Barter Mag For businesses that connect
THE EQUINOX S E A S I D E E X PA N S I O N PA I D WITH FISH AND CHIPS PLUS Top business trends Work hard/play hard with Bartercard Vivais – breaking down legal stereotypes one client at a time Bartercard breaks a record $100 million in real estate listings world-wide
Issue 6
Reward your staff with
Bartercard vouchers With a wide range of vouchers to choose from, you won’t be short of ways to reward your staff…or yourself…without spending cash. Choose from restaurants, beauty salons, accommodation, health and fitness, and a host of other experiences to make your staff feel valued.
Visit mybc.bartercard.com or call 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) to find out more.
In this issue
6
16
10
22
19
26
Published by Bartercard Australia Level 2, 121 Scarborough St Southport Qld 4215 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) bartercard.com.au
4 5 6 8 9 10 14
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO TRACKS TO SUCCESS IN A ROCKY MARKET SEASIDE EXPANSION PAID WITH FISH AND CHIPS WHAT IS BARTERCARD? WORK HARD/PLAY HARD WITH BARTERCARD TOP BUSINESS TRENDS TOYNE BUSINESS CONSULTANTS: GROWING PROFITS ON BARTERCARD
9 18 15 16 18 19 20 22 24 26
VIVAIS – BREAKING DOWN LEGAL STEREOTYPES ONE CLIENT AT A TIME BARTERCARD BREAKS A RECORD $100 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE LISTINGS CON-X-ION AIRPORT TRANSFERS: IT’S A WRAP! JIRRA WINES AT JEIR STATION - A GOOD DROP ON BARTERCARD VANUATU REVISITED BARTERCARD INVESTS IN THE FUTURE WITH BOND SCHOLARSHIPS LOCAL BUILDER LANDS A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CASH CONTRACT BUCQI - A NEW CLASS OF REWARDS
Message from the CEO
I
t’s turning into a big and fast year for Bartercard and it’s members. In February Bartercard turned 25 and celebrated $4.4 billion in cash savings for small businesses in Australia! As a business who’s parent company recently listed on the ASX, we’ve reached a huge milestone in the market thanks to the support of our members since inception. In a short space we’ve already seen so much innovation in trading, from multimillion dollar beachside renovations to expanding into new markets overseas, stitching up real estate deals and improving lifestyle to enjoy the work-life balance more. In the following pages you will find all of these stories and more to give you great ideas and inspiration for using Bartercard in your business. You will also find stories about strategies that members are using to boost their start-ups, and considering that 9 out of 10 new businesses fail, it’s a critical time for every entrepreneur. You will find that Bartercard is a useful tool as a viable cash alternative to supplement business. While last year saw almost every business expanding at a digital level, the focus now is on the way that digital interactions are playing out in the consumer space. So take the conversation to the next level and consider how the outcomes of digital are shaping your business. We recently launched our own brand new digital product to the market, a new rewards program and mobile app combined which is changing the consumer experience. You can read about bucqi on page 26. I wish you all a successful year and hope you enjoy this latest issue of BarterMag which is packed full of business tips and stories about members who are using Bartercard to grow their business, every day.
Best regards,
Clive van Deventer CEO Bartercard Australia
R E AC H I N G
Tracks to success in a rocky market When the global financial crisis left industries crashing worldwide, Datatrax, a marketing technology leader for the Australian tourism industry, really felt the effects of the downturn. The company’s TourismTouchscreen kiosks, which showcase local attractions to visitors across Australia and New Zealand, were under threat as tourism declined and travel operators cut back on what costs they could. Despite a resilient approach which saw Datatrax survive the worst of the effects, several years down the track the company was still feeling the crunch in a recovering market, finding it harder to expand their client base and maintain previous buoyant advertising revenues. While CEO, Paul Buckley, had been aware of the increased business that Bartercard could bring to its members, it wasn’t until Datatrax was in the midst of a global drop in tourism spending that they embraced joining the cashless business network.
Datatrax CEO Paul Buckley
N E W
M A R K E T S
Paul, having known the local Bartercard franchisee in Canberra, Gabriele Saccardo, for over twenty years, decided to join and trial the system for his company. “Gabriele assured me there were hospitality members eager to spend their trade dollars on advertising and he wasn’t wrong,” Paul said. “Bartercard was the shot in the arm we needed when times were tough. We added 10-15% on our top line and took 10% off the bottom line.” Since becoming a member in mid-2014, Datatrax has enjoyed an increase in business and the benefit of an extra income stream, and is using this to expand its network at greater speed than ever before. Through Bartercard, Datatrax has been able to increase the number of kiosk locations, giving members the opportunity to host their own kiosk touchscreen and provide their patrons with extra informational services – all without overstretching their advertising budget. With the revenue from the additional sales, Datatrax has used their trade dollars, with great effect, to reduce expenses associated with on-boarding and training their new recruits. Previously, costs such as hiring training venues, accommodation and catering were a cash expense which Datatrax incorporated into their training budget. Upon joining Bartercard, they decreased their cash expense of training by booking accommodation in Canberra through local Bartercard businesses, as well as utilising trade dollars at local cafés and restaurants for catering. “This has been a huge welcomed cash saving to the business,” Paul said. Datatrax has also reassigned cash business costs to Bartercard by using a local printing company to create promotional materials, used by project managers out in the field, routinely servicing and maintaining company vehicles and providing bonuses and vouchers to staff. Next on the horizon is the opportunity to grow and expand the TourismTouchscreen network internationally. By offering a special advertising package exclusively to Bartercard members, the advertising content for regions across Australia and New Zealand will be boosted. “Bartercard is helping us gain critical mass,” Paul said. “By pre-selling packages on Bartercard it populates a new area with competing businesses which makes it a more attractive advertising option to new cash customers signing up to our quarterly campaigns.” “All businesses interested in profiting from tourism spending could benefit from advertising to the travelling public.” Download the Datatrax app ‘Take You There’ and start having some fun!
PAGE
5
C O N S E RV I N G
C A S H
A recent $3 million renovation has given the Equinox a brand new look and feel for locals to enjoy.
Seaside expansion paid with fish and chips A S E A S I D E FAVO U R I T E W H I C H H A S B E E N S E RV I N G TO U R I ST S A N D LO C A L S FO R M O R E T H A N 15 Y E A R S H A S SAV E D $500,000 W I T H BA RT E RC A R D O N A R EC E N T $3 M I L L I O N R E N OVAT I O N. Bartercard has played a key role in the multi-million dollar renovation of an iconic restaurant and takeaway located on the waterfront of one of Western Australia’s premier tourist destinations. The $3 million refurbishment of the Equinox included $500,000 in interest-free trade dollars funding the main builder, Big Ben Builders and nearly all sub contractors using Bartercard. Bartercard’s extended line of credit gave owners Peter Gordon and Dave Ebert the financial confidence for the significant spend, and enabled them to realise the potential of their unique north-facing prime real estate position, overlooking the famous Busselton Jetty. The Equinox development boasts a fully refurbished, expanded 200 seat restaurant, an all-year-round alfresco dining and beer garden among the landmark fig trees, a second commercial kitchen servicing a takeaway area, and has become the biggest building project funded by Bartercard in the South West.
The level of investment has enabled Peter and Dave to incorporate a number of unique features and design a modern restaurant to cater for the ever-increasing number of visitors coming to experience the seaside city and the iconic Busselton Jetty, the second most visited tourist attraction in WA. Historic timber was sourced from the recent restoration of the 150 year old Busselton Jetty, so a core part of Busselton’s history could be incorporated into the design of The Equinox. The timbers, from what was a major working wharf up until the 1970s, are a key feature in the alfresco bar design and have been used to clad the metal structural beams throughout the building. Local artist Jack Bromell was commissioned to create a mural which runs along a 30 metre wall on one side of the building, using his inspiration from growing up in Busselton and spending all of his free time jetty jumping, to create a timeline of the Busselton Jetty through history.
C O N S E RV I N G
C A S H
“TOURISTS COME TO TOWN, JUMP ON THE BA RT E RCA R D A P P TO SEE WHERE THEY CAN E AT A N D B O T H O F O U R VENUES TOP THE LIST” The Equinox overlooks the Busselton Jetty, located in South West WA's vibrant tourist strip.
This amazing black and white artwork tells the story from trees in the forest, cutting down and milling the timber to build the structure, to the big ships being tethered to the jetty which started at 161 metres in length in 1865 and reached 1.8kms 100 years later, right through to the train and the underwater observatory. These features and attention to Busselton’s celebrated past, have been embraced by the close-knit seaside community. “We are delighted with the building and that the locals really feel a part of it,” Peter said. “They really appreciate what we’ve done and feel like they’ve got some ownership of it.” Peter and Dave have been members of Bartercard for 14 years and a year ago entered their first partnership build using trade dollars with the refurbishment of their Stilts Restaurant at the nearby Broadwater Beach Resort. “We put our toe in the water with Stilts and the refurbishment was a great success with a number of local tradies coming on board with Bartercard so the next obvious step was to use trade dollars with the Equinox refurbishment,” Peter said. “We find there is a good mix of tourists and locals who use Bartercard seven days a week, so we know that the trade dollars we use, we quickly and easily get back in sales. “Tourists come to town, jump on the Bartercard app to see
where they can eat and both of our venues top the list, meaning we have a steady flow of Bartercard customers. “While we took a big element of risk with a multi-million dollar refurbishment on leasehold land, it was made easier with a T$250,000 credit increase. The ongoing help from the local office, sourcing contractors and trades for the construction, made it all possible.” “Without Bartercard’s interest-free line of credit, we couldn’t have funded this project due to being on leasehold land.” Overlooking the white sand beach, Equinox is a hot spot for relaxing lunches within Busselton’s vibrant tourist strip. The venue fills out at sunset, and beach-lovers can pick up a hearty burger or a seafood basket to go. Equinox is open seven days for breakfast lunch and dinner, serving modern Australian and some Asian-inspired dishes.
“WE ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE BUILDING A N D T H AT T H E L O C A L S R E A L LY F E E L A PA RT O F I T ”
PAGE
7
What is Bartercard?
Bartercard is a business network made up of 55,000 cardholders around the world. It is designed to assist businesses to improve cash flow and reduce cash expenses through the use of modern bartering. 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.
Business start-up
AND HOW DOES IT WORK…
6 B E N E F I T S F O R YO U R B U S I N E S S. . . 1 . M O R E C U STO M E R S 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. 2 . T H E P OW E R O F B A RT E R C A R D T R A D E DOLLARS 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. 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.
4 . S E L L S LOW- M OV I N G STO C K For many businesses selling slow-moving stock means discounting, running dealer promotions or sadly writing off the stock. The benefit with Bartercard is you can sell slow-moving or discontinued stock at the normal selling price avoiding the need to reduce your profit margins. You can promote your slow-moving stock to the members on Bartercard’s online facilities, eNewsletter or at a stand at the many trade shows. 5. C A P T U R E LO ST R E V E N U E 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. 6. I N T E R E ST F R E E L I N E O F C R E D I T 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 interest-free line of credit allows you to continue to grow your business even during times when your cash flow has slowed down, without incurring crippling interest rates.
Bartercard has 24,000 members world-wide across almost every industry imaginable. We would love the opportunity to help you achieve your business and lifestyle goals contact us on 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) or visit bartercard.com.au.
I M P ROV E
YO U R
L I F E ST Y L E
WORK HARD PLAY HARD W I T H
B A R T E R C A R D
One of the main reasons people go into business is to enjoy a better lifestyle. However, after pouring money into the business during start up, continual expenses and a competitive market to boot, there’s often little left over to spend on anything non-essential.
Bartercard members have the advantage of being able to pay for lifestyle costs without spending cash, or only part-pay cash on significant expenses like real estate, holidays and home renovations. They do this by indirectly trading their products and services for property deposits, accommodation worldwide, home renovations and furnishings, entertainment and dining out, so they can play hard with Bartercard. Matt Alderton, founder of Bx, Business for Life, an SME training and events company, sees first-hand the frustrations of business owners. At the start of his program he asks his participants to reflect on why they got into business in the first place. Was it for money, lifestyle, more family time or something else? His real question is… have you achieved your why? Very often, the answer is no. “Generally there are three main concerns for small business owners,” Matt said. “One, lack of money, two, lack of time and three, the additional stress.” “I advocate Bartercard to business owners because it can grow their business really quickly through the marketing avenues available and then they can spend the extra income on holidays or personal expenses without withdrawing any cash reserves from the business or eating into the family budget.” Spending on Bartercard is a perfect way to improve your lifestyle, guilt free. For many business owners, there’s often guilt associated with personal indulgences or spending on anything non-essential, especially in the early days when almost every cent is poured into the start-up. The upshot of Bartercard is you don’t need to spend cash on many lifestyle costs and everyday purchases. “My wife and I don’t buy wasteful presents for each other but often I’ll buy her things on Bartercard that I know she’ll use like spa vouchers and beauty products“, said Matt. “When we spend trade dollars on lifestyle expenses, we can enjoy those splurges so much more because we’re not spending cash.”
Colin Hatcher, owner of Speedie Shoe Repairs uses Bartercard to fund lifestyle costs to conserve his cash flow. While shoe repairs and key cutting is the bread and butter of his business, he said that selling remotes and engraved pet tags on Bartercard’s online trading platform MYBC has attracted a new market of customers around Australia. “Even if you’re quiet in the cash ecomony you’re still earning a digital currency which you can use to cover a host of lifestyle costs without reaching into your pocket,” he said. “I’ve had two bathrooms fitted out on Bartercard, paid for a chiropractor that would have cost me thousands of dollars in cash, and accommodation in Yamba for a family holiday which let me keep $1700 in my pocket.” Joining Bartercard not only lets you attract new customers, conserve cash and grow profits in your business, but it lets you enjoy a better lifestyle without emptying the coffers!
W H Y N OT T RY T H E S E O P T I O N S TO I M P R OV E YO U R L I F E ST Y L E W I T H B A RT E R C A R D? MYBC is Bartercard’s online trading platform which lets you shop almost anything and everything from homewares and furnishings, to beauty products, clothing, electrical items and business products and services. Visit mybc.bartercard.com Bartercard Tourism Breaking up the work grind is where new ideas start. Enjoy over 1,000 accommodation options world-wide without the cash cost. Visit bartertourism.com.au Bartercard Property Part and parcel of buying real estate is risk and uncertainty, but luckily Bartercard eases both. Visit to bartercardproperty.com
PAGE
9
TO P
B U S I N E S S
T R E N D S
Top business trends Business start-up
B E I N G AWA R E O F T R E N D S I N B U S I N E S S I S I M P O R T A N T, R E G A R D L E S S O F T H E S I Z E O F YO U R E N T E R P R I S E . C H A N G E I S O C C U R R I N G AT A R A P I D R AT E , A N D S T AY I N G O N T O P O F T H E L A T E S T T R E N D S C A N H E L P YO U S P O T A N O P P O RT U N I T Y E A R L Y, A N D C A P I T A L I S E O N I T.
HERE ARE EIGHT TRENDS T H AT C O U L D B E I N F L U E N C I N G YOU R BUSI N E S S I N 2016.
TO P
THE CONNECTION ECONOMY IS HERE
Some of the most successful companies are changing the world without investing a cent into the basic components at the heart of their business. Facebook connects users without creating any content, Uber pairs drivers and passengers yet doesn’t own any vehicles, and Airbnb is the accommodation service which doesn’t own any real estate. The hotel alternative is currently valued at $24 billion and is used by more than half a million guests per night worldwide (huffingtonpost.com). This is the beauty of the connection economy, and it’s making some very switched on founders millions. In a connection economy (in contrast to the industrial economy), the emphasis is on building human relationships rather than assets. This economy is about making connections not only between buyers and vendors, but also between customers.
THE GIG ECONOMY IS SHAKING UP THE WO R L D O F WO R K
A S H I F T AWAY F R O M TRADITIONAL JOBS IS SEEING MORE C O L L A B O R AT I O N AND NEW IDEAS
B U S I N E S S
T R E N D S
Best-selling author and marketing expert, Seth Godin, has identified four pillars of the connection economy: • Coordination – which basically refers to the need to coordinate people in order to get things done. • Trust – the ability to earn trust with consumers. • Permission – rather than bombarding people with marketing information, ‘permission’ involves speaking to those who genuinely want to hear what you have to say. • Exchange of ideas – something that happens readily in a connection economy. For example, Godin says you are more inclined to learn from other attendees at a conference than from speakers. Godin points out that these four pillars are based on the two principles of generosity and art – because no one wants to deal with someone who makes it all about them, or who is stuck-in-themud creatively speaking. Connection is an art rather than an exact science and can’t be taught in a boardroom presentation. This is a very interesting trend because in an age of increased automation and technology, it puts a new emphasis on building personal relationships and connections.
What is the gig economy you may ask? It involves a shift away from people working in stable and traditional jobs for many years to undertaking short-term work assignments or ‘gigs’. Gigs are made possible by modern technology such as cloud computing and remote tools that allow online collaboration. Online freelancing is an example of the gig economy. Working in this way offers businesses more flexibility, for example by allowing them to bring someone on board for a one-off project, but also provides opportunities for those who ‘gig’ to be innovative and entrepreneurial. It enables those who are interested in running their own businesses to do so without taking on many of the risks and costs involved in opening a traditional bricks-and-mortar operation. The gig economy is also closely related to the connection economy, with a similar emphasis on building relationships and connections.
PAGE
11
TO P
B U S I N E S S
T R E N D S
Business start-up
D I G I TA L WA L L E T S
Think of all the things inside your wallet or purse – more than
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
In case you haven’t noticed, wearable tech is becoming
likely it’s so stuffed with bank cards, receipts, coupons, loyalty cards,
hugely popular. There’s the Apple Watch, and if you are into
notes and coins that you can’t even close it up properly!
tracking your health and fitness, you’ve probably jumped on the
Enter the digital wallet – a virtual wallet app on your phone that
Fitbit or Apple HealthKit trend.
lets you make payments and holds important information, such as
While this type of technology is often for personal use, it
your credit card details, loyalty cards and ID, which is safeguarded
also has potential for business in terms of data gathering, which
through encryption and passwords.
could provide pointers for targeting or retargeting customers with
Financial institutions across the world have been working on digital wallet services, which offer a level of convenience for both
promotions or deals. As an example, some insurance companies are making use of
businesses and consumers. For example, the Commonwealth Bank
wearable devices to assess customers’ health risk profiles, and are
has developed a new app that allows payments via mobile, and also
using this data to offer premium discounts for healthy behaviour.
provides the option for cardless cash withdrawals. bucqi, a brand new product released to the market in 2015, takes the digital wallet a step further by combining rewards and mobile payments. The new rewards app is designed to drive loyalty and new
OMNI-CHANNELLING
customers to small business and lets consumers make transactions and earn rewards at the same time without pulling out cash or cards – they simply scan a QR code and the payment is processed in a matter of seconds. Digital wallet technology is steadily gaining traction around the
Omni-channelling refers to taking an integrated, multichannel approach to sales and marketing. In a nutshell it’s true continuity of the customer experience, so a mobile
world and is looking to escalate in 2016, at least according to some
app should match the design of a website, which should have
commentators. As well as the ability to transact easily, some of the
the same look and feel of the physical store. This integration
advantages for businesses include the capacity to collect vital data
means that customers can reach brands and vice versa through
such as customers’ buying behaviour and research patterns, which
multiple channels including desktop, tablet and mobile, and
can be used to improve customer targeting.
receive the same experience at each touch point. Always remember to customise your content to each platform (for example social media posts should be short bites of information vs more detailed websites). Omni channelling isn’t new in 2016, but expect to see more creativity in this space.
TO P
MORE USE OF THE CLOUD
B U S I N E S S
T R E N D S
MORE SELLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
We’ve all heard of the cloud by now, and it can provide a number of advantages for SMEs. These include the ability to access data and
Using social media to sell is a growing
posts accordingly. This may require some
work from any location, and save on hardware
trend. According to brainymarketer.com,
experimentation to see what works best for
and software costs.
studies in 2015 showed that nearly 80% of
your business. It’s also more about connection
Some examples of cloud computing
people who reported using social media for
and engagement than direct marketing or
include cloud accounting, online storage and
sales got better results than those that didn’t,
selling.
collaboration tools such as Google Drive, and
and two-thirds of buyers reported being
virtual meeting software that enables you to
influenced by a seller’s social content prior to
SnapChat – a photo and video messaging app
meet up with others without leaving your desk.
purchasing.
that sends messages that self-destroy after a
Even social media and email programs such as Gmail are examples of cloud computing.
Social media is great for positioning your business in the space where people frequently
New to the game of social media is
designated time. SnapChat is growing in popularity,
hang out. Social media can provide a great
particularly among the 18-34 age group,
applications are expected to account for around
opportunity for connecting and engaging with
and provides a number of opportunities for
90% of mobile data traffic by 2019.
existing and potential customers, and for doing
businesses to reach their markets in the digital
some very affordable marketing activities.
space via sponsored advertising.
According to Forbes magazine, cloud
INCREASED USE O F ‘ S M A R T D ATA’
Using social media for marketing
Keep watch of changes to the social
requires more than simply making posts to
platforms you are using. Instagram recently
multiple channels though. It needs to involve
announced the departure from chronology-
a comprehensive strategy that includes
based feeds, to show posts which have the
determining where and when your target
most interaction first, which is forcing brands
demographic is online, and timing and styling
to rethink their strategy.
‘Big data’ refers to the process of collecting data from a variety of sources and analysing it for patterns and trends, but this year ‘big’ is switching to ‘smart’. Sources of big data includes social media, mobile devices, desktops, credit card purchases, online
WO R K P L AC E T R E N D S
behaviour and point-of sale, which is fed through software such as Google Big Query, Google Analytics and Salesforce to paint a picture of consumers preferences and spending behaviour. While big data has been around for a while,
The world of work is changing, and businesses that adapt to this are more likely to thrive and retain staff than those that stick with a more traditional approach. Examples of workplace
according to a report in Business Spectator, it will
trends that are having an impact include remote work, work
evolve into ‘smart’ data, which filters out the ‘noise’, or
mobility, flexibility and work/life balance, as well as flatter
information without any real value. There is no formula
organisational structures and increased globalisation.
to do this, but it does involve a creative element, asking the right questions, combining qualitative and quantitative results to reach further insightful
There are numerous other business trends that are likely to continue having an impact this year and beyond as well. These include an increased blurriness between online and
conclusions, and smart extrapolation of findings to roll
offline activities or ‘bricks and clicks’, an emphasis on providing
out the best marketing approaches.
a better customer experience rather than simply a lower
The transition to smart data will focus on
price point, and creating content marketing with cut-through
developing a more comprehensive and integrated view
as consumers are faced with more information than ever
of customers’ preferences and activities, rather than just
before. With a changing economy, bartering is also evolving as
being a massive collection of data that lacks sufficient
businesses seek to find ways of conserving cash to invest in
meaning.
innovative business growth.
The switch to ‘smart’ shows that intelligent
What is certain is that business is never static, and staying
interpretation of data is important and bigger isn’t
on top of trends could provide you with an opportunity to
always better!
grow your business or innovate.
PAGE
13
I N C R E A S I N G
TOYNE BUSINESS C O N S U LTA N T S
P RO F I T S
growing profits on Bartercard
W H E N I T C O M E S TO K E E P I N G YO U R F I N A N C E S I N S H A P E , TOY N E B U S I N E S S C O N S U LTA N T S A R E TA K I N G A D I F F E R E N T A P P R OAC H TO STAY A H E A D I N A C O M P E T I T I V E M A R K E T.
Their focus on an all-encompassing
“The advantages of using a digital
business consultancy has been
currency, apart from attracting a new
setting the company apart from other
market of customers, is that members
accountancy firms for more than 16
are able to conduct cashless transactions
years, and they use Bartercard to top
to keep their business turning even
the business up by attracting a new
when finances aren’t readily available, or
market of customers and a digital
conserve their cash to invest into growing
BAC K TO BA S I C S
currency that helps them to grow.
their business through a number of
Craig said that in the current economy where many businesses are feeling the crunch, he advises clients to go back to basics. Take a look at the following tips to stay ahead of the curve.
With more than 30 years’ experience in accounting and financial services, CEO Craig Toyne started the business 16 years
strategies like advertising, staff incentives and events.” The Newcastle-based company
ago when he saw a gap in the market and
provides tax, accounting and a suite of
has used Bartercard to support his vision
financial advice and use Bartercard’s
since start up.
digital currency to offset a range expenses
“I spent many years working in large-practice accountancy firms and
in the business. “We use trade dollars instead of cash
the feedback from clients was that they
to cover the cost of essential services
weren’t getting everything they needed
like outsourcing auditors to clients’ self-
from their accountant – they wanted more
managed super funds (SMSFs), which
care and more contact,” he said.
we provide to both Bartercard and cash
“So we not only offer tax and accounting services, but provide business
paying clients. “We also use Bartercard across a
advice and consulting to clients at all
number of other business expenses
levels of business to cover a full scope of
including office furniture, interior fit outs,
services.”
entertainment, dining, accommodation
“On the flipside, financial planning and business consulting is often seen as
and advertising. “Within the company Bartercard
an added luxury in a harder economic
saves around $100,000 on business costs
climate, so Bartercard really helps us
each year which frees up cash flow and
attract new customers in the current
lets me keep more profits in the bank.”
market which leads to referrals and cash
“It’s why cashless commerce is a
business, covering both sides of a double-
viable alternative and why we recommend
edged sword.
Bartercard as a strategy to our clients.”
S TAY I N T O U C H “Keeping in touch with customers, chasing up outstanding invoices and having a well-tracked budget all makes a difference to cash flow.”
H AV E A B U S I N E S S P L A N I N P L AC E “Around 90 per cent of new clients we see don’t have a business plan or a budget when they come to see us.”
CONSIDER NEW WAY S O F R E A C H I N G YO U R M A R K E T “By utilising a closed group of businesses to conduct cashless transactions, you can attract extra business to open up new doors. With members across almost every type of industry, Bartercard really helps you to stay ahead.”
B U S I N E S S
E X PA N S I O N
A legal firm where clients love working with their lawyers? It sounds like a paradox but it’s what Vivais have been busy building. When you think of a lawyer, uncapped fees and extended, drawn out legal proceedings are associations that typically come to mind. But Vivais is breaking down this stereotype one client at a time to change the legal marketplace for the better. Putting access to legal services and outcomes above profit, they offer legal advice and representation to clients at fixed costs that won’t break the bank, and accept Bartercard’s digital currency as a cashless alternative to not only benefit clients, but also to grow their business. Owner and founder of Vivais, Tiago De Silva said he’s welcoming clients on Bartercard which allows members to essentially cover the cost of legal fees with their products or services. “Early on in the piece we identified that our target market of small and medium-sized businesses were hesitant in using a lawyer because of the associated costs of legal advice,” he said. “We saw Bartercard as a solution to grow our brand because it’s not only our market of small and medium-sized businesses, but also a way of overcoming that cost fear-factor when we first set out to establish the business. Bartercard is a benefit for our clients, especially if they’re a small business or start up when every dollar counts, and it’s a double benefit for us because it opens our business up to a new market of customers and we receive referrals in the cash world every time we have a happy Bartercard client.” Tiago has traded approximately $250,000 on Bartercard (selling his services and purchasing through the trade exchange combined) in the last two years. Focusing his spending on advertising and marketing to conserve cash and grow the business into other areas, he said that as a relatively new company less than three years old it’s a strategy that’s working. “We’ve grown our client base off the back of Bartercard through access to a unique business marketplace that we’re essentially tailored to – it’s a good fit,” he said. “It’s given us cut-though in the market and placed us front and centre of our customers.” Tiago added that he started the business with a grassroots approach of wanting to make legal services accessible to everyone, and Bartercard has assisted in doing that. “Having clarity around the costs opens up a more relaxed conversation and takes the fear out of seeing a lawyer. We know that profits will always come out of building a successful business which caters first and foremost to the client, and that’s been our focus since day one.”
Vivais
BREAKING DOWN LEGAL STEREOTYPES ONE CLIENT AT A TIME
L E G A L T I P S FO R S M A L L B U S I N E S S E S Every business should seek legal advice at one point or another. Take a look at Tiago’s three top tips to cover your assets. Get properly drafted commercial and employment contracts - “Don’t cut corners when it comes to your contracts, terms of sale or shareholder agreements. You will be taken more seriously as a business.” Protect your assets with estate planning - “It always surprises me how many clients don’t have estate planning measures in place. If you have a business or own assets, estate planning is critical to protecting them.” Register your business name and trademarks “Trademarking will stop someone else from trading under the same business name, or worse yet, trademarking your name which will impact your brand and business.” You can call Vivais on 1300 VIVAIS (1300 848 247) for a no-cost, no-obligation phone consultation, or alternatively email info@vivais.net.au.
PAGE
15
P RO P E RT Y
I N V E ST M E N T
Bartercard breaks a record $100 million in real estate listings world-wide
If you think barter is swapping some oranges for a haircut, think again. Bartercard has broken $100 million in property listings around the world, which is plunging real estate costs, and growing wealth for more business owners. We take a look at the trading trend which is shaking up the real estate market.
Part and parcel of buying real estate is risk and uncertainty, but luckily Bartercard eases both of these factors and removes the roadblocks that prevent investors from entering the market. John Dermody from Touch and Go Shades, who’s membership with Bartercard is coming up to 17 years, can attest to this from experience. The Brisbane-based property investor has built his portfolio by purchasing seven properties and selling two blocks of land in various locations through Bartercard, agreeing it’s a great investment option not just to conserve cash and reduce debt, but to also grow wealth. “Approximately a quarter of each property, give or take, is funded by Bartercard’s digital currency, so you only end up paying interest on three quarters of the purchase price,” he said. “The rent you receive from these investments covers the mortgage payments, rates, maintenance and property management fees.
“APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF EACH PROPERTY, GIVE OR TAKE, IS FUNDED BY BARTERCARD’S DIGITAL CURRENCY, SO YOU ONLY END UP PAYING INTEREST ON THREE QUARTERS OF THE PURCHASE PRICE.”
P RO P E RT Y
I N V E ST M E N T
“EFFECTIVELY, BARTERCARD ALLOWS YOU TO CASH CONVERT PROPERTY WITH LESS RISK AND LESS CASH OUT-GOINGS THAN IF YOU WERE TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR CHANNELS, WITH A REGULAR REAL ESTATE AGENT.”
PAGE
17
“Whilst you’re earning an income, the property is going up in value
Clive added that with 250 properties currently listed in five countries
and when you go to sell in the cash market you covert the amount you
and an average trade dollar component of 35 per cent, Bartercard
paid in Bartercard’s trade dollars to cash.”
members have the opportunity to save more than $35 million in cash on
The upshot of investing through the Bartercard network for many members is cash converting, where they purchase goods or services in
real estate. “From an investor’s perspective, they are reducing their cash outlay
Bartercard’s digital currency and on-sell it in the cash economy, and John
and borrowing less from the bank. Extra cash payments they make on
shows this strategy has worked for him with real estate.
top of the cashless deposit reduces the life of the loan, and if they do sell
“Effectively, Bartercard allows you to cash convert property with less
the property for a capital gain, they convert the digital currency straight
risk and less cash out-goings than if you were to go through the regular
into cash. This is not to mention the cash savings achieved by using
channels, with a regular real estate agent,” he said.
trade dollars as the deposit which is a huge saving in the pockets of our
”It’s a different approach and it takes a shift in thinking, but the upside at the end of the day is a diversified portfolio which opens up more
members.” Bartercard’s Real Estate and Development Specialist, Carl Hassard,
purchasing options and more opportunities to grow wealth through
said that from a developer’s point of view, selling property on Bartercard
property.”
can assist with pre-sales of their development to source finance and
Bartercard Australia CEO, Clive van Deventer said for these reasons, more and more investors are jumping ship and purchasing property through Bartercard instead of the conventional property market. “A significant jump in investor real estate sales and enquiries has led to the record $100 million listings reached last year across five of the eight countries where Bartercard operates,” he said.
reduce holding costs, sell slow-moving stock and maintain their margins. “If a developer has a property worth $400,000, they can sell it for a split of $100,000 on Bartercard (equating to 25% trade) and the remainder in cash to achieve the selling price they want. This sets the benchmark for other property sales in their development at $400,000,” he said. “Not only does Bartercard have a property portfolio of over $100
“Australia is particularly a hot spot where we currently have $90
million, it also has a database of qualified ready-to-buy, purchasers. These
million in listings with a further $35 million plus in other countries. Selling
buyers are generally more willing to purchase property which is located
through Bartercard is letting business owners circumvent real estate
Australia-wide or overseas and not restricted to their local area,” said Carl.
agencies and act as private sellers to also plunge sales-associated costs. “For example, selling a $500,000 property through a real estate agent can attract up to $17,500 in commission and advertising costs, whereas, when a vendor sells through Bartercard they only pay a 6.5% cash fee on the digital currency component, which equates to approximately $8,000 on a $500,000 listing (based on a 25% trade dollar component).”
C O L L E C T I V E LY, B A RT E R C A R D H A S M O R E T H A N 2 50 P R O P E RT I E S L I ST E D O N I T S VA R I O U S R E A L E STAT E S I T E S I N AU ST R A L I A , N E W Z E A L A N D, S O U T H A F R I C A , T H E U K A N D T H A I L A N D.
M A R K E T I N G
A
B R A N D
C O N -X- I O N A I R P O R T T R A N S F E R S :
IT’S A WRAP!
Anyone in business will know how vital liquid capital is, and getting cutthrough in the market is a sure-fire way to keep cash flowing through the business. Bartercard is another way. One Gold Coast company is doing both – they’re getting their vehicles wrapped in branding from roof to wheel to give them maximum exposure in a competitive market, all without spending cash. To find out how Con-x-ion Airport Transfers have used Bartercard to attract new customers and conserve cash every day, we spoke to the company’s General Manager David Goodenough.
E N D TO E N D S E RV I C E Long before round-the-clock service was offered in the luxury market, Con-x-ion Airport Transfers were already doing it. Their 24hour pick up, door-to-terminal transfer service ensures clients reach the airport on time, fuss-free. In addition to transfers between private residences or hotels and airports, Con-x-ion’s Queensland mini or maxi coach services include charters, event, theme park and attraction transfers, and coastal discovery tours. They’ve truly tuned into the market to turn themselves into the leader of speedy transfers, even doing golf pick-ups for the fuss-free player.
Con-x-ion Airport Transfers use Bartercard to achieve maximum exposure and conserve cash on a range of business expenses, including wrapping their fleet of 90 buses which services the market.
AT T R AC T I N G A B I G G E R S L I C E O F T H E M A R K E T W I T H B A RT E R C A R D Apart from wrapping their vehicles on Bartercard to reach a wide audience on the road without the cash expenses, Con-x-ion also uses the cashless marketplace to cover the cost of marketing collateral, corporate gifts and advertising in magazines, conserving approximately $6,000 in cash each month. It’s a significant saving and David said he earns approximately $50,000 in the digital currency each year which he uses to keep more cash in the business. David said the key to any successful business is finding a gap in the market and understanding your target customer inside-out, using that information to create a cutting edge service which is so streamlined and efficient customers won’t think twice about using you, and most importantly, being seen in the market which is where the wraps have worked so well. “Building Con-x-ion Airport Transfers entailed a lot of ground work to stitch up a service that consumers were looking for, which in essence is a fuss-free coach service that takes the worry out of reaching a destination quickly and on-time,” he said. “Bartercard has assisted us to reach a bigger market quickly and conserve more cash in the business everyday whilst putting the brand directly in front of consumers by literally turning our coaches into advertising. “ “It’s not only been cost effective, but it works and today we are the leading coach service company in south east Queensland.” Tourism is big business in southern Queensland, and Con-xion is well-placed to provide a convenient service that takes the stress out of travelling. The company has also shown it’s possible to capitalise on the cashless marketplace to leverage brand reach, increase customers, conserve cash and boost cash flow – certainly all pluses for any business enterprise! Visit con-x-ion.com.
ST R AT EG I C
Jirra Wines at Jeir Station
A good drop on Bartercard
PA RT N E R S H I P S
When you think ‘neurologist’, wine probably isn’t the first association that springs to mind! But for one Canberra doctor, the two are a winning combination. We spoke to practising neurologist Dr Colin Andrews, who in his spare time owns and manages awardwinning Jirra Wines at Jeir Station, and uses Bartercard to reach a bigger market.
S WA P P I N G B O T T L E S FOR BRAND EXPOSURE
G R O W I N G W E A LT H O N B A RT E R C A R D
Since joining the cashless network in March 2015, Jirra Wines at Jeir Station has sold more than 1,700 cases and approximately 21,000 bottles of wine on Bartercard to stockists in Australia, landing the label front and centre at dozens of bars and restaurants. This increase in sales has grown their brand exposure, given sales a strong boost and let the wine connoisseurs access a bigger area of the market. Australia isn’t where the distribution stops, and Bartercard is also opening up doors to international markets, in particular the Cook Islands where Colin has stitched up the export of 2,000 bottles of wine to a resort, and is working on a contract to export a further $250,000 worth of wine out to the islands. He said that sealing the deal and exploring overseas opportunities has involved working with Bartercard Tourism, which looks after more than 1,000 accommodation options worldwide to find a suitable market and buyer. “Bartercard is a key strategy we’ve used in the business to grow distribution within Australia and break into overseas markets,” he said. “We like Bartercard because it’s not a one-size fits all approach, there are opportunities to grow as far as the business marketplace stretches, and because it’s a universal currency you can trade with overseas markets without facing as many walls such as currency exchange or cold walking into a business transaction.” “Bartercard has also supported me in brokering deals.” He added the opportunities to trade are limitless, and a good deal comes down to finding the right fit to leverage reach off each other’s markets. For example, selling Australian wines in a resort in the Cook Islands could potentially attract more Australians and New Zealanders to the hotel. “Swapping products for a larger slice of the market is really a win-win and saves me thousands of dollars on PR and advertising,” said Colin.
Colin has recently used trade dollars to purchase four investment properties in Brisbane and keeps vigilant watch on investment opportunities throughout the cashless network which is part of his strategy to diversify his income. He’s also used his trade dollars to invest in a local radio sponsorship with Art Sound FM in Canberra to further stretch the brand and advertising reach. As well as the winery, Colin owns a number of other farms in NSW producing wheat, wool and cattle – all on top of his neurology practice. He’s certainly mastered the skills of multitasking, with not only medical skills, but a keen eye and talent for investment opportunities and running agricultural business enterprises!
THE RIGHT BLEND The Jeir Station estate, located at Yass in the southern tablelands of New South Wales, specialises in producing premium wines at affordable prices, with all bottles priced between $10 to $20. Their range encompasses Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Cabernet Merlot blends and Shiraz, to Fresco Riesling, Chardonnay and late harvest Viognier, with some of the aged vintage wines now around ten years old. Visit jirrawines.com.au or call 02 6227 5671
PAGE
19
N OT
FO R
P RO F I T
Bartercard raised almost $165,000 in trade dollars to assist with recovery programs in Vanuatu following the effects of Cyclone Pam in March 2015.
Vanuatu revisited Cyclone Pam hit the islands of Vanuatu with devastating power in March 2015, packing 270km/h winds, taking lives and leaving an estimated $US450 million in damages in her wake.
Some reports say 80-90% of the island nation’s buildings were affected by storm and wind damage, leaving the vast majority of locals homeless and impacting the tourism and agriculture industries upon which it relies. A year on from the category 5 cyclone the recovery efforts are continuing, and Bartercard has had a hand in supporting a number of activities to help Vanuatu recover. T$165,000 and a mountain of effort down the track, here’s what’s happened:
N OT
FO R
P RO F I T
A S S I S T I N G R E C OV E RY T H RO U G H H A B I TAT The Bartercard Charity Foundation created a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Australia (HFHA) to assist in a number of recovery projects during 2015. HFHA is one of more than 70 international offices of Habitat for Humanity International – one of the world’s leading not-for-profit providers of housing for families in need. Habitat is committed to assisting communities worldwide to build affordable quality housing, and providing other services such as sanitation, health, training and education. During phase 1 of the rebuilding program, HFHA provided immediate assistance to 195 families in six villages, which included supplying tarps, water containers and sanitation kits, as well as tool kits to enable people to construct shelters and undertake repairs. Phase 2 had a longer-term focus, including providing training in construction, rebuilding schools, undertaking disaster-resilient housing retrofits and new-home builds, and conducting disaster simulations in order to improve community safety and recovery. Bartercard was able to organise accommodation for HFHA staff in Vanuatu during this phase. Bartercard also raised almost $165,000 in trade dollars to assist with recovery programs – especially important in a region that relies so heavily on tourism for a healthy economy. HFHA’s focus is one of lending a ‘hand-up’ to communities rather than providing hand-outs. Field notes from HFHA talk about the resilience of the Vanuatu people, many of whom made efforts to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible by restarting home and market gardens, and building temporary shelters from scrap and local materials. HFHA provided non-tarp shelter repair kits, timber, iron sheets, tools and cyclone-strapping materials, and training on the ‘Build Back Better’ methodology, which focuses on incorporating disaster-resilience into construction. The efforts made by HFHA have helped many families and communities rebuild their lives. One family was able to build a temporary shelter only a week after the cyclone and commence building a new home next to their very badly damaged previous one – enabling them to quickly get back on their feet and into the making of mini canoes for tourists to buy and use. Another piece of good news is that a dozen homes built some years earlier in Port Vila using a HFHA curved steel roof design were able to resist the category 5 cyclone when it hit. Residents reported sheltering in a nearby church and being stunned when they emerged to find their homes to be among the few still standing!
VA N U A T U 2 0 1 6 A N D B E YO N D While recovery is ongoing, daily life and the tourist trade is returning to normal in Vanuatu, with essential services having been restored to most of Port Vila, and tourism infrastructure repairs almost complete. This collection of islands is a traveller’s dream with stunning beaches, waterfalls, forests, and delicious food. There are plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, snorkelling, island hopping, or just lazing around. There are many accommodation options that can be booked with Bartercard across locations including Port Villa, Espiritu Santo, and Mele Bay, leaving you with more cash to spend on your adventures. Visit bartertourism.com.au or call 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) and ask to speak to the Tourism Department.
Travelling to Vanuatu also assists the nation to rebuild its economy, and to continue providing a magical holiday destination – making holidaying in Vanuatu a win-win situation whichever way you look at it!
PAGE
21
A S S I ST I N G
T H E
C O M M U N I T Y
Bartercard invests in the future
WITH BOND SCHOLARSHIPS
Arising from a belief in the value of education (and fostering out-of-the-box thinking), each year Bartercard offers six scholarships to Bond University on Queensland’s Gold Coast each year. The scholarships are offered to Year 12 students and are worth 50% of the tuition fees for an undergraduate degree. The program is open to children of Bartercard Australia members and their employees, Bartercard franchises or their employees, or direct employees of Bartercard Australia. The criteria includes strong academic performance and leadership skills, and considerable involvement in extra-curricular activities. Bartercard is very proud to be investing in the educational future of the recipients, including two current scholarship holders – Kelsey Adcock and Joel Kuchel.
Joel Kuchel is one of this year’s recipients of the Bartercard Bond University Scholarship.
J O E L K U C H E L , BAC H E L O R OF BUSINESS Joel is hoping to use his studies at Bond University to help him start his own business. Born in Adelaide, Joel has spent most of his life in Brisbane, recently graduating from Anglican Church Grammar School. He has started a Diploma of Business at Bond, and once this is complete, he will begin a Bachelor of Business undergraduate degree. Business studies at Bond cover a wide range of subjects, from accounting, economics and marketing, to digital business transformation and business modelling, and students can select from a number of majors. “The Bartercard scholarship has provided me with the privilege of studying at Bond University on the Gold Coast, and I’m looking forward to seeing what my degree has in store for the rest of the year,” he said. Joel’s parents are Bartercard members and have run multiple businesses over the years, and Joel also aspires to running his own business one day. His passion also lies in sport, especially rugby union, which he‘s played for the past seven years. “My aspirations are to be a professional rugby union player as well as run my own business like my parents,” he said. Joel’s parents, John and Valarie Kuchel who have been Bartercard members since 1997 owned a solar and security company (Smartt Solar and Smartt Security) which serviced Brisbane and the Gold Coast. They recently sold both companies and are still trading with Bartercard (mainly on lifestyle expenses at the moment) while they plan their next business venture. “Bond has not only excelled me in my education but also my sporting endeavours.” What Joel particularly likes about studying at Bond is the cultural diversity on campus. “One of my best experiences at Bond would have to be the range of new friends I’ve made with backgrounds from Adelaide to Argentina.”
A S S I ST I N G
T H E
C O M M U N I T Y
KELSEY ADCOCK, BAC H E L O R O F P SYC H O L O GY Kelsey’s plan to study psychology at Bond University comes from a deep love of community work. She’s been involved in community work in various ways since she was selected at age 12 for the Ipswich Youth Advisory Council – a committee that collects the views of local young people and communicates them back to the Ipswich City Council. Kelsey is very positive about this early community experience, stating it was “terrific and very satisfying.” During years 10-12, she attended Somerville House School in South Brisbane, where her interest in community work was further encouraged. “Somerville House sparked my intense interest in community engagement and I’ve never looked back,” she said. Kelsey has been involved in many other activities over the years including leadership and ambassador programs like the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment, the Mater Children’s Program and Wesley Mission, and the Government Cyber Safety Council in Canberra which resulted in greater internet safety for children. She’s also completed the Schools Ambassadors Program - an initiative of UN Youth Queensland designed to increase awareness of current international issues and equip young people with leadership and life skills. “I enjoy these organisations because they provide with me a deeper understanding of the social and political issues the world faces today, and the skills to solve them,” she said. In 2015, Kelsey also became a member of Youth Parliament as the representative for Ipswich West. She recently gave her maiden speech in the Green Room at Parliament House, where she was supported by the Member for Ipswich West, Jim Madden. Kelsey is looking forward to studying at Bond with the help of the Bartercard scholarship. “I’m hoping that I’ll have the vision and passion to create meaningful change within communities, and aim to equip myself with the skills and inspiration to do so.” She was able to access the Bartercard scholarship as her father, Robert Adcock, has been using Bartercard in his accounting business, ARM Accountants, for around 15 years. Based in Ipswich, ARM Accountants also services Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Robert said he had acted for trade exchanges in his business and joined Bartercard because he was familiar with the possibilities of using trade.
NOT JUST ANY U N I V E R S I T Y… Bond is Australia’s first private non-profit university. It offers accelerated courses so students can finish a degree up to a year earlier, and recognises that studying is about more than just earning a degree – it’s also about preparing for life. In light of that, Bond offers a core curriculum for all students which covers critical thinking, leadership, team dynamics, ethics, professional development and community engagement. At Bond, there are opportunities for achievements outside of study. These include overseas internships, student exchange programs, and opportunities for volunteering and participating in community service.
A P P LY I N G FO R A B A RT E R C A R D S C H O L A R S H I P TO B O N D U N I V E R S I T Y There are a maximum of six Bartercard scholarships on offer each year, with applications open annually from April 1 to July 31. The scholarship is open to students currently undertaking Year 12 at an Australian secondary school who meet the criteria, including the relevant association with Bartercard. Students wishing to apply should visit bartercard.com.au/scholarships which outlines all entry details. Bartercard Australia would like to congratulate Kelsey and Joel on attaining the scholarship, and wishes them all the best for their studies and in their future careers!
PAGE
23
B U I L D I N G
A N D
D E V E LO P M E N T
Bartercard development lands local builder a multi-million dollar cash contract BIG BEN BUILDERS ARE BASKING IN THE LIMELIGHT A N D W E LC O M I N G C A S H C O N T R AC T S FO L LOW I N G A L A R G E S C A L E B U I L D O N B A RT E R C A R D.
Since completing a $3 million redevelopment of the Equinox Restaurant (page 6) where close to a million dollars was covered in Bartercard’s trade dollars (with half a million designated to building materials and sub-contractors), Big Ben Builders has picked up a $2.2 million cash contact to build the Railway House project. Owner Ben Heah, has been a member of Bartercard for 20 years through his company Big Ben Homes and last year launched Big Ben Builders after securing the renovation contract of the iconic Stilts Restaurant, near Busselton. Peter Gordon, one of Stilts’ owners advised that of the $100,000 renovation project, they used trade dollars as well as other transactions from sub-contractors who were either existing Bartercard members, or were asked to join as part of the subcontracting works. The $3 million refurbishment of the Equinox Restaurant on the Busselton foreshore quickly followed, using many of the same subcontractors and new companies that were brought on board for the Equinox project. “The Stilts project was a catalyst for more contractors to join Bartercard and when it came to the Equinox refurbishment my approach was, if you’re on Bartercard, you’re in the running for the job,” Ben said.
The high profile Equinox project in the hub of Busselton’s popular waterfront boosted the profile of Big Ben Builders and positioned the company as a serious player in the South West’s competitive building arena. Ben has just been awarded the contract for the City of Busselton’s latest development, the construction of the Railway House project. It houses a new visitor information centre, interpretive display centre, seminar room, workshop, storage and offices. In March, Big Ben Builders won Bartercard South West’s Top Trader’s award for July to September 2015 mainly as a result of the Equinox project. “The Equinox and Stilts developments have both increased Big Ben Builders’ exposure and profile and provided them with the best possible springboard into expanding into the commercial building market,” said Darryl Toreaux, Regional Manager at Bartercard South West WA. “The Equinox’s owners, Peter Gordon and Dave Ebert were fantastic to work for and the sub-contractors who came on board with Bartercard made it such a successful project,” Ben said. Ben added that Bartercard gives him the opportunity to quote as a front runner on some other big projects in the region, and has connected him to an extensive network of companies which regularly trade together. “I really enjoy the network of people - we have forged some great professional relationships as well as some great friendships,” he said. “We’re working on a number of other renovations at present and have been invited to tender on some other big projects in the region, so the future is looking good, and we couldn’t be happier with the relationship we have with Bartercard.”
The Equinox refurbishment has led Big Ben Builders to pick up a $2.2 million cash contract.
So what’s bucqi all about? bucqi is a new type of customer rewards program that: • Bumps up sales and introduces you to new customers • Rewards loyal customers and keeps them coming back • Lets you use your trade dollars (bucqs) to reward customers.
Get on board with bucqi, it’s complimentary with a Bartercard membership.
1300 2 BUCQI (1300 228 274) info@bucqi.com.au
.com.au
T EC H N O LO GY
bucqi A new class of rewards When it comes to stacking up customer loyalty, the consumer landscape is a jungle where every business is grappling for its slice of the market. Which is why almost every business in the marketplace has a rewards program in some shape or form to keep its customers coming back (or at least gives them incentive to return). And it’s not just a nine-punch card gifting the tenth visit free that’s being used as the carrot. Reward programs are becoming more strategic and sophisticated to stand-out in a saturated market, combining interaction at a digital and in-store level through apps to hook consumers across a multi-layered experience. Who doesn’t love keeping score of rewards for their favourite brand?! Basically, if you’re a business that doesn’t have a rewards program (or referral program for certain industries), you’re missing out on a big piece of the market!
BUCQI IS BREAKING NEW GROUND AS A M O B I L E WA L L E T A N D R E WA R D S APP IN ONE.
T EC H N O LO GY
I T ’ S A C ROW D E D P L AC E
80 %
of consumers are seeking immediate price discounts and
40 %
don’t believe that loyalty programs provide value!*
If your program isn’t making loyalty stick, you need to find a way to cut through the crowd and present value, especially among loyalty lovers* *2013 Consumer Study into Australian Loyalty Programs
COMBINING D I G I TA L WA L L E T S A N D R E WA R D S Today, rewards and digital wallets are marrying up to bring a multi-layered, combined digital and in-store experience into the hot hands of consumers. With the digital shift in full swing, a digital counterpart to a physical wallet is no surprise. Mobile wallets are forever changing the way we transact, by taking cash-handling out of the equation and letting customers leave their plastic at home, and in the case of bucqi, ditching reward cards to boot.
ENTER BUCQI bucqi, is a new class of rewards program which is breaking new ground as a mobile wallet and rewards app in one. It lets Bartercard merchants reward their customers by using trade dollars instead of cash to provide dollar for dollar rewards and lets consumers make everyday transactions with a tap of a smart phone whilst earning bigger rewards – easy! Give your customers rewards that pack real punch when they start spending with bucqi. bucqi creator, Philip Scott, said customers earn bigger rewards which they can conveniently spend at multiple vendors, and earn rewards that pack real value each time they spend. “So unlike 95,000 points equalling a saucepan set, 1 bucq equals $1,” he said. The upside for a business is that they can offer 20%100% of each transaction back in rewards, depending on the season, how busy they are, and their business needs, which are paid out using their trade dollars. The higher percentage of rewards offered, the higher they feature in the bucqi app’s directory which helps to put them in front of consumers.” No more points, no more cards, no more guesswork – it’s all in the app!
BUCQI IS HELPING MORE BUSINESSES STA N D O U T F R O M T H E C R OW D. To really stand out in a market which is already jampacked with rewards, bucqi is serving up a bigger and more dynamic way to reward customers. Look out for bucqi, launching in your area soon. Visit bucqi.com.au to get better acquainted with the brand new app that’s shaking up rewards and is complimentary with the Bartercard membership.
PAGE
27
W H AT B A R T E R C A R D M E M B E R S A R E S AY I N G IN OUR 25TH YEAR
YEARS
“I’m in the publishing industry which, as most people know is becoming more and more obsolete with the introduction of Facebook and the digital world. But I love a good hard copy of a magazine to flick through on a Sunday afternoon with a glass of wine... or in Fiji under a palm tree and so do a lot of people! Making life even more challenging is that Multisport Magazine is a free publication so revenue is 100% sales driven. Being part of Bartercard allows me to attract advertisers who wouldn’t normally have the cash flow to spend on marketing. It also allows me to use my trade dollars on printing, couriers, travel and other business expenses. It’s a win/win! My Trade Coordinator is diligent in promoting my business out to a large database that I wouldn’t normally have access to - another win! Small business is tough but Bartercard makes it easier.”
M U LT I S P O RT M AG A Z I N E
“Bartercard has been a perfect way for us to turn over excess
“I have been with Bartercard for almost 10 years, and during this time we
stock and provide leverage with trade dollars to spend. We were
have cleared large amounts of stock at full price, which we previously found
big fans of Bartercard from when we joined about six years ago,
almost impossible to sell without drastically lowering the sale price. My family,
but have learned over the years to really take advantage of it and
staff and I have enjoyed many benefits because of Bartercard, from our annual
love it even more now. Happy 25th Birthday Bartercard!”
horse riding holiday to our Queensland escapes. Over the years we have purchased many products which we would never have even known about if it
S U R F N ’ I N K ST U D I O
wasn’t for Bartercard. Here’s to another 25 years.”
A L L T H I N G S N I C E B O U T I Q U E WA R E S “Joining Bartercard has helped increase our sales and allowed my business to grow and be promoted to other businesses in many ways. Being in Bartercard has truly
“After 20 years of trading in a suburban shopping centre, it became obvious
minimised our down time and increased staff productivity.
our photography business could not survive with the exorbitant rents being
We look forward to taking our first overseas family holiday
loaded on us by centre managers.
soon thanks to Bartercard and their fantastic overseas holiday
When a nearby industrial unit with main road frontage became available
packages. The team at Bartercard are always helpful when you
for lease just a few months before we were contemplating shutting our doors,
call. Thanks Bartercard.”
we considered it an opportunity to relocate, but it would require a complete gutting and a new refit to accommodate our business. Negotiations with the
N OVA B O O K K E E P I N G
new landlord resulted in gaining rent free access to the unit for three months, providing we carried out the renovation of the unit - but money was tight and the cost seemed out of reach ... and then we thought “what about Bartercard?” A quick conversation with our Trade Coordinator and a short time later, we were approved for a T$20,000 credit limit on our Bartercard account. Our Trade Coordinator helped us locate local businesses who provided new flooring, a suspended ceiling, data and electrical cabling as well as the supply of all our paint and associated hardware. With a lot of elbow grease, some helpful friends and family members, and especially Bartercard, we were able to relocate our
130 0 B A RT E R ( 1 3 0 0 2 2 7 837 ) B A RT E R C A R D.C O M . AU
business and are still going strong three and a half years later.”
P R E STO P H OTO G R A P H I C S