Barter Mag
Issue 8
For businesses that connect
KAREN PHILLIPS
WOMEN
AND BUSINESS
A N AWA R D -W I N N I N G C O M B I NAT I O N
Creating a $10,000 marketing campaign for $0 Improve your lifestyle without the cash blowout Plus top trading tips to really boost your business!
BarterMag front cover copy BarterMag Issue 8 Women and business – an award-winning combination Creating a $10,000 marketing campaign for $0 How to kickstart a $10 million development Plus top trading tips to really boost your business!
Most days, Natalie's hands are covered in flour, dough and oven mitts. This time, the only thing she's covered in is crystal blue water.
bartercard
Owning a business isn't easy and it's definitely not for the faint hearted! More than anything it takes belief, perseverance, rolling up your sleeves and many cash-strapped sacrifices. It takes time, effort and constant dedication to stay on top and many missed moments to make a deadline, close a deal or handle a curve-ball situation. Thankfully, Bartercard not only lets you bolster your business and attract new clients, but enjoy a lifestyle without the cash blowout - and isn't creating those special moments what it's all about?
Find out how you can Work+Play with Bartercard
b bartercard
bartercard.com.au/bartermag
Call 1300 BARTER
In this issue
15
5
6
10
17
Published by Bartercard Australia Level 2, 121 Scarborough St Southport Qld 4215 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837) bartercard.com.au
4 5 6 8 10 13 14
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO THE ICING ON THE WEDDING CAKE HOW TO CREATE A $10,000 MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR $0 WHAT IS BARTERCARD? TOP BUSINESS AND TRADING TIPS SHAKING UP THE STEREOTYPE AT 55 CAPE FARM SHOP’S SUCCESS STORY
14 15 16 17 18 20 22
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN COOKING ON BARTERCARD MEMBERS PLUS: EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS TAPPING INTO CHINA’S BOOMING E-COMMERCE SECTOR WOMEN AND BUSINESS…AN AWARD-WINNING COMBINATION 6 WAYS TO GROW YOUR BRAND BOOSTING CHARITABLE EFFORTS WITH BARTERCARD
Message from the CEO
2017 has quickly turned into a fast and dynamic year for Bartercard that’s putting members first in many ways. Following a series of successful partnerships, we can now proudly offer additional member benefits that we’ve packaged into Members Plus. This program contains cash savings of up to 60% at leading non-Bartercard resorts worldwide through Travel Plus, access to fast and flexible cash finance through Finance Plus and entry into the Chinese marketplace via Alibaba’s wholesale cash e-commerce platform, 1688.com through Export Plus. Find out about tapping into the world’s largest retailer on page 17. We are always excited to showcase members who have innovatively traded to grow their business and enhance their lifestyle. This issue contains the latest business tips, insight and expertise for start-ups to established brands, showing how Bartercard can maximise your market reach, sales and cash flow. From growing cash sales by 30% through creative campaigns costing zero dollars (page 6) to throwing a wedding without the cash blowout (page 5) and taking your brand reach further, Bartercard is continually supporting members to reach their business and lifestyle goals. Whatever industry you are in, one thing is clear: business and technology is constantly changing and we all have to keep up. Bartercard is a global business network that supports and connects members through the latest technology so you can always stay ahead. Whether you are new to Bartercard or a longstanding member, I’m sure you’ll find something interesting in this issue that might even spark your next big business idea. Happy trading,
Clive van Deventer CEO Bartercard Australia
L I F E ST Y L E
The icing on the wedding cake T H E AV E R AG E C O ST O F A W E D D I N G I S N OW M O R E T H A N $ 4 0,0 0 0, B U T O N E G O L D C OA ST C O U P L E FO U N D A WAY TO B E AT T H E B LOWO U T P R I C E TAG .
Heidi and Marc Cairns used Bartercard trade dollars to cover a chunk of their wedding costs and saved over $5,500 cash. The couple own MDC Decorating Specialists on the Gold Coast where they joined Bartercard in 2016. Heidi said that when they discovered the costs it could cover, they moved the date of their wedding closer. “We weren’t supposed to get married until a year later, but we thought, if we can use Bartercard, we can afford it. So with the support of Bartercard’s Gold Coast office, we organised everything within four months.” C U T T I N G C O ST S W I T H B A RT E R C A R D While Heidi’s family travelled from Nelson Bay in New South Wales, Marc’s family flew over from England for the wedding. The pressure was on to create a special event and show off the Gold Coast to the couple’s guests. As it turned out, Heidi’s research paid off. “We covered so much on Bartercard, it was amazing!” she said. “We hardly laid out any cash.” Heidi and Marc chose Surfers Paradise beach for their wedding ceremony in September 2016. Heidi’s stunning wedding dress, flowers for the bridal bouquets, the men’s formal wear and car hire were all purchased on Bartercard. Heidi and Marc also sourced the marriage celebrant, the reception venue, a cruise on the Broadwater for the wedding party and the two-tier wedding cake on Bartercard. Needless to say, the Gold Coast made quite an impression on Marc’s – and now Heidi’s – English relatives. “They stayed with us for two weeks before the wedding and didn’t want to go home.” she said.
A Gold Coast couple found a way to beat the blowout price tag.
H E I D I A N D M A RC CA I R N S U S E D B A RT E R C A R D T R A D E D O L L A R S T O C OV E R A C H U N K O F T H E I R W E D D I N G C O S T S A N D S AV E D OV E R $ 5 , 5 0 0 C A S H ! “In fact, they love Queensland so much that Marc’s brother is coming back to the Gold Coast next February.” To earn trade dollars, Marc uses his downtime to complete decorating contracts on Bartercard, covering everything from painting to refits, tiling, resurfacing, timber decking and floors. Heidi added that she didn’t realise the full extent of Bartercard until a few months in. “Marc had completed a couple of contracts on Bartercard already, but it wasn’t until I spoke to Bernie, a sales consultant at Bartercard, that I learned the full extent of how we could use it,” she said. “Bernie told us that other members had used Bartercard to cover similar expenses so I started researching. Always ask your trade co-ordinator what costs you can cover with PAGE Bartercard, especially if you have expenses in the pipeline.”
W H AT T H E C O U P L E C OV E R E D O N BA RT E RCA R D 1 . H E I D I ’ S W E D D I N G D R E S S 2 . F LOW E R S A N D T H E B O U Q U E T 3 . T H E M E N ’ S FO R M A L W E A R 4 . A ST R E TC H H U M M E R FO R T H E BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS
5
5. T H E M A R R I AG E C E L E B R A N T 6. T H E W E D D I N G R E C E P T I O N V E N U E 7. A W E D D I N G PA RT Y C R U I S E 8. A T WO -T I E R W E D D I N G C A K E
T O TA L C O S T : OV E R $ 5 , 50 0
M A R K E T I N G
H O W
T O
C R E A T E
A
$10,000 MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR $0 Most business owners are forever crunching return on investment figures and sizing up the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Thinking outside the box, Lisa McGuigan, with the support of Bartercard, increased her cash sales by 30% as a result of a marketing campaign that cost her business $0 cash.
After identifying a gap in the marketplace for unusually packaged wines with an edge, this innovative wine maker launched Lisa McGuigan Wines in 2010. Basing her split-based venture out of the Hunter Valley and Sydney, and sourcing grapes from Mudgee (NSW), Victoria, South Australia, New Zealand and Hungary, she focused on landing her label with stockists, today selling at retailers around Australia and the UK. Lisa said before launching the business, she was a seller for a vintage wine brand and already had the contacts, experience and insight into what worked and what didn’t. “My parents have a vineyard in the Hunter Valley and I love the whole process from growing to bottling, which gave me the confidence and knowledge to launch my own label,” she said.
“I’ve built my brand up to three collections – including an entry level range of wines that are clean and fresh and two more collections that show greater complexity. I source a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and a Gruner Blanc from Hungary, which I then customise and stabilise with a Semillon in Australia. This lets me put my own slant on a traditional variety. My collection includes international wines because for me, the world is a grape canvas.” She said Bartercard started out as a test to sell older vintages. “When Bartercard approached me I decided to try it out with a couple of wines that weren’t selling as fast as I wanted – because you can’t sell everything to everyone. I sold the excess stock quickly and soon built up a considerable sum of trade dollars.”
Bartercard gave Lisa a marketing spend off the back of excess stock.
M A R K E T I N G
T H E C A M PA I G N “I decided to run a three month promotion in 10 retail stores that stocked my brand. I sourced everything for the campaign on Bartercard and boosted sales by over 30% over those three months. The campaign would have cost me around $10,000 if I had paid cash. It was called ‘On Ya Bike’ where customers who purchased three bottles of Lisa McGuigan Wine went into the draw to win a bicycle. I bought the bikes with my trade dollars. The Moscato we were selling at the time had a silver label so I found mannequins and spray painted them in the same colour to tie my brand in. I covered posters, design and everything else in the campaign with my trade dollars. Bartercard essentially gave me a marketing spend off the back of excess stock. I T TA K E S S O M E T H I N G D I F F E R E N T TO R E A L LY GET SEEN! After this initial success Lisa said she used Bartercard to run another marketing campaign at a wine outlet in the Hunter Valley that stocked her label.” “I used Bartercard to create 1.5m tall bottle-shaped signs leading all the way along the road to the retail store,” she said. “I was able to offset $5,000 of the cash expenses on Bartercard. People loved them so much they were taking photos in front of them, which created user-generated content on Facebook. Bartercard allowed me to run this large scale, harder hitting campaign to really get cut-through in the market.”
E X PA N D I N G LO C A L R E AC H “Bartercard can really help you break out of the local market to expand your reach and really get seen,” said Lisa. “I approached restaurants on Bartercard who quickly picked up my label to offset cash costs. It was as simple as curating and designing a wine list then blasting it out to bars and restaurants on Bartercard which helped me get on a lot of wine lists. It takes a lot of avenues to get business pumping but Bartercard is a direct line to businesses.”
LESSONS LEARNED Lisa runs a successful wine company that’s pushing industry limits. Through edgy branding, larger-than-life advertising and campaigns which really step outside the box, these are the lessons she’s picked up along the way.
“ BA RT E RCA R D CA N H E L P YO U BREAK OUT OF THE LOCAL M A R K E T T O E X PA N D YO U R R E AC H A N D R E A L LY G E T S E E N, ”
D E C O N ST R U C T T H E M A R K E T “You have to really think outside the box, pull the market apart and look at it differently to everyone else. I leveraged off the fact that women purchase over 70% of wine in Australia and took the approach of looking at my brand like fashion. Consequently I put a lot of time and effort into the aesthectics. Each range has unusual packaging, including matte black wraps, silver painting and metal labels. The result is gothically minimal bottles which really stand out on shelves!” L E A D D O N ’ T FO L LOW “I love leading the market and I hate following. That’s why I took the initiative to launch marketing campaigns that are a little different. This has included life-size displays and signage attracting user-generated content – people share them on social media and consequently my brand is put in front of their followers.” LO O K A R O U N D YO U “Rather than pouring all your effort into going global, look around your business and see what else is in front of you. Take a look at the opportunities available on Bartercard, PAGE like I did. I found there was business right outside my front door.”
7
Lisa built her wine business from the ground up.
Visit lisamcguiganwines.com
What is Bartercard?
Bartercard is a business network made up of thousands of members 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 products 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.
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.
2 . T H E P OW E R O F B A RT E R C A R D TRADE 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.
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.
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. 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 interestfree 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 thousands of members worldwide 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.
PAGE
9
Top business and trading tips
L AU N C H I N G A N E W L A B E L TAC K L I N G S TA RT- U P
Altitude Communications & Marketing
We all know the frustration of waiting for a client to pay. Bill Doyle from Altitude Communications (pictured) certainly does. Today Bill runs a very successful communications and marketing consultancy firm, altitudecommunications.com.au located on the Gold Coast, but like most companies, the early days of business weren’t short of set-backs. Bill said the reason why he loves Bartercard is because it got him through start-up thirteen years ago. “The first Christmas after I started Altitude was particularly hard financially, not from lack of work or clients but because I was waiting to get paid,” he said. “Two things got me through that Christmas, Bartercard and a jar of coins. I used Bartercard to buy food, essentials and Christmas gifts, and to this day I still have a jar of coins sitting in my office, just to remind me of the tough times and how important Bartercard is.”
S P L A S H I N G O U T O N T R AV E L
Think Live Love
Eco-fashionista Pip Andreas used Bartercard to splash her label across Australia and overseas. After she launched her ecofriendly swimwear and yoga wear brand, Think Love Live, she joined Bartercard and used her trade dollars to conserve cash in the early days of start-up when every dollar counts. A few months after joining Bartercard, trade accounted for approximately 5% of her label’s turnover, and Pip had grown her small business contacts of gyms and retailers which stocked her label, and customers who bought excess stock. “Fashion lines always have surplus and Bartercard let me sell slow moving and excess stock,” she said. “It let me test the waters and see what works and what doesn’t.” In turn, Pip used trade dollars to cover start-up expenses like her website, marketing, business cards, signage, accommodation and vehicle costs, and customer gifts. At the heart of the brand is eco-friendly material fabricated entirely from recycled plastic bottles to reduce landfill waste. Think Live Love
When you’re a Bartercard member there’s no excuse not to travel. Apart from over 1,000 accommodation options worldwide available on trade, you can additionally cover the cost of restaurants, entertainment and shopping at key destinations without spending cash. Bartercard’s photographer Annie Noon recently took a trip to Thailand where she saw cultural shows, visited elephants, had relaxing massages and beautiful suits made to measure in under three days, all on Bartercard. She even picked up local gifts for friends and herself on trade. “This made a big difference to our holiday experience, thank you Bartercard!” Visit bartertourism.com.au and enjoy the holiday of your dreams.
T R AV E L L I N G F O R BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?
In addition to the 1,000+ accommodation options on Bartercard, you can save up to 60% cash on hotels and leading resorts around the world at non-Bartercard resorts. Picture yourself at a choice of over 150 four and five star hotels and resorts across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Asia – and cover up to 60% of your accommodation cost with your trade dollars! Visit bartercard.com.au/membersplus and select Travel Plus for more information.
TO P
B U S I N E S S
A N D
T R A D I N G
T I P S
Business start-up C U R B T H E E M A I L OV E R L OA D
Most inboxes in today’s digital-rich, informationsaturated world are bursting at the seams. Think of all the time you spend replying to emails as soon as they popup, deflecting your attention from revenue-focused tasks. Outside of work, how many times has email caused stress and sleepless nights? To curb the email overload and boost results in the workplace, Bartercard member and Australia’s leading email and workplace productivity expert, Steuart Snooks (pictured), can show you the best email strategies on Bartercard.
G E T A H E A D S TA RT W I T H THESE QUICK TIPS TO D E C L U T T E R YO U R I N B OX A N D R E GA I N C O N T RO L O F E M A I L 1 . C O N T R O L W H E N YO U C H E C K E M A I L Block out two, three or four time slots in your calendar each day to check emails. It will let you singletask your responses, make better decisions and write quality responses. 2 . T U R N O F F E M A I L A L E RT S TO R E M OV E C O N STA N T D I ST R AC T I O N S Multi-tasking is only possible when tasks are familiar and routine – completing one task at a time without distractions is a much more effective way to work. 3 . M A N AG E E X P E C TAT I O N S Set up your signature block to advise others that you only check emails at certain times of day, and let recipients know how they can reach you urgently, whether it’s by text or phone call.
PAGE
11
C O N S E RV I N G $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 WITH CUPCAKES
Bartercard member Anna Eden (pictured) from Classic Cupcake Co. in Sydney has offset almost $30,000 in cash through cupcake sales – that’s a lot of baking! She said Bartercard attracted new customers and increased sales but above all conserved cash. “We’ve sold thousands of cupcakes to small businesses and hotels on Bartercard who pay us in trade dollars. We then use this currency to pay for business expenses like photography and printing without using cash. It offsets expenses to keep more money in the bank and invested in the business.” Baking for every taste and occasion, Anna joined Bartercard four years ago and said the biggest business hurdle she had to tackle in the early days was delivery. “We were quick to hone our skills and processes to a ‘T’ in-store, but delivery was one aspect we couldn’t control 100%. Luckily we’ve paired with a reliable company that delivers our cupcakes from A to B in one piece!”
The Classic Cupcake Co.
4 . K E E P YO U R I N B OX TO A M I N I M U M Clearing out your inbox will ensure you don’t miss a thing.
If you’d like help to ‘tame the email tiger‘ and regain control of your work day, reach out to Steuart at emailtiger.com.au. The Classic Cupcake Co.
TO P
B U S I N E S S
A N D
T R A D I N G
T I P S
L I N K E D I N N I N JA TIPS & TRICKS
LinkedIn has over 500 million users, taking out a significant slice of the social media pie. Compared to Facebook (1.2 billion users) and Instagram (700 million users) LinkedIn is still comparatively small, but new features and changes in 2017 reflect a boost to its user base. Bartercard member Jillian Bullock (pictured) is Australia’s only certified LinkedIn consultant who can maximise the effectiveness of your LinkedIn profile whether strengthening business contacts or sourcing new leads. She also has the latest LinkedIn features, tips and tricks on lockdown:
N E W I N T E R FAC E “If you think LinkedIn looks different, a brand new interface since the original version launched in 2012 has rolled out, and it’s based on the mobile app which approximately 60% of LinkedIn professionals use. Many people think LinkedIn took away a lot of the functionality but it’s a myth as it’s just mostly in another place.”
“ S A L E S N AV I G A T O R , LinkedIn’s lead generation tool, has recently acquired a price tag. If you’re a professional in a sales and business development-type role and require new leads frequently, then Sales Navigator is worth the extra cost. But if you sell high-ticket items and only source half a dozen leads or so a year, the new platform isn’t great value for money and souring a handful of new leads can be done through the basic interface. After LinkedIn’s Microsoft acquisition, a lot of extra features which have a small business focus have gone into Sales Navigator.” A R E YO U A B 2 C B U S I N E S S? “Stick to the basic interface and start cultivating referral partners in real life. Find businesses who target a similar market and approach them to start a mutually beneficial referral partnership. If you have enough referral partners you will have a constant supply of leads and you might not have to use LinkedIn at all. Conversion of a referral partnership is dependent on a great profile.”
D O N ’ T H AV E A L I N K E D I N AC C O U N T ? “Research has shown that 86 per cent of customers will look at a business owner’s LinkedIn profile in the purchasing process. So if you are not on LinkedIn or your profile is poorly filled, chances are it’s doing your business damage. LinkedIn also attracts traffic, so anyone looking up you or your business in Google for credibility will see your LinkedIn profile in the first five listings.”
Certified LinkedIn Consultant Jillian Bullock
D O E S YO U R P RO F I L E S TAC K U P ? “Many profiles read like a resume, but your profile should read like a sales document outlining what your company does and what companies you’ve worked with, not what your duties and responsibilities are. Ask yourself if your profile compels or repels your prospects.”
D OW N L OA D YO U R C O N TAC T S “You can download your entire LinkedIn contact list, including phone numbers and emails, as a backup. In 2015, LinkedIn was hacked, so more security processes are in place. Consider downloading your contacts from time-to-time as a backup but know that adding their details to your marketing database is breaking terms and conditions as they didn’t opt in.”
C H E C K YO U R PA S S WO R D “I build LinkedIn profiles all the time, so I see my client’s login details and the weakness of so many passwords is mind blowing – it’s why hacking is so common. Many use their kid’s or pet’s name, and add a number at the end such as their date of birth, anniversary date or house number. My tips for an unbreakable password is using the first letter of every word in a sentence. For example, ‘My dog Rover was born in 2012’ would make a password of MdRwbi2012 which is virtually uncrackable.” For more LinkedIn expertise, visit linkedinninja.com.au.
S P O N S O R S H I P
Shaking up the stereotype at 55
She’s usually in sneakers and a T-shirt making celebrities look stunning, but make-up artist and Bartercard member Suzi Dent is breaking the stereotype, winning her first beauty pageant at 54 in Australia then stepping on the world stage and coming third place in Vegas at 55. On top of it all, she rescued a charity in the process. Is there anything she can’t do? Suzi’s 33 years of experience in makeup has seen her working with Australia’s entertainment elite, in television and fashion magazines, creating beautiful faces for weddings and shoots. But recently the self-declared tomboy decided to push her limits after being asked to enter a beauty pageant. When she found out the pageant’s chosen charity, Soles4Souls, was on the brink of collapse, she agreed to switch to heels and couture and hand-on-heart support the cause. “I realised there was a lot of ‘sameness’ in my life and I needed to stretch myself and get out of the comfort zone I was in”, she said. “When I learnt more about Mrs Earth Australia and Soles4Souls, I realised that competing in a beauty pageant at 54 could help save this charity, while also pushing my own personal boundaries enormously.” Soles4Souls provides footwear to disadvantaged people around the world without adequate footwear. When Suzi embarked on the Mrs Earth Australia Pageant, which encourages women of all backgrounds to be of service to their community and environment, she straight away set about collecting shoes and finding a like-minded corporate sponsor, Bartercard.
Mrs Earth Australia 2017 Suzi Dent
Suzi won Mrs Earth Australia in March 2017, then went to compete at the Vegas-based world titles in June. She’s using this experience to start a conversation about ageing and shift the perception of women over 50. “Women in their 50s shouldn’t be swept under the carpet; it’s a mental attitude that stops a lot of people from doing what they want. But age is just a number and women can grow older fearlessly”, she said. Her message has been heard loud and clear, being picked up by newspapers and magazines around Australia, and even reaching the Morning Show and the Daily Mail in the UK. Suzi said the Australian titles was the first time she had ever worn a cocktail dress or gown, but fully embraced the pageant look including the heels, hair, eyelashes and all. “I feel like for my whole life, as a runners-and-shorts-wearing tomboy, I had to dress down, but now I get to shine”, she said. “I hope my journey inspires others to take a leap of PAGE faith and do something completely different – no matter how scary.”
13
All in all Suzi packed and shipped 350kg of shoes to help disadvantaged Australians. Mrs Earth Australia 2017 Suzi Dent
“WOMEN IN THEIR 50s SHOULDN’ T BE SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET; I T ’ S A M E N TA L AT T I T U D E T H AT S T O P S A L O T O F P E O P L E F RO M D O I N G W H A T T H E Y W A N T. B U T A G E I S J U S T A N U M B E R A N D W O M E N C A N G R O W O L D E R F E A R L E S S L Y. ”
H O S P I TA L I T Y
Cape Farm Shop’s success story C A P E FA R M S H O P M A K E S H A N D C R A F T E D G O U R M E T C O N D I M E N T S , PAC K I N G S E A S O N A L LY S O U R C E D I N G R E D I E N T S . H E R E’S H OW I T S OW N E R S U S E BA RT E RC A R D, S H OW I N G T H AT E V E N T H E M O ST S U CC E S S F U L B R A N D S TAC K L I N G S E A S O N A L I T Y LO O K FO R WAY S TO S H I F T E XC E S S STO C K .
In a vibrant region of award-winning wineries, microbreweries, world-class restaurants and spectacular surfing beaches, you will find the home of Cape Farm Shop. The Margaret River-based business, supplying to over one hundred retailers and restaurants, is the creation of Cai and John Thew. The business partners make flavoured olive oils, balsamic vinegars, jams, verjuice (a style of grape juice) and vinocotto (a type of wine) the old-fashioned way, using authentic local ingredients and without any shortcuts. F R O M C O N ST R U C T I O N TO C O N D I M E N T S The Thews used to be in construction, but after the GFC, business came to a halt world-wide. “We live in a part of the world where there’s a lot of hype around food and wine,” said John. “The banks weren’t lending for construction and we couldn’t keep building developments that couldn’t be financed. So we started making condiments. Traditionally we’d pre-sell units on Bartercard so we could finance development. Then we started using Bartercard in Cape Farm Shop.” A DJ U ST I N G FO R S E A S O N A L C H A N G E A N D S E L L I N G E XC E S S STO C K O N B A RT E R C A R D Because Cai and John’s use local ingredients, they are tied to the seasonal availability of products like olive oil which can affect cash flow. “You can only make products like olive oil once a year, so we have to commit to a certain number of sales,” said John. “This can be stressful but we can up the order knowing we can sell surplus stock on Bartercard. If I have excess stock at the end of the season, I can get a stall at a Bartercard Trade Show in Perth, held twice a year, and sell approximately $7,000 worth of products. We could also go to Bartercard Trade Shows across Australia and probably sell $50,000 worth of stock, but that’s a back-up plan we haven’t had to use.”
STA RT I N G O U T I N B U S I N E S S Cai and John spend trade dollars from Cape Farm Shop’s Bartercard sales on a range of business expenses. “When you’re starting out in business, Bartercard gives you access to many products and services you can pay for with the trade dollars that you earn from Bartercard sales,” said John. “It takes five or six years to develop a business and in the first year or two every dollar counts. So if you’re organising a birthday party, go to a local restaurant that takes Bartercard, or use the local caterer and spend the trade dollars that you earn from selling surplus product. I don’t mind if I earn T$75,000 or T$100,000 from Bartercard in a year – I purchased both of my kid’s cars with Bartercard trade dollars.” John said Bartercard is a way of paying for everyday living and essential business costs. “You could spend 15 per cent of your income using trade dollars, and you might not have that money if you’re just starting out in business. It’s going to make a significant difference.”
Visit capefarmshop.com.au
H O S P I TA L I T Y
PAGE
15
Authentic Italian cooking on Bartercard M A N D U R A H I N W E ST E R N AU ST R A L I A I S H O M E TO PA PA R A Z Z I C A F É , A N I TA L I A N R E STAU R A N T OW N E D BY T H E M E S S I N E O FA M I LY, A N D C H E F DA M I E N M E S S I N E O H A S S O M E T I P S TO G E T T H E M O ST O U T O F T R A D I N G .
Paparazzi Café has been serving authentic Italian meals in Mandurah since 2002, when the Messineo family decided to pool their resources and share their love of food. Damien Messineo, the head chef, said his parents came to Australia from Calabria in the 50s, and their strong Italian heritage and love of cooking led them to open Paparazzi. “We serve classic, home-style Italian food and our menu hasn’t changed much since we opened 15 years ago,” said Damien. “Our customers have been ordering the same dishes for years and that’s what they love. We’re in a great position to take advantage of the tourism that flows from Perth to the Margaret River. Seventy to eighty per cent of our customers are locals, then on school holidays all the tourists come in.” When it comes to produce like wine and ingredients, Damien said it’s all local. “We don’t need to look to the eastern states - Margaret River produces the top fifty to sixty per cent of Australia’s best wine.” USING BARTERCARD TO CONSERVE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS Damien said it took him a while to grasp the system, but then he started sourcing business essentials on Bartercard to offset cash costs. Since joining Bartercard in 2002, he’s conserved over half a million dollars in cash expenses by using trade dollars to purchase
products and services. To earn trade dollars, he welcomes Bartercard members to his restaurant. “Today we source wine, meat, seafood, car servicing, accommodation and dining from Bartercard members using trade dollars instead of cash,” he said. “I also source wine on Bartercard and cash convert – buying bottles on trade and selling them for cash.” Damien’s advice for new Bartercard members is to get in touch with your local trade coordinator, tell them what you are interested in and start using the system to attract new customers and conserve costs. “Bartercard can take time to wrap your head around, but it’s very beneficial for restaurants. If a restaurant owner has surplus trade dollars, they’re not using it properly.” Damien said he wants to take Bartercard a step further soon and use his trade dollars to invest in property. Bartercard’s property site currently contains approximately $150 million worth of real estate listings that are available to purchase with a part-trade dollar component. “That’s where I will work more closely with my trade coordinator – property is a bigger investment that needs more fine tuning. Your trade co-ordinator can really help. But things like purchasing wine, I do that myself.”
E XC LU S I V E
M E M B E R
B E N E F I T S
MEMBERS PLUS B U S I N E S S A N D L I F E S T Y L E B E N E F I T S E X C L U S I V E T O B A R T E R C A R D M E M B E R S
At Bartercard, we help our members take their business to the next level. From attracting new customers to boosting sales and cash flow, Bartercard is a solution to supplement business, every day. That’s why we’re pleased to introduce Members Plus, a hub where you can find additional value on products and services not normally available in Bartercard. Enjoy access to exclusive offers and business channels from travel to cash finance and entry to new markets conveniently bundled in one place: Members Plus. Visit bartercard.com.au/membersplus to start unlocking fantastic value!
.
.
E X P O RT I N G
Export Plus: YOUR SAFE PASSAGE TO EXPORT
China’s booming e-commerce sector is attracting businesses from all around the world via the world’s largest retailer: Alibaba. This case study shows how a family-owned businesses used BPS Technology’s Export Plus program to securely export its products to China and sell them via Alibaba’s e-commerce platform, 1688.com.
W H AT ’ S E X P O RT P LU S? A full-service program designed to export and sell Australian products in China while tackling logistical hurdles like quality control, tariffs and taxes along the way. Bartercard’s ASX-listed parent company, BPS Technology, launched this start-up initiative in 2016. W H Y C H I N A? China’s multi-billion dollar e-commerce sector is the largest in the world and constantly expanding across different categories. B U T E X P O RT I N G I S N ’ T A P I E C E O F C A K E – I N FAC T I T ’ S A C O M P L I C AT E D S PAC E , E S P E C I A L LY FO R F I R ST-T I M E R S . Carving out a market in any new country involves hoops and logistical hurdles like quality control, tariffs, taxes, translation and labelling. Lack of direct support in China can waver trust, and all of these factors combined can completely deter a business from breaking out of its country. E X P O RT P LU S R E M OV E S T H E S E LO G I ST I C A L H U R D L E S T H R O U G H T H E F U L L- S E RV I C E S U P P O RT O F T R U ST E D AU ST R A L I A N A N D C H I N E S E I N D U ST RY PA RT N E R S , AC R O S S E V E RY STAG E O F T H E E X P O RT PROCESS. To show you how, we spoke to Morlife’s Export and Business Development Manager Cheryl Stewart, about what it takes to succeed at the world’s largest retailer via Export Plus. Her company is a Gold Coast-based producer of functional superfoods packing maximum nutrition in every bite. Already having built a trusted brand around the world, China was the next step of expansion.
W H AT M A R K E T S D O YO U C U R R E N T LY S E L L I N ? “We’ve built up stockists around Australia and overseas in the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Thailand and USA. China was the next step, but it’s a vastly different market which has its own set of importing regulations and processes.”
W H AT D O E S E X P O RT I N G R E A L LY TA K E , A N D H OW D I D E X P O RT P LU S FA ST-T R AC K I T ? “Exporting traditionally takes time, money, persistence and patience. It’s important to travel to the region first to get a good understanding of the market, where the opportunities lie, who’s who in the zoo, packaging, price points and so on. Export Plus simplifies the process through direct, on-the-ground support in Australia and China. I still travelled to the destination, but had a constant point of support taking me through every step of the way – from customs, tariffs and taxes to packaging and market positioning. It was a steep but valuable learning curve!”
W H AT E X P O RT I N G H U R D L E S H AV E YO U E X P E R I E N C E D A N D D I D E X P O RT P LU S R E M OV E THEM?
PAGE
17
“In the past I‘ve made exporting mistakes and refined and repeated processes. Exporting takes lot of persistence and having a trusted partner like Export Plus is invaluable. China has lengthy import product registrations which can take up 12 months to approve. Amongst a list of things, Export Plus connected us to 1688.com and let us export through the e-commerce channels where the export rules and regulations are a little more flexible.”
W H AT WA S T H E L E N GT H I E ST PA RT O F T H E P RO C E S S? “We spent a lot of time slightly altering our Australian marketing product pitches for the Chinese market and their demographics. Our top sellers in Australia aren’t necessarily the right fit for Asia because markets vary so much. For instance our fortified herbal tea bags sell well in Australia but not as well in China, and we are still trialling and testing. We’ve also spent a lot of time showcasing Morlife’s point of difference to this new market – mostly through a customised Chinese website and on 1688.com, where you can have listings featured front and centre to really get cut-through and exposure.”
W H AT ’S YO U R E X P E C T E D G ROW T H ? “We are currently doubling the size of our Gold Coast-based facility to cater for growth in the local and international markets. We’re striving to double our export sales in the next financial year.”
W H AT P RO D U C T S H AV E E S P E C I A L LY WO R K E D I N T H E C H I N E S E M A R K E T ? Morlife’s signature product ‘Alkalising Greens’ is a superfood powder which sells well in all markets because it works to nourish on so many levels. Consumers all want more energy and improved health, regardless of where they live.”
Want to sell products in China via Alibaba’s cash e-commerce platform 1688.com? We’re looking for Australian businesses in health and wellness, food and beverage, specialist apparel, agricultural products, technology, agriculture, education, travel and real estate. Visit bartercard.com.au/exportplus to find out more and express your interest.
E V E N T S
Women and Business An award-winning combination Karen Phillips is leveraging her business with Bartercard to recognise and mobilise entrepreneurial women…showing success is underpinned by a supportive community. Karen, one of Australia’s most sought-after brand and communications strategists, serves up this straight forward advice to business owners: “You must be able to pivot and understand what’s needed to scale up your business from both a financial and succession planning aspect.” Time and time again she’s shown that agility and planning are key to success in a competitive market. She manages an extraordinary balancing act of running her flagship corporate communications business whilst organising and presenting at the largest women’s networking breakfast in Australia for the past 24 years. These events have attracted guest stars including Jane Fonda, Olivia Newton-John and Ita Buttrose. On top of this packed-out schedule, as executive director Karen headed the launch of the Women in Business Awards in 2013 focused on uncovering talented women across industry and community throughout the state. “The Awards were developed to recognise and honour exceptional women in business who are making a difference across Queensland,” said Karen. “These women embody leadership qualities, entrepreneurial spirit and a drive for success.” Whilst applauding women is a fundamental component, the awards also create a forum that residually empower women’s ambitions and in turn facilitate benefits for local economies and communities.
U S I N G B A RT E R C A R D TO L E V E R AG E S U C C E S S Karen said Bartercard is a strategic business platform that connects more leaders, adding that she’s been a member for the past eight years. “Bartercard has provided marketing and financial extensions to our business. It’s helped us to grow in ways we couldn’t have imagined when we first joined. However, like any significant business tool, the key is understanding how to use it.” Karen added that Bartercard has helped build the success of the Women in Business Awards by helping her organisation reach greater audiences. “We’ve been able to do this by implementing Bartercard in two key ways when organising the awards – firstly, using Bartercard’s business networks when developing partnerships and secondly, when sourcing and purchasing prizes and giveaways to offset cash expenses,” she said. Two Bartercard members were acknowledged by judges as finalists in the Gold Coast award categories. “Both these women operate leading industry enterprises and are highly successful in what they do.”
Women in Business Brisbane award winners 2016
E V E N T S
WE SPENT FIVE MINUTE S CHATTING TO KAREN ABOUT WHAT IT TAKE S TO STAND OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE, NO MATTER WHAT INDUSTRY YOU’RE IN.
How do you juggle everything?
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing women in business today and how do we solve them? “There are varied challenges from financial literacy to building a solid foundation, however the best way to overcome them is through education. We’re in one of the most confronting times in history as business owners; once upon a time we built a business and the customers would come, whereas today you need to be constantly reviewing your business environment and altering your business model to suit it. Regardless of the industry, you now need to provide effective solutions for your clients therefore an educated awareness of how to best serve your market is imperative.”
What led you to start your corporate communications business? “I was 27 years old with a background in journalism, marketing and public relations. I saw a need in the market for business strategy so I took a leap of faith. It’s easy to look back in retrospect and say, what was I thinking taking on such a challenge? But in your 20s you have incredible belief that you’ll land on your feet and a knowing that things will work out. Little did I know what launching a start-up encompassed but in hindsight it has been an incredibly fulfilling and inspiring journey.”
PAGE
19
“There’s no doubt it comes down to working more strategically and at the core is a great commitment and passion for the work that I do. I am inspired by our clients and seeing women in business empowered to extend themselves. Whether it’s addressing wage parity, leadership opportunities, financial literacy or support from institutions, the Women in Business Awards plays a part in nurturing and supporting our current and future women leaders and their local economies – and that’s important work.”
How important is personal branding? “I‘m forever surprised at organisations who don’t value the role and importance of personal branding for their leaders and front line staff. Understanding the DNA of an organisation is critical both internally and externally especially as we now operate in a global economy. We’ve all seen great organisations where customers emotionally connect with a brand and become advocates, and in some instances champion for the cause – particularly on social media. In a world where every aspect of running a business appears to come with a price tag, the power of a brand should never be underestimated no matter the size or industry sector you are in.”
What’s your strategy for business? “Critical aspects that don’t change with technology or global marketplaces are the fundamentals: figures, understanding cash flow and knowing your key market. My advice is understand the market in which you operate and review that continually because every industry is being disrupted and it’s critical to be able to pivot. Lots of leaders talk about working on their business, but the reality is many smaller entrepreneurs have no choice but to work in it and being able to effectively use Bartercard to leverage and support business upscaling is just smart business.” Visit the Women in Business Awards at wibaa.com.au.
In 2011, Karen launched her first book, Women’s Words of Wisdom, Power and Passion, a collection of insights about success, love, health and happiness from inspiring women. She’s pictured at the launch of her book with Terri Irwin.
B R A N D
D E V E LO P M E N T
6 WAYS TO GROW YOUR BRAND DOES YOUR BRAND LACK DIRECTION O R N E E D A F R E S H STA RT ?
INSIDE THIS ARTICLE ARE THE BUSINESS T I P S A N D S TA P L E S F O R B U I L D I N G A S T R O N G B R A N D T O S TAY A H E A D O F T H E C U RV E . W H E T H E R YO U ’ R E A S TA RT-U P O R E S TA B L I S H E D B U S I N E S S T H AT N E E D S T O H I T R E S E T, T H I S I N S I G H T C A N PAC K M O R E P U N C H I N T O O N E O F YO U R M O S T VA LUA B L E A S S E T S. 1. CHECK THE CONCEPT Start with or revisit your business concept, because this underpins the success of your brand. When it comes to thinking up a killer business idea, many people will tell you to ‘do what you love’ or ‘follow your passion’. These are definitely formulas for success, but in reality a business involves so much more – from strategy, finance, research, sourcing, paying your suppliers, ticking off mundane tasks like paying bills down to sheer stamina. So don’t just consider what you love doing, but also your personality type, how you work, what skills and abilities you already have, whether you buckle under pressure, what makes you tick and whether you can handle the many hurdles and setbacks just part of business. It’s equally critical to consider whether your business idea is marketable and will convert to sales – which all makes up your brand. 2 . ST I C K TO YO U R C O R E VA LU E S A N D B E L I E F S Running a business and spinning a profit is a challenge at any given moment – it’s certainly not glitz and glamour which most startups will tell you! So to stay sustainable, you have to be authentic and true to your core values. Consistency and congruence across every aspect of your business is critical, not only because it makes sense to your customers and translates into your brand, but because if your values and business aren’t aligned then the stress, pressure and work will outpace you. 3. RESEARCH THE MARKET Research is critical to check the feasibility of your business idea and see where similar concepts thrived or fell over. Standing out takes a point of difference, so thoroughly research your competitors to see where you stand apart.
4 . T H E N , D O T H I N G S D I F F E R E N T LY Part of getting seen is doing things that stand out from the throngs. What pain points are you tackling, in what creative way and what led you to launch? Brands like Dollar Shave Club mail out competitively-priced grooming supplies straight to customers while Coca-Cola and Commonwealth Bank appeal through clever, emotive story telling. Others like Doughnut Time just know how to do their specialty and market it well. Think what you can do differently to impact the market – like Uber delivering ice cream - #ubericecream. 5. B U I L D I T There’s over one billion websites world-wide and this number is growing daily. So how can you set yourself apart from a sea of competitors? The key is making your brand speak loud and clear. Branding not only comes down to your logo, design, fonts and colours but your businesses’ personality, the way you communicate, the approach you take and the way you are seen and perceived in the marketplace. It’s a lot to take into consideration but it all shapes the direction of your business. Whatever industry you are in, building a solid and unique identity is vital to standing out and getting seen. 6. N A I L A L L B R A N C H TO U C H P O I N T S – W E B S I T E , S O C I A L M E D I A , B LO G , S H O P F R O N T ( O R E- C O M M E R C E STO R E ) A N D A DV E RT I S I N G Ensure your information and branding is consistent across the board – so that if a customer, influencer or journalist does check you out further, you’ve done everything you can to shape and leverage the message. If you work in a service-based industry like accounting or law, see what current issues you can lend your expertise to through blogs and case studies. On top of a quality website, other essential customer touch points and channels to align include social media, e-newsletters, e-commerce and a physical store. Bartercard has branding experts and designers to really help you polish your brand. Just ask your trade co-ordinator.
PAGE
21
N OT- FO R- P R O F I T
Boosting charitable efforts WITH BARTERCARD
S U P P O RT I N G D I S E N F R A N C H I S E D WO M E N A N D C H I L D R E N I S A L L I N A DAY ’ S WO R K FO R S P E A K I N G A N D L E A D E R S H I P C OAC H C H E RY L S P I C E R . S H E ’ S P U T T I N G H E R B A RT E R C A R D T R A D E D O L L A R S TO WO R K TO D I R E C T LY I M PAC T L I V E S I N AU ST R A L I A , C A M B O D I A , FIJI AND INDIA.
Many of us struggle to balance work and life but Cheryl Spicer has finessed this to a T, running a successful coaching business alongside a charity that assists hundreds of marginalised women and children in Australia and overseas. We caught up with her to see how she does it. The Gold Coast-based speaking coach had a calling to help marginalised people for as long as she can remember, leading her to start a women’s business networking group and charity called Global Spirited Women in 2004. Since start-up, Global Spirited Women has built an orphanage in India where it also helps slum-based communities, supported the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, while also frequently sending care packages to victims of domestic abuse both locally and overseas. In 2013, Global Spirited Women took the opportunity to become incorporated and is now a registered charity.
Since start-up, Cheryl’s organisation Global Spirited Women has built an orphanage in India housing 30 children. She travels there to bring them essential items.
N OT- FO R- P R O F I T
B O O ST I N G F U N D R A I S I N G E F FO RT S W I T H B A RT E R C A R D Cheryl said Bartercard is a tool she uses to source essential items and offset cash expenses, which in turn lets her increase her charitable contributions. “Since 2001, Bartercard has been an integral partner to my coaching business and my charitable work in Australia, Cambodia, Fiji and India,” she said. “I’ve used the Bartercard network of businesses to expand my own business network, meet like-minded professionals that I’ve coached and mentored and to promote my charity. It’s an invaluable source of new clients that allows me to earn trade dollars, conserve cash and in turn enhance my focus on spreading the work of Global Spirited Women across the world.” Cheryl said Bartercard helps her juggle her business and charity work, enabling her to realise her vision of helping people whilst combating the expenses associated with fundraising. “We frequently host fundraising events with our fabulous committee and the support of many in our community,” she said. “A project like this is never done alone as it takes many people with great hearts and minds. I’ve spent my trade dollars on covering the cost of venue hire, printing, advertising and marketing and for purchasing raffle prizes, which all adds up. We cover as many expenses as we can on Bartercard then charge cash for the tickets, which lowers the cash outlay and boosts the fundraising profits significantly. Bartercard has given us the option to effectively source essential items without spending cash.”
G LO B A L S P I R I T E D WO M E N C H E N N A I Cheryl’s split-based venture in Australia and India sees her travelling to Chennai in south India where the orphanage, opened in 2011, is located. She travels to India once a year to take gifts and essential items like clothing and toiletries all purchased on Bartercard and constantly stays in touch through technology.. “There are currently 30 children living in the orphanage and we actively support women and children in this part of the world with the support of Bartercard and its generous members. “When the orphanage was being built we initially contributed $16,000 to cover the construction costs but as the building continued the costs blew out. Bartercard was the reason we could raise the amount we needed to complete the project.” Cheryl travelled to India in March 2017 to take on a ‘Slum Babies’ project which helped over 100 children, from new-borns to five-yearolds, by giving them a better start in life through the continual supply of care, food and essential resources. This initiative was also bolstered by funding with the support of Bartercard. C O N S E RV I N G C A S H Since joining Bartercard, Cheryl said she’s offset cash expenses amounting to almost $200,000. “When I first joined, I wanted to prove to myself that Bartercard worked. So every time I bought something on Bartercard, I would put the equivalent amount of cash into a bank account. A few years later I had saved almost $50,000.” Cheryl said cash converting is also a strategy which she regularly uses in her business. “There are endless ways to improve your cash flow and like anything all it takes is an understanding of the system and being able to manage it. My trade dollars have allowed me to do many wonderful things in my business and charity whilst also enhancing my lifestyle.” G LO B A L S P I R I T E D WO M E N The support and efforts of Global Spirited Women continues to grow. Apart from helping build an orphanage for thirty children in India, they also supply and distribute essential items like food staples, medical supplies and hygienic care to slums and villages where there is seldom power or running water. Within Australia, Cambodia and Fiji, Global Spirited Women additionally donates essential supplies and care packages to communities in need. Nothing is done alone. Cheryl appreciates the help of her charity team, Bartercard and the Gold Coast community.
PAGE
23
Global Spirited Women.
Cheryl uses Bartercard to source essential items and offset cash expenses, letting her increase charitable contributions.
W H AT B A RT E R C A R D M E M B E R S A R E S AY I N G
“We own and operate a 16 room, 4 star resort in Fiji where we’ve used Bartercard for five years. As a small resort owner, it’s great to have Bartercard bookings when occupancy is low. We just advise Bartercard that we have plenty of rooms to fill and they do their best to ramp up bookings. Bartercard has let us source furniture, umbrellas, bedding, linen, fridges, name tags, branded pens, clothing, brochures, business cards, graphic design, advertising and more. They also came to our assistance after the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston and donated items and services to assist us and our community. We’ll continue to work with Bartercard and appreciate the outstanding customer service we receive from them.” T E R R I G O RTA N - PA R A D I S E TAV E U N I F I J I
“We use Bartercard for marketing to not only increase sales, but push our brand’s reach further. Bartercard helps us sell stock to restaurants and straight to customers which grows our business base. It also lets us conserve cash across a wide range of business expenses and real estate investment.”
“Bartercard customers come to our restaurant DECO where they wine and dine and I exchange that service for business staples like cleaning and uniforms to offset cash costs. The majority of these extra customers are local business owners. Every restaurant will always have empty seats and Batercard helps fill those seats by attracting a new market who might not have dined with you before. It grows your local market and that’s always a positive thing.” J Y E S E G B O E R - C H O N P E E L B O U T I Q U E H OT E L TA M WO RT H
“I’ve been a Bartercard member for a few years and have built solid relationships with my Bartercard trade coordinators. They know my products and services inside out and can sell my business effectively. Now every part of my business is tied to Bartercard - Facebook workshops, equipment repairs, business networking lunches and small business expos. Bartercard has helped me secure keynote speakers for my events and offset the cost of accounting and bookkeeping which saved over $3,000 alone. They have a culture of ‘thinking outside the box’ which is something every small business owner should foster. I’m grateful for my relationship with Bartercard – it’s a profitable one that I will keep growing.”
B I L L M A S O N - J I R R A W I N E S AT J E I R STAT I O N PAU L A B R A N D
“Applying Bartercard to our club has saved us thousands of dollars. Almost anything is available on Bartercard. Business is diverse these days and looking at alternative non-cash solutions works particularly well. My recommendation to other clubs is to use Bartercard...it’s worked for us.” G O L D C OA ST T I TA N S
130 0 B A RT E R ( 1 3 0 0 2 2 7 8 37 ) B A RT E R C A R D.C O M . AU