BarterMag Issue 3 by Bartercard Australia

For businesses who connect

Barter Mag Issue 3

Friday Flyer - a lesson in taking off

Need a break?

1,400 accommodation options world-wide with Bartercard

Fillaudeauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s - steady cooked success from province to plate

Bartercard tips

from a business coach

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve listed

ASX debut marks the start of Bartercard expansion

Jo Sherline, Friday Flyer

Bartercard: 1,400 accommodation options world-wide minus the price tag Fancy a tropical escape to a resort in Thailand or a cocktail at your own private villa in Vanuatu? Perhaps a bungalow on a sandy beach in Samoa would be more to your liking. If you love the luxury of travel without the hefty price tag of accommodation, Bartercard serves up the perfect solution for its members; nearly 1,400 accommodation options in idyllic settings world-wide at no cash cost. So if you are a small to medium-sized business owner looking to conserve cash in more places than just your business, it might pay to look into Bartercard Tourism next time you need a getaway. With hotels, resorts and guest houses across exotic travel destinations including the Pacific Islands, Thailand, the UK, Europe, Cyprus, UAE, the USA and New Zealand, Bartercard also offers extensive stay options in Australia. This includes almost 600 accommodation choices domestically.

Island life: Yasawa, Fiji

Gold Coast speaker and business coach Sharon Jurd recently traveled to Yasawa Island in Fiji where she saved 100 per cent of her accommodation and dining cash cost at the exclusive Yasawa Island Resort and Spa by purchasing it on Bartercard. Her seven night stay at the luxury resort (and the only resort on the island) was situated in one of the most remote and secluded parts of Fiji, featuring 18 luxury bungalows just a few steps away from pristine waters. Part of 20 or so sparsely populated volcanic islands in Fiji’s west, Yasawa has six small villages and one five star resort and is so untouched that there are no roads, shops or banks - making it the destination of choice for travelers looking to kick back or explore off the beaten track.

Top things to do: “Snorkeling, picturesque hikes, a visit to the local villages to explore how the locals live day to day, and private island trips with seafood platters included – this is where they take you by boat to a secluded beach for your own private use. Escaping to explore the untouched beaches on the surrounding islands is completely surreal.” Getting there: “You catch a chartered flight out of Nadi which takes around half an hour.” Will you use Bartercard to pay for accommodation again? “Absolutely! We’re heading to Thailand, but may head back to Yasawa first. Paying for accommodation on Bartercard is a fantastic way to conserve cash so that I have it ready to spend on other things while I’m away.” How else will you be spending your trade dollars in the future? Securing venue space at Gold Coast resorts for my events which run up to 12 times a year – it will not only save the expense of venue hire but allow me to offer accommodation packages to my clients.

Choose from 1,400 accommodation houses across destinations world wide on Bartercard. Visit mybc.bartercard.com for listings. 2

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Sharon is the director of HydroKleen Australia and was was recently named QLD/NT Franchise Woman of the Year by the Franchise Council of Australia. She is also a best-selling author and provides business coaching and mentoring services through Sharon Jurd Events. For more information visit sharonjurdevents.com.au.

Bartercard is celebrating the next chapter of its life as a listed company following the successful IPO of its parent company, BPS Technology. As the world’s largest trade exchange, Bartercard’s goal of bringing customers to merchants has always been driven by our passion for people and being the best at what we do. Expansion into new markets both domestically and world-wide has been our vision from the start, and the next step towards this expansion was recently marked by a milestone achievement. In September, we announced that our parent company, BPS Technology, debuted on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) following a successful IPO that reached its full subscription of 28 million shares. BPS encompasses three divisions; Bartercard, TESS, our cloudbased software platform that powers Bartercard and bucqi, a digital wallet and loyalty app. This feat easily marks the most important date in the Group’s history and a step towards capitalising on considerable growth opportunities, including the roll-out of TESS to trade exchanges globally, expanding our offering of bucqi, and perusal of new acquisitions. At listing, BPS Technology had more than 450 shareholders, including a number of brand-name national and international fund managers as well as almost 100 staff and Bartercard franchisees in Australia and New Zealand, the UK and USA. I would like to thank everyone who supported us during this important time, and I hope you can join me in raising a toast to celebrate a successful entry into the market. After two years of research and development, we’ve finally launched our brand new trading platform. mybc serves a list of benefits and improvements to members including an online presence that promotes businesses locally, nationally and globally. We are pleased to give our members a smarter and more sophisticated platform that’s more convenient and digitally focused. This is a very exciting time to be with Bartercard, with new opportunities opening up every day and a strong presence in the regions where we operate. I hope you enjoy this issue of BarterMag which shares some of our member stories and demonstrates the positive impact we are making every day.

Contents Rev heads take to the track on Bartercard

Framing and selling MCG history 5 What is Bartercard?

Steady cooked success from province to plate

Friday Flyer – and a lesson in taking off

Bartercard tips from a business coach

BPS listing

Tumeric - could more of it spice up your life?

Do you want to take control of your retirement income?

It’s all about attitude at Altitude 13 Aura Bar - stacking up to $1,500 in savings weekly 14 The Bartercard Foundation

Never alone in business

Sitting is the new smoking

Best regards,

Brian Hall CEO and Founder Bartercard Operations Aus Pty Ltd

Published by Bartercard Australia Level 2, 121 Scarborough Street Southport Qld 4215 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) bartercard.com.au

Building a brand

Rev heads take to the track on Bartercard Self-confessed “rev heads” Dean and Therese Walker from Northside Fire Service in Brisbane are literally having the time of their life spending their Bartercard trade dollars.

ean and Therese are long time V8 Supercar fans, and have regularly attended V8 supercar events for years. Then their Bartercard membership provided the opportunity to sponsor a supercar team in the Dunlop Series in Townsville, using trade dollars. The $15,000 sponsorship package included 3 x ‘hot laps’ around the track as passengers, weekend passes for six people, exclusive access to the ‘Pit Lane’ and garage, networking with the teams and other motoring enthusiasts, and of course, a great branding opportunity. Dean and Therese jumped at the opportunity and had the thrill of their lives as ‘their’ supercar took to the track. In fact the thrill was so addictive, they took up the sponsorship for the next round at Ipswich. More than just a thrill While the thrill of being more closely involved was the motivating factor behind their sponsorship, they’re confident that the increased exposure is bringing in new business - networking opportunities have increased, and their Facebook page likes jumped by 25% in just 3 weeks. Saving on ‘big ticket’ items When Northside Fire Service joined Bartercard four years ago, Dean and Therese decided they’d use the trade dollars earned primarily to make ‘big ticket’ purchases that improved their business and lifestyle, or simply gave them joy.

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When building their first home they conserved cash on the finishing touches, paying for electrical work, air conditioning, tiling, carpet, window coverings, landscaping and fencing on Bartercard. Therese estimates they saved about $25,000 in cash. Rewarding staff and family The availability of trade dollars has also provided an opportunity for them to reward their staff. In 2012 they treated the entire team to corporate seating and catering at the State of Origin. Gifts and flowers for friends and family have also been purchased on trade. Even the family pet has been in on the act with a local veterinary surgeon accepting Bartercard. Trade clients generate cash clients One of the major benefits of Bartercard membership for the business has been cash referrals. According to Therese, one trade client refers approximately 20 cash clients to Northside Fire Service every year. “This is something we encourage wholeheartedly”, she said. “Bartercard members are acutely aware that we all need to support each other in business.”

Earning trade dollars It’s a good thing Dean and Therese have no trouble earning trade dollars numerous businesses use their services. Northside Fire Service provides fire safety training and fire extinguisher maintenance, and can also create evacuation plans and diagrams. They help local businesses meet their obligations when it comes to fire safety. They welcome trade dollars, and some 25-30% of their turnover comes from Bartercard members. Smart trading in other areas Therese recently decided to sell her bakery business in Rockhampton where she’s increased the potential for a quick sale by offering Bartercard members the opportunity to buy with a 50% trade dollar component. Next on the cards is a holiday to New Zealand where the couple plan to use Bartercard to cover the cost of accommodation. Did you know that Bartercard has 1,400 accommodation options available without the cash expense? Visit mybc.bartercard.com to see where you can go.

Building a client base

Framing and selling MCG history Pete Williams, Infiniti Telecommunications

Pete Williams from Infiniti Telecommunications has been a Bartercard member for over a decade. He’s learnt a thing or two about using his trade dollars over that time, but around the time he joined Bartercard he had one hell of an idea – and it’s been bringing in the cash ever since.

hen the old Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was undergoing redevelopment, the young Pete Williams was busy reading ‘The One Minute Millionaire.’ Impressed by a success story of a New Jersey man who had framed small pieces of the old wooden Brooklyn Bridge Walkway with certificates outlining its history, and sold them to make his fortune, Pete racked his brain for an equivalent opportunity in Australia. Thinking the demolition work at the MCG might provide an opportunity, the 21 year old with more enthusiasm than expertise hit the phones. It didn’t take him long to track down the wrecking company that had just demolished the old Ponsford Stand. Yes, they did have some wood. Would he be interested in some of the carpet too? That would be the famous MCG crested carpet that had been trodden by many famous cricketers and dignitaries over the years. Pete’s idea quickly took shape. He purchased the wood and carpet from the wrecking company for a very paltry sum, made arrangements with framers and couriers, and put his plan into action. As a Bartercard member, Pete secured the framing services through a member, so he was able to put much of the cost to trade dollars, and reap the rewards in cash. He created “a couple of thousand” beautiful pieces of memorabilia by framing the crested carpet. Most have sold over the years at varied prices, bringing in $600-$2,000 per piece. There are just a few hundred pieces left, which Pete continues to sell on eBay and through his website owntheg.com.au.

Infiniti Telecommunications An entrepreneur by nature, Pete has established multiple businesses including Infiniti Telecommunications, On Hold Advertising, Simply Headsets, and Preneur Group. He set out in business with Infiniti Telecommunications at an early age, and along with his partners, they’ve put Bartercard to good use time and time again. They began by using Bartercard as a means to build up a client base and penetrate a highly competitive market. A few years in, Infiniti moved away from providing phone carrier services, and into providing hardware, servicing and installing phone systems. They offer phone system service, maintenance and fully refurbished systems on Bartercard.

Turning your million dollar idea into reality Would you like to hear more marketing advice from ‘the man who sold the MCG’? Pete is also a published author of four books including How to Turn Your Million-Dollar Idea into a Reality. Visit petewilliams.com.au

Current strategies for trade dollars Pete prefers to use his trade dollars for business expenses that are tax deductible and contribute to retaining existing clients, reducing cash expenses, and rewarding staff. A significant benefit has arisen from boosting the Infiniti client base with trade clients – increasing the numbers has allowed Pete’s business to negotiate better deals with suppliers, improving his margins to help make the business more profitable.

Pete Williams framed the famous MCG crested carpet to create pieces of memorabilia selling between $600 - $2000.

Contact Infiniti directly on 1800 850 214 for telecommunications support Australia wide. Visit mybc.bartercard.com for copies of Pete’s book and limited edition pieces of the MCG.

Issue 3, 2014

What is Bartercard? And how does it work…

Bartercard is a business network made up of over 20,000 members in Australia and 55,000 around the world. It is designed to assist businesses to improve cash flow and reduce cash expenses through the use of modern bartering.

6 benefits for business...

Gone are the days of swapping a cow for a pig or a chicken for a goat. The power of modern bartering is that you can conserve cash and reduce expenses by using our digital currency, known as a trade dollar, to swap your goods or services indirectly with any business within the Bartercard network.

1. More customers

4. Sell excess stock

Most businesses employ sales people, advertise, reduce prices or offer incentives to gain more customers. By using Bartercard you gain more customers by promoting your business directly to the membership base through the many sales channels and by building relationships at the networking events. It’s like having an extra marketing arm in your business which directly results in increasing your sales opportunities and creating cash referral business.

For many businesses selling excess stock means discounting, running dealer promotions or sadly writing off the stock. The benefit with Bartercard is you sell excess or discontinued stock at the normal selling price avoiding the need to reduce your profit margins. You can promote your excess stock to the 20,000 members on Bartercard’s online facilities, eNewsletter or at a stand at the many trade shows.

2. The power of Bartercard trade dollars

5. Capture lost revenue

When you barter trade using Bartercard you are ultimately buying with your cost of products or services. Therefore, you are buying at the purchasing discount that is inbuilt into your margin.

Most businesses have a certain amount of downtime, be it on certain days or at certain times of the year with the flux of seasonal trends. Bartercard’s goal is to assist you to gain additional customers to utilise business downtime. For example, hairdressers may fill empty spots in their diaries, restaurateurs may fill empty tables, hotels may fill empty rooms, and professionals may fill empty appointments with additional Bartercard customers. By filling downtime you are effectively gaining revenue that you would otherwise have lost or missed out on.

To put simply, if it costs you 35c in the dollar to provide your product or service, then for every $100 trade you spend it really only costs you $35. So you are in fact buying at a 65% discount! By understanding this benefit you may be starting to grasp the power that Bartercard offers businesses.

3. Reduce cash expenses The way to maximise your purchasing discount is to look at all the current expenses that you have in your business such as advertising, bookkeeping, legal, printing, graphic design, business lunches and so on. By using the services of business members within the Bartercard network you can pay for these expenses with trade dollars instead of cash.

6. Interest free line of credit Bartercard members receive an interest free line of credit ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 trade dollars which allows them to make purchases immediately upon joining the Bartercard network. This interestfree line of credit allows you to continue to grow your business even during times when your cash flow has slowed, without incurring crippling interest rates.

To give you a snapshot Bartercard currently has 500 advertising/media companies like radio and magazines, 188 bookkeepers, 294 printers, 1,570 restaurants and cafes and 216 graphic designers! The spending options for your business are enormous; therefore your cash savings are also enormous.

Could any of these benefits help your business? We would love the opportunity to help you to achieve your business and lifestyle goals. Contact our friendly team on 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) or visit www.bartercard.com.au/contact-us 6

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Extra customers

Steady cooked success from province to plate If you haven’t yet tasted the mouth-watering delicacies of Fillaudeau’s, you’re in for a treat. From the Parfait de canard (duck liver and cognac parfait) to Escargots a l ail (burgundy snails with garlic butter), Fillaudeau’s serves up some of the most sought-after classic French cuisine in Perth. Owner Manu, who started the business using Bartercard, said it’s all about authentic flavours with a modern twist.

he best Mediterranean is simple and flavoursome and Fillaudeau’s does it well. A plate from its kitchen will take you to the village where the bread is baked by the artisan baker, the charcuterie is prepared with meat from the land and cheese is made from local milk. French-born chef Manu Fillaudeau has built a reputation on quality and taste which his restaurant books out for. He and his wife Jazz started a venture with a local winery at the Pinelli Estate, situated on the outskirts of Perth. A widely acclaimed establishment of delicacies followed shortly, with Manu sweeping up five industry awards in just two short years including four dimmis and Restaurant and Catering’s 2013 Award for Excellence. Coming from Angers, a small village in the west of France famous for its wine, he said he grew up on the farm learning traditional culinary techniques, confecting delicacies and cooking with flavours that had been passed down for centuries. “We had fresh milk on our doorstep each morning, bread from the baker, eggs from the chooks and grew all of our vegetables,” he said. Growing up on the farm where food was sourced from the land rather than the supermarket, he said it was important for him to support local industry within his own business. “60% of our ingredients are sourced within 18 kilometers of the restaurant including seafood, meat, free-range

poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables from local markets in Perth,” he said. “Supporting our local farmers and growers means there is more quality and variety in our produce which is important for us, as our kitchen relies on many flavours. Fresh food is abundant in this region so why choose anything else?” The partnership between restaurant and cellar door brings many benefits to the local appeal, with guests coming in to taste the wines before sitting down to enjoy a meal, or buying a wine tasting and lunch/dinner package where a carefully matched drop is served with each course. Bartercard is renowned for supporting business startups which has led to lasting local partnerships and some immensely successful culinary ventures such as the steady cooked success of Fillaudeau’s. “In a nutshell we’ve used Bartercard to purchase all the essentials; from tables, chairs, curtains and furniture for the front of the restaurant to ovens, fridges, kitchen equipment, our point of sale, computers, printers and ink,” he said. Bartercard has attracted approximately 10 per cent extra customers to the restaurant leading to referrals, allowing Manu to share his culinary approach of simple and flavoursome cuisine with more food loving locals. If you live in Perth or visit the city and haven’t yet dined at Fillaudeau’s visit www.fillaudeaus.com.au. They accept bookings on Bartercard.

Q&A with Manu Favourite dish and what wine would you pair it with? Confit duck paired with chateauneuf du pape (a wine from the southern region of France) What are your top three tips for entertaining at home? Good company, good food, good wine What are customers looking for in a dining experience right now? Local and responsible sourcing, value for money, hospitality from the host

Fillaudeau’s RESTAURANT

Issue 3, 2014

Building a business

Friday Flyer a lesson in taking off

J Jo’s tips for successful trading »» Get to know your Trade Co-ordinator and develop a good relationship. Having a co-ordinator who actively seeks opportunities for you is gold. »» Engage with other members – network and ask your Bartercard clients how they spend their trade dollars. »» Always be aware of the need to balance the volume of cash and trade dollars in a way that benefits your business.

o and Wayne Sherline started their business Friday Flyer almost five years ago from their garage. Print media was declining, and the fallout from the GFC was still biting. There were plenty of people who thought that starting a new print publication wasn’t such a hot idea. But Jo and Wayne thought otherwise. They intended Friday Flyer to become a welcomed community newsletter packed with interesting material and event information, supported by advertising that was locally targeted and cost effective – what better time to offer local businesses an effective and affordable means of reaching out to their community? It took some time to get Friday Flyer flying – the couple patiently waited for about a year to secure a contract with Australia Post to deliver the publication. They began distributing Friday Flyer weekly to around 30,000 households. Circulation is now at about 164,500 – it’s the largest print media distribution on the Gold Coast and has grown from 8 to 12 pages in size. And it’s not just one publication – it’s divided into four regional Friday Flyers to ensure that the content and advertising is highly relevant to local readers. Since start-up, Friday Flyer has become a popular community newsletter that many Gold Coasters rely on for information about local events, and special offers from local businesses. The high quality glossy publication includes a broad range of news, special-interest features and recipes. How Friday Flyer used Bartercard to expand Friday Flyer became a Bartercard member soon after set-up and their membership has played a significant role in helping Jo and Wayne to expand their business in two completely different ways.

As Jo and Wayne tried to push into new regions, there was always some reluctance on the part of businesses to commit to a new publication they were unfamiliar with. Attracting Bartercard clients was much easier because advertising is often at the top of the spending list for many member businesses. And once advertisers begin to come on board, it becomes easier to attract others. So in that way, securing Bartercard businesses for advertising space assisted Friday Flyer to get traction in new areas. But Jo says their best spend on Bartercard came about quite by chance at a Bartercard networking function in December 2013. There she met a business mentor, Bradley Charles Stubbs, who would become instrumental in guiding them to new heights. At the time they met, Jo said they’d become “far too comfortable with how well the business was doing, almost complacent, and we’d lost sight of our initial goals.” Their mentor reignited their passion and Jo and Wayne are now busy with plans to expand across Brisbane and then interstate. Using trade dollars imaginatively Jo and Wayne are always looking to spend trade dollars in ways that contribute to business growth, but are also happy to spend in ways that give them pleasure or benefit the family. The couple have enjoyed holidays at a Wellness Retreat, purchased office furniture, legal services, stationery and cinema advertising. On one occasion, they treated the entire extended family to a holiday in Cairns, where accommodation, meals, and a tour of the Daintree Forrest was all paid for with trade dollars. Next on the cards may be property development where Jo and Wayne hope to use of a range of Bartercard member services to reduce the cash outlay, and a rewards scheme for staff who don’t have the incentive of sales commissions.

Jo and Wayne began distributing Friday Flyer weekly to around 30,000 households. Circulation is now at about 164,500 – the largest print media distribution on the Gold Coast. 8

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Be strategic

Bartercard tips from a business coach

en Fewtrell of Action Coach Australia and New Zealand knows a thing or two about what it takes to run a successful business and about implementing strategies that help businesses to grow. After successfully establishing and expanding a transport business by the age of just 24, Ben realised that he had a knack for sales and for growing a business, and it was this process that excited him the most. He sold his transport business and stepped into the world of business coaching. Running Action Coach since 2002, Ben’s team of twenty is based in Sydney and his nine business coaches service clients not just locally, but throughout Australia and New Zealand. Ben signed up with Bartercard in 2003. The concept attracted him because he could see that Bartercard was effectively another great network of like-minded business owners that he could interact with, and it seemed likely many would be interested in coaching services that would allow him to build on his existing client base. We spoke to Ben to get his tips on how members could best put Bartercard to work to benefit their business.

Create a clear earning strategy when you join and stick to it According to Ben, the biggest ‘problem’ with Bartercard is that it’s just too easy to earn trade dollars. It’s a good concept, but because you do need to pay tax on all income - cash and trade - and you will have certain expenses that must be paid for in cash, you need to accurately establish just how much trading you can comfortably do on Bartercard. “You need to begin with a good strategy in place, and stick with it,” he advised.

Learn how to spend trade dollars well

Use Bartercard to fill the gaps

Ben recommends aiming to spend trade dollars not just on regular business expenses, but on marketing related items that will directly or indirectly contribute to customer acquisition. For example, Ben holds workshops at a large venue that accepts trade dollars for room hire and alcohol. From time to time, he purchases signs and banners and printing services on trade. “I also use it to spoil clients, by value adding or enhance the experience they have with us” he said.

Earning trade dollars is usually easy. With that in mind, you might benefit from nominating products or services that are most cost effective to trade through the system. “For us, results come very quickly. If I want more trade dollars, I get our telemarketer onto it and we quickly fill the spots.”

While Action Coach had many cash suppliers in place that they were reluctant to change, handyman services, rubbish removal and pest control are among the periodic expenses they’ve been able to pay for in trade dollars.

Coaching Services on Bartercard Ben welcomes Bartercard clients to the Action Coach programs. “The ‘BusinessRICH’ program is particularly popular with Bartercard members”, says Ben “It’s held several times a year with limited numbers so members need to book early.” The BusinessRICH program is an intensive high value one day workshop where participants learn about a range of topics including lead generation, marketing plans, increasing sales and profits, generating more referrals, and maximising cash flow.

Find out more at actioncoachanz.com/bartercard

Issue 3, 2014

In the Spotlight

BPS listing marks the start of expansion In September Bartercard was pleased to announce the debut of its new entity and parent company BPS Technology on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the first plank of its offshore expansion plans. The listing followed a successful Initial Public Offer (IPO) that reached its full subscription of 28 million shares.

BPS

encompasses three divisions; Bartercard, TESS, a cloudbased software platform that powers the Bartercard system, and bucqi, a digital wallet and loyalty app. The announcement marks a new chapter of expansion into international markets with plans to add 20 new regions each in the USA and UK within the next five years, pursue acquisitions and roll out its cloud-based software Tess across the industry world-wide. BPS Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Dietz said that the listing is an exciting announcement underpinning a period of growth. “Bartercard is already the largest player in the growing trade exchange industry and the IPO is a unique opportunity to expand into international markets,” he said. “As a listed entity Bartercard will be able to acquire trade exchanges around the world and roll out our innovative software platform as a global service offering.” The float valued BPS at $58.5 million marking a ‘rock solid’ entry into the

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market, that received support from institutional and retail investors, 450 individual investors, plus almost 100 staff and Franchisees in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. The announcement also attracted significant media interest securing coverage in local and national press. “We look forward to a future of positivity, opportunity and hard work but most importantly the capacity to reward those who have supported us in our journey,” Mr Dietz said. “The listing marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another even more exciting chapter – one that will see us reach across the globe via all three divisions within our business delivering on our promise of bringing customers to merchants.” Bartercard’s Australian arm was bought out in 2007 by its local management team COO Mr Trevor Dietz, CEO Brian Hall and CFO Tony Weise who went on to buy the international arm and will retain a 52 per cent stake in BPS.

The future is bright for BPS Technology which plans to use its recently acquired funds for offshore expansion. Pictured: the Board of BPS Technology (back to front, left to right) CFO Tony Weise, Managing Director Brian Hall, Non Executive Director Tony Lally, CEO Trevor Dietz, Chairman Murray d’Almeida and Non-Executive Officer Andrew Pipolo.

Health and Wellbeing

Turmeric could more of it spice up your life?

ost of us want to be slim and healthy and there’s no shortage of product offerings that promise to help us in this endeavour. Add to that the range of advice handed down from the health industry, and the barrage of promotions about ‘super foods’ and it’s a wonder we’re not eating main meals consisting of garlic and onions served with broccoli and cabbage puree and topped with turmeric, cinnamon, quinoa and seaweed! Mmm. Perhaps it’s not such a wonder after all. The golden spice But could the ‘golden spice’ turmeric, used liberally in cooking throughout India and the Middle East, really spice up your life as well as your food? It’s been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, for the prevention and treatment of various ailments from allergies and arthritis to worms and wounds, and for general wellbeing. A microbiologist and biochemist in Western Australia thinks that the evidence coming from studies into Turmeric is too compelling to ignore. Bartercard member John Charlick has spent seven years researching various food substances,and in particular those known to have anti-inflammatory or

Try it out on Bartercard John has made use of his Bartercard membership to extend his reach and grow his business. He said Bartercard is great for sceptics, making people more open minded to try new products “because they’re not risking their cash.”

antioxidant properties. As a result he’s created ‘Metabuz’, a product that’s packed full of natural substances with those properties, including turmeric as the main ingredient. He’s used Bartercard to help get the word out about his product and his weight loss method, but more on that a little later. Antioxidants and antiinflammatories John is fascinated by the huge effect that simple dietary factors can have on our overall well-being. He said that scientists now know that many conditions and ailments stem from either oxidated damaged and/or inflammation in the body. “The causes vary but certainly dietary factors, stress or inactivity, or a combination of those can be responsible,” he said. “I set about trying to create a product that was easy to consume, and would be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory addition to the diet. Turmeric contains both and there have been over 5,000 studies done on its effect.” Indeed, you’ll find many studies mentioned online that look at the effect of turmeric on a range of conditions from Alzheimer’s to cancer cells. However, John’s focus is on assisting people to lose weight and improve

their energy levels. Metabuz, as the name implies, is designed to boost your metabolism while increasing your intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Metabuz ingredients While the main ingredient is turmeric, Metabuz also contains cinnamon, kelp, fennel, black pepper, vitamin C, calcium, vanilla bean and stevia. It comes in a powder form and is mixed with water to form a tasty drink. As with many active plant ingredients we hear great things about, the amount of turmeric likely to be needed to make a decent difference is more than we’d like to be served at dinner, but John says it’s condensed in Metabuz, with one serve providing the equivalent of about 4 kilograms of turmeric. The Charlick Method Putting his knowledge in biochemistry and microbiology to use, John has also developed a three phase approach to weight loss incorporating Metabuz, to help people lose weight quickly and consistently. When you make your initial purchase, you’ll be sent a 12 page booklet outlining his weight loss method and listing the foods recommended to boost your efforts.

You can find out more about John and Metabuz at www.thecharlickmethod.com

As with all products that may affect your metabolism, digestion and weight, you should visit your doctor to discuss your plan. Issue 1, 3, 2014 2014

In the Spotlight

Do you want to take control of your retirement income? Many Bartercard members have superannuation accounts but are they paying any attention to them? This can be a dry subject but unless you can comfortably answer (1) how much income you will need when you retire, and (2) when exactly you will become financially independent, we suggest you read on.

Author: Ian McKenzie Chartered Tax Adviser, Member of SPAA Taxation, Superannuation and Financial Planning ASIC Registered SMSF Auditor, Association of Financial Advisers Ltd Authorised Representative of Dover Financial Advisers Pty Ltd AFSL 307248

Email: subscription@people.net.au

ome people don’t do any financial planning. You don’t have to have a lot of money to do so; it’s more about what you do with the money you have than how much you’ve got. So, are you using your Bartercard trade dollars to pay for financial professional services? If you have a business, some advice you could receive might include information on asset protection and estate planning. If you’d like a self-managed super fund (SMSF), you can set one up with the assistance of an accountant or financial planner on trade too. There are specialists who work in the field of SMSFs and it’s important that you get the right advice. Bartercard can also advise you on Industry Super Funds. SMSFs is the fastest growing sector of superannuation in Australia, as more and more people want to take control of their super. So; let’s look where you can save some cash in your business: • Financial planning on barter • SMSF audits on barter • SMSF administration, tax returns and financial statements on barter (ongoing) • Superannuation advice on barter, could include a wrap account

(e.g., BT wrap, Colonial First State (CFS), Asgard, MLC etc.) • Ongoing superannuation advice on barter • Industry Super Funds on barter So why pay cash for financial advice when you could possibly be using a trade supplier and conserving cash within your business? Superannuation fees are not tax deductible in your personal tax return. This is a fairly important point as you are once again incurring a cash expense that you can’t claim on your tax. So why pay cash? Some financial planning fees can be tax deductible. Of course, if you have a SMSF they would be totally tax deductible within the SMSF. If you haven’t already, start planning your future now. My message today is to consider your financial life by using trade dollars to pay for services and save your cash. Just this simple change today could save you and your business money year after year. It’s your choice. There are plenty of businesses on Bartercard that can help you achieve your financial goals; you just need to make it a priority.

This article has been prepared to provide you with general information only. It is not intended to take the place of professional financial and taxation advice and you should not take action on specific issues in reliance on this information. In preparing this information we did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision, you need to consider (with or without the assistance of an adviser) whether this information is appropriate to your needs, objectives and circumstances. You should obtain a copy of the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making a decision to invest in any financial product. This information is provided for persons in Australia only and is not provided for the use of any person who is in any other country.

BarterMag

Business coaching

It’s all about attitude at Altitude Bill Doyle has been running his business Altitude Communications for over a decade and has also been an active Bartercard member during this entire time.

ill confesses that he was somewhat sceptical about the Bartercard concept at first, and with a laugh he credits “a good salesperson” with winning him over on the idea of conserving cash flow and leveraging Bartercard business to win cash referrals. Talking to Bill, one imagines that winning over this savvy online marketing expert would be quite an accomplishment. However, as a marketing specialist, Bill is always interested in smart ways to generate more business. He’s been cautious and diligent in the way he earns and spends his trade dollars, deciding early on that his strategy would be to accept Bartercard specifically for his marketing training and mentoring programs. This would offer an excellent opportunity for ongoing referrals for his business, and an equally great opportunity for Bartercard members to spend their trade dollars in a way that could benefit their businesses. It was a win win strategy. Educating and equipping clients for success The idea was also well suited to Bill’s goal which is primarily to empower business owners and entrepreneurs by educating them in lead generation and marketing strategies and equipping

them with the tools they can use to get results. This allows them to implement effective strategies, and take control of their marketing with greater confidence. That should be music to the ears of business owners who know how costly it can be to pay for successful online marketing - often with limited success.

Bill’s tips

Live training seminars “Hundreds of participants” now flock to Bill’s popular monthly live training webinars to learn and get in-depth advice on an extensive range of marketing related topics from lead generation and social media strategies, to writing sales letters and creating webinars.

As a successful marketing and lead generation professional with over 20 years’ experience, Bill has an eye for making the most of every opportunity. He suggests new Bartercard members adopt a similar approach to get as much leverage as possible from the opportunity that Bartercard membership provides. Bill recommends:

It’s a little like having a business coach, but much more affordable. Bartercard is ideal for trainers and consultants Bill believes Bartercard is ideal for trainers and consultants who use a “one to many” model for at least some of their training. With a one to many model, the cost of providing the session is usually static, regardless of how many participants you have – yet happy Bartercard customers are just as likely to tell others about your services, leading to cash referrals for your business.

»» Leaning on the Bartercard team and other members. Bill says “Expertise isn’t restricted to your co-ordinator. Learn how others are leveraging Bartercard.” »» Paying as much attention to your Bartercard customers as you do your cash customers – a happy customer will tell a few people about your services and an unhappy one will tell many more, whether they’ve paid in trade dollars or cash! »» Viewing Bartercard as a marketing medium that can be used to get your message out more without being a drain on business.

If you want to generate more leads, increase conversions and attract more high value clients, then go ahead and download your 50+ FREE eMarketing Tips now at www.beestohoneypot.com You will get 50 fresh e-marketing ideas and tactics to help you to attract new clients and grow a profitable business without spending a fortune. 13

Cash savings

Owner of Aura Bar Con Papamitros and his partner Fiona save up to $1,500 weekly with Bartercard.

Aura Bar stacking up to $1,500 in savings weekly with Bartercard Aura Bar is a hidden gem in Brisbane’s iconic Fortitude Valley serving up some of the best and most affordable bistro-style Mediterranean cuisine in town. Mixing traditional flavours with contemporary style backed by the warm approach of a familyowned business, Aura Bar has attracted a loyal and steady following since opening its doors to Brisbane three years ago.

“Coming from a Greek family, cooking and food has always been a passion”

t first impression, Aura Bar has the look and feel of a traditional taverna complete with handpicked wine, baklava and signature espresso. Owner Con Papamitros, who has 35 years of experience in Brisbane’s restaurant and catering scene, said he attributes recent success at Aura Bar to Bartercard. Joining Bartercard at the start of this year, he’s since experienced a spike in customers and significant cash savings. “Bartercard customers make up approximately 10 per cent of my clientele, and word-of-mouth referrals stemming from the extra business has attracted many more visitors to Aura,” he said.

Con, pictured standing up far right, has attracted a loyal following with a traditional approach to customer service.

“Conserving cash with Bartercard has also stacked up to significant savings.

Aura Bar

BarterMag

I’ve sourced coffee, bread, fruit and vegetables, plants for the garden, electrical work, plumbing, a refrigeration mechanic and so much more which has allowed me to pocket between $1,000 and $1,500 in savings each week.”

“I have also bought furniture and a commercial deep fryer which has saved me $7,000 in cash combined.” He added that Bartercard has been an absolute asset to Aura which has also benefited the catering arm of his business by being promoted across the network of 20,000 members. “Coming from a Greek family, cooking and food has always been a passion,” he said. “I’ve embraced this passion and have applied the same philosophy of fresh, simple and healthy food for the last 35 years to create delicious cuisine for my customers.” Aura Bar opens its doors to customers for breakfast and lunch at two locations in Fortitude Valley, and in addition to its bistro it specialises in catering and functions as well as private dinner bookings for 20 people or more. Visit aurabar.com.au

Charity

The Bartercard Foundation assisting early childhood learning

he Bartercard Foundation has recently helped with renovating a new learning centre and parent hub for the Burleigh Heads Early Childhood Development Centre. In conjunction with ex-dual international rugby player Matt Rogers, and his charity 4ASDKids, the Bartercard Foundation has just finalised renovating the existing children’s learning area and creating a new parent hub. The Centre runs programs that cater for children prior to prep (18 months to 5 years) with suspected or diagnosed disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hearing impairment, intellectual impairment, speech language and vision impairment. “The early Childhood Development program has been going for more than 20 years, and the state of the classrooms reflects this time span,” said Richard Norris, General Manager of the Bartercard Charity Foundation. “The renovation links the two existing classrooms to create an open space plan that includes a learning area and parent hub.”

Jay Ohmsen, a senior teacher at the centre said it’s extremely important to provide a forum for interaction between families and specialists. “This project has created a homelike space where parents of young children with newly diagnosed disabilities can meet with other like families for information evenings and support,” she said. Richard additionally purchased some café style furniture on Bartercard to further equip the area. The centre has been very fortunate to have had architects Peddle Thorp’s “in kind” involvement at an estimated 200 man hours. Jay added that the architects have been very mindful of the children’s special needs in the redesign of our centre. “New closed-in cupboards have replaced the old glass wall cabinets,” she said. “These hide toys and equipment out of view and are therefore less distracting for the children”. Construction was undertaken with the help of Steve Marais from Condev Construction Pty Ltd.

The renovation links the existing two classrooms with a learning area and parent hub.

Richard Norris from the Bartercard Foundation (left) and Andrew Federowski, one of Bartercard’s Founders and Franchise Principle, visit children at the Burleigh Heads Early Childhood Development Centre.

For more information and/or to donate to the charity please visit: bartercardfoundation.com To apply for a grant please visit bartercardfoundation.com/view-available-grants Contact Richard Norris, General Manager Bartercard Charity Foundation 121 Scarborough Street, Southport QLD 4215 Phone: 07 55 61 9030 I Fax: 07 5591 4004 I Mobile: 0413 112 896 richard.norris@bartercardfoundation.com

Children enjoy the newly renovated learning area.

Issue 3, 2014

Whether you go for business or pleasure...

Bartercard is with you. Bartercard offers national and international accommodation packages. One of the many ways to conserve cash and improve your lifestyle...with Bartercard.

Marketing update

Never alone in business Bartercard’s brand new advertising campaign

artercard has shown the first glimpse of its new advertising campaign that’s taking a fresh approach to the brand and bringing its ‘b’ to life. ‘Never alone in business’ puts a handful of successful members in the spotlight to share their stories and to show how they have benefitted from using Bartercard including attracting new customers, gaining more support, access to new markets and improving lifestyle. Bartercard’s Marketing Manager, Christie Harris, said that the early concept of the campaign was “It works for me”, which looked to show how Bartercard works successfully across a range of industries.

“We wanted to build on this idea and capture members’ ‘personal’ experiences of how Bartercard has supported them in business,” she said. “An emerging theme from speaking with members was that they felt like they’re never alone with Bartercard, because of the ongoing support they receive from a dedicated team. We wanted to convey this message in an entertaining way that grows our brand recognition.” The campaign will target specific industries and will be rolled out over the coming months across a number of mediums including print, online, social media, radio and outdoor advertising. “Business owners should look out for the new campaign, which will target regional areas with tailored, localised advertising and encompass online as part of a digital marketing strategy.”

Introducing

Bringing our logo to life in our new advertising campaign has led to the creation of a new mascot at Bartercard. b is always there to help our members in their business - whether it’s bringing new customers through the door, increasing their business’ productivity, or coaxing them to take a well deserved break. We look forward to sharing more of him with you over the coming months.

b recently visited Bartercard’s head office for the first time where he met the team.

Scan here to watch the video.

Issue 3, 2014

Feature

Sitting is the new smoking It’s a bold statement, but according to brain expert Dr Helena Popovic, if you sit for 11 or more hours a day you have a 40% higher chance of dying early. Helena is a specialist in brain plasticity; which is the ability of the brain to change itself at any age. Effectively the brain can grow NEW cells, and change in response to everything we do, what we think, and how we behave. She explains the reason for the higher chance of early death is due to your body not receiving any or enough electrical pulses whilst sitting. This is quite a scary thought, so what do we need to do? Her advice is to stand up every 20 minutes and move around for a minimum of 2 minutes. You don’t necessarily need to exercise in that 2 minutes you just need to MOVE. So, how does brain plasticity affect your work? Helena explains that what you do on a daily basis will affect whether your brain is sharp, how quickly you can problem solve, how effectively you’ll learn and store memories. It affects your day to day functioning, your productivity, your creativity, and your ability to communicate clearly with others.

Three tips for a healthier brain: 1. Your brain functions at its best in the first hour after physical exercise. Therefore, moving your body moves your mental machinery even if it’s for just 10 minutes. Exercising before a brainstorming session or important meeting will assist to raise your heart rate, release endorphins, and improve your mood. 2. Watch your language. The language you use affects how your brain operates. Your brain cells are sensitive to what you’re saying. So change negatives for positives. Instead of saying to yourself, ‘I can’t do this’, flip it to the question of ‘how can I do this?’ This will instruct your brain to find a solution, rather than the problem. This isn’t positive thinking, its possibility thinking. 3. Eat walnuts and blueberries. These are your brain’s favourite foods as they assist to improve functioning and protect your brain’s structure against oxidative damage.

Results from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) 2013 survey revealed that Australians reported significantly lower levels of well-being and significantly higher levels of stress and disorder as compared to 2011 and 2012. The causes of stress ranged from financial issues, personal health issues and issues with trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So what can you do as an individual and an employer to counteract this?

What to do now?

Read Gretchen Reynolds’ (a New York Times columnist) book titled ‘The first 20 minutes’. The author explains how just 20 minutes of exercise a day can have a significant improvement on your health and well-being Stand up when talking on the phone

Use the timer on your smart phone and set it at 20 minute intervals. Every 20 minutes, get up from your desk and walk around Consult with one of the many Bartercard health professionals as to how you can become more active

Written by Emily Johnson, Psychologist emily.johnson1@uqconnect.edu.au 18

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mybc is now here! 20,000 members trading $60 million monthly New directory and enhanced navigation Brand new Go Shopping experience

It’s all there at your fingertips

It’s my Bartercard search • connect • trade

Issue 3, 2014

What our members are saying... I

’ve been with Bartercard for three years and the spending options within my pizza business Dough Delight has been vast, amounting to thousands in cash savings. I’ve used Bartercard to hire plumbers, electricians and trades people for maintenance and repair at my stores. The service is the same quality as you would expect from suppliers in the cash economy, expect without the hefty cost. With Bartercard the savings stack up, leaving me with more to invest back into my business. Pranav, Dough Delight Pizza

his year, instead of giving our kids pocket money and watching them waste their cash on useless items or junk food, we gave them trade dollars as pocket money. They’ve just bought new shoes that they have both been wanting. The kids regularly check the website for any new kid-friendly items and have even thought about selling some of their old toys and games to help build their own nest egg of trade dollars. They love it and so do we. Mark Gunther

Guns Fitness

love Bartercard! What a great way to boost my new business, create a wonderful network and to be amongst like minded people. And I have an awesome trade co-ordinator. Thanks Cathy! Helene Craig-Bridges Day Spa on Samford

’ve known about Bartercard for years, and really wanted to be part of the team. When I was approached I jumped at the chance. Now I couldn’t be happier - I’m saving cash by using my trade dollars. I’m a very happy Bartercard member. Stacey Hair By Stacey

“Our Mission is to enhance the lives of people by creating value and opportunity from the unrealised potential in the business of each member around the world.”

BRIAN HALL Bartercard Founder and CEO

have no doubt in my mind about how great Bartercard has been for not only my business, but also my personal life for over 10 years now. With a combination of regular trading, some lateral thinking and great relationships with my trade co-ordinators I’ve been able to grow my business and watch my standard of living improve.  Holidays and business trips to Thailand and New Zealand have been almost entirely on Bartercard, Christmas presents have been purchased with great success, limousines have been ordered, wine has been poured, home improvements have been made and a great deal of enjoyment has stemmed from this relationship between Bartercard, myself and my business.  Bartercard is a constant flow of life and business improving activities and events. The staff and members are fun to be involved with, and all of us enjoying the wonderful network we are a part of. I would strongly recommend Bartercard without hesitation to anyone with a business who wants to add to their customer base and improve their overall way of life. Alex Moss

Visual Magic Productions

j joined Bartercard when I first started my bookkeeping business and it’s not only helped me to network but also build my business contacts up. I’ve been able to help many small businesses within Bartercard by managing their bookkeeping and office administration saving them the expense of employing a staff member. Without Bartercard I would never have met these great people or grown my business so successfully so fast. Kathleen Flower Kath’s Book Keeping Service

connecting business connecting people

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