
compared with the amount of barter that occurs directly between firms,
as in the case of Kazimir and the sales trainer. No one tracks direct
barter, so no one knows how big it is. But, says Tom McDowell,
executive director of the National Association of Trade Exchanges
(NATE) in Mentor, Ohio, "The amount of direct barter dwarfs what we do
on an organized basis."
Barter isn't for every company, either. Hospitality and media goods
and services are the biggest categories of commercial barter. Items
such as unoccupied hotel rooms and unpromised radio airtime are ideal
barter goods, because they're highly perishable--if no one uses them,
they're wasted. So if you either provide or consume travel,
entertainment, advertising or similar goods and services, you're a
good candidate for barter. "The businesses that do best in barter are
retail, service and professional--anybody with a disposable commodity
that has no shelf life," says McDowell.
Avoiding Barter's Bite
There are some things smart barterers don't do. One is converting a
cash customer to a barter customer. "A trade exchange never takes away
a cash customer," McDowell says. Barter is for excess capacity and
unused inventory, experts stress. If you're doing more than 5 percent
of your sales volume in barter, according to accepted barter wisdom,
you may be abusing the technique.
Barter's Future
The future for barter is unclear. While the trend-trackers at the IRTA
report that barter is growing strongly in terms of exchanges, members
and volume, the NATE's 2004 report showed a much smaller amount of
business flowing through barter than past reports have shown. McDowell
says this is mostly because the NATE got more accurate information
about franchise barter exchanges that revealed they weren't doing as
much volume as expected.
McDowell adds, however, that the growth of online auction services
such as eBay has hurt barter by giving companies an easier way to turn
excess inventory into cash. Attempts to harness the internet for
barter by setting up online barter exchanges have been universally
unsuccessful, he says, despite a number of well-financed efforts.
The Swap Team
Ready to engage in organized barter? You have several hundred
commercial exchanges to choose from. Local exchanges should probably
be the first choice for most startups, because new companies usually
have a greater need for local services and goods, says Krista
Vardabash, executive director of the International Reciprocal Trade
Association (IRTA). You can find online directories of barter
exchanges at the IRTA's website, as well as at the site of the
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE).
Look for an exchange whose membership includes companies that supply
products and services you need, and that are likely to be customers
for your offerings. Costs are also something to consider. Most
exchanges charge $300 to $700 to join, plus a 10 to 15 percent fee on
each transaction and a monthly membership fee of $20 to $30, says Tom
McDowell, NATE's executive director. Check for a guarantee that
refunds your initial membership fee if you don't get value out of the
exchange within a few months.
***** This is a long, up-to-date article that discusses the pros and
cons of bartering.
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http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2000/nf00501a.htm
MAY 1, 2000
Are Swap Sites Set for a Shakeout?
They're popping up all over, but how many CDs or Furbies can folks trade?
NAME GAME. Most of the swap sites have followed the same pattern:
They launched their businesses within months of each other between
late 1999 and the beginning of this year. Many got millions of dollars
in startup funding. They come with a dizzying array of names,
everything from Intellibarter.com to SwitcHouse.com to SecondSpin.com.
At least half bear names with some variation on the word swap, such as
MrSwap.com, WebSwap.com, and QSwap.com. All want to be the next eBay,
but none has a proven business model. And none has any profits.
BIG EDGES? As swap sites try to extend the eBay model, they're
attracting lots of venture capital. Their approach is simple: In
exchange for the technology and a liquid marketplace that allows
swappers to find each other, the sites charge a fee as either a
percentage or a flat rate on each transaction. Some swap-sites also
charge for advertising on their sites and collect demographic data
that is sold to merchandisers. In some instances, when demand exceeds
supply in certain goods, the sites offer discount deals from
traditional retailers for the items.
BLOOD FROM A STONE. Most analysts following the swap-site industry
concede that when the dust settles, only one or two companies will be
left. The best positioned: WebSwap, which drew 1.2 million unique
visitors last month according to PC Data, and SwitcHouse, which boasts
the largest aggregation of listings, at over 400,000 -- a number it
projects will grow to 1 million in the next few months. SwitcHouse
also claims its listings are growing at a weekly rate of 40%.
***** This is a five year old article that examined the
consumer-to-consumer barter industry. The outlook seemed iffy at the
time.
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http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2001/03/19/daily4.html
March 19, 2001
WebSwap closes shop
WebSwap.com, a Palo Alto-based online swapping site, is closing shop
at the end of the month.
As a result, no new offers for buying, selling, or swapping items will
be accepted, according to company officials. During operations,
WebSwap raised $14 million in two rounds of funding from Accel
Partners, Sequoia Capital, and individual investors.
***** This company went out of business in the dot-com bust.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.disobey.com/ghostsites/show_exhibit/webswap
Ghost site ? WebSwap.com
Claims name changed to Tradia
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.tradiacommerce.com/index.php?graphic=
https://www.tradiacommerce.com/tradiais.php?graphic=tradiais
Most barter organizations offer membership to small businesses only.
To diversify and add even more flavor to bartering, we opened the
doors to individuals, employees and large businesses as well.
------------------------
https://www.tradiacommerce.com/tradiarules.php?graphic=tradiarules
Our Policies
6. Transaction Fees. Each time you participate in a Tradia
transaction, you pay to us a cash fee. Your fee equals 6% (in cash)
for the amount of Tradia involved in the transaction on all sales and
purchases.
The monthly fee is $15.00 cash and 15.00 Tradia Dollars to all
Business member accounts.
------------------------
https://www.tradiacommerce.com/message.php?graphic=message
Currently we have 25 Broker offices with several more qualified
individuals applying for a franchise. We anticipate having a minimum
of 50 franchises by the end of 2005 and 300 total by 2007. Our
international franchise expansion will begin later this year.
***** It appears that Tradia is surviving and is still operating as
both a B2C and B2B barter company.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.econ.iastate.edu/tesfatsi/ACEB2BTrade.pdf
http://www.irta.com/Page.asp?Script=32
Data-Driven Agent-Based Simulation of Commercial Barter Trade
Abstract
In this paper we present TRADES, a data-driven agent-based simulator
for barter trade exchanges. We provide an overview of the barter trade
exchange industry, focusing on the operational aspects of trade
exchanges and motivating the design of our simulator. Our simulator is
built by learning probabilistic models of company purchase behavior
using transaction history data from an operating trade exchange. We
quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of our simulator by comparing
simulated trade to the transaction data, showing a high degree of
agreement between the two. We also demonstrate use of the simulator to
evaluate the effectiveness of a particular trade brokering strategy.
***** This is a 7-page research paper that confirms that very little
research has been done about commercial barter systems.
-------------------------------------------------
http://barter-blog.com/index.php?p=4
The Barter Blog
About the Site: What the Barter Blog Is
The Barter Blog is obviously a blog about barter.
***** This is an outstanding site for keeping up with everything to do
with the bartering industry.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2005/01/04/businesswire20050104005288r1.html
Bentley Commerce Forms Strategic Alliance with BARTER NEWS Magazine to
Inform Businesses about the Benefits of Barter & Trade
01.04.05, 6:04 AM ET
On the first year anniversary of launching its Internet-based barter
system that has made it possible for businesses around the world to
easily trade with one another online or at the point of purchase,
Bentley Commerce Corp. (OTCBB:BLYC; www.bentleycommerce.com), has
formed a strategic alliance with BARTER NEWS Magazine
(www.barternews.com) to license and redistribute the magazine's
articles and content to acquaint the estimated 85 percent of
businesses that have never bartered about its extraordinary benefits.
BARTER NEWS Magazine is the barter and reciprocal trade industry's
preeminent publication, having inspired and informed the business
world about barter for over 25 years. Bentley Commerce will put the
licensed content on its websites and on its independent online trade
exchange websites. In addition to articles from BARTER NEWS Magazine,
Bentley Commerce acquired the rights to redistribute content from over
350 issues of the TUESDAY REPORT, an online publication presenting the
scope and potential of barter to grow a business and enhance
profitability.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/cover_story55.htm
No Transaction Fees At Ubarter.com
Subscription-based Model Introduced As White Believes Transaction Fees Regressive
BarterNews: Let's look down the road a couple of years. What do you see?
White: Today there are seven companies I can name that have 10,000 or
more clients. In one year I see only three of them surviving, and by
the end of the following year it'll be down to two. I also anticipate
transaction fees will be greatly reduced or eliminated.
BarterNews: What about the two trade associations, IRTA and NATE?
White: I expect they'll remain about the same. The local exchanges
need a voice and the interaction of annual industry meetings; plus the
associations also act as a quasi-training facility.
I also think the two currencies (IRTA's Universal Currency and NATE's
Banc) will continue to be useful to the trade exchanges for reciprocal
trading.
BarterNews: Do you see any big changes coming, or is it more of an
evolution? After all, no one envisioned a few years ago all the money
coming into the industry from Wall Street?or a barter company being
sold for $45 million.
White: I see big changes coming. I believe our new subscription-based
model will enable us to grow to one million customers having,
ultimately, a billion Ubarter currency in circulation.
And the reason that's a possibility is technology has made it easier
for businesses to communicate. Easier for Ubarter's customers to find
the liquidity that they desire for their products and services.
Add to that the fact that new pricing models, which didn't exist five
years ago, are now becoming commonplace.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.tradeworldnews.com/
Trade news for Barter Industry
This news site contains updates and trends in the Barter Industry.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.bartertimes.info/default.asp
BarterTimes
-------------------------------------------------
http://bluetree.primateonline.com/dir/d!Top/Business/International_Business_and_Trade/Barter
Directory: Top à Businessà International Business and Trade à Barter
Barter Related News
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1103/barter.asp
Barter becoming crucial to more businesses
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.barternews.com/
http://www.barternews.com/visitor.htm
Commercial barter or business barter is done on three levels. You can
learn about the three different ways by going to our home page and
referring to:
A. Trade Exchange Section
B. Corporate Barter Section
C. Countertrade Section
Each section has an explanation of how barter is conducted at that
particular level. We have dozens of articles under our trade exchange,
corporate barter, and countertrade sections. And we are continually
adding to our site, so we invite you to visit us regularly to read the
latest additions.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.icon-intl.com/pages/articles/ecommerce.html
ARTICLE IN: THE NEW YORK TIMES
February 12, 2001
E-Commerce Report: Internet Retailers Re-Discover Bartering
***** This is a good article that explains the advantages and methods
of business-to-business bartering.
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