MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS and HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS…
New England Trade, a bartering organization serving Massachusetts businesses for the past three decades, recently announced the launch of the company’s Facebook page, http://www.Facebook.com/Bartering.
“When it comes to barter, word-of-mouth has always been the most common way to stay in touch with what was going on. Nowadays, word-of-mouth has expanded to social media like Facebook,” said Ken Meharg, CEO of Malden, Mass.-based New England Trade. “Having a presence on Facebook gives us another vehicle to inform our members and attract new members with the variation on traditional bartering that New England Trade and our sister organization Cape Cod Trade employ.”
The practice of bartering has been around since the days of the caveman (e.g. a plumber does some work for a CPA, who in turn does the plumber’s taxes). In a bartering organization like New England Trade, members have access to the products and services of all the members. So, the plumber can do work for the CPA on barter, but can then choose to “spend” the bartering dollars he’s accrued on another product or service offered by other members. Like use of an ocean-side condo for a week.
As a New England Trade member, there is some exchange of cash involved with barter. A 7.5 percent transaction fee goes to New England Trade and members are responsible for paying taxes on the barter dollars they earn. In what’s still a struggling economy for many businesses, a bartering organization makes it possible to attract new customers and acquire the goods and services a business needs.
“Our system of bartering works because as business owners and as ordinary people, there are certain things we need. For example, the restaurant owner who needs cleaning services and billboard advertising and even dental work,” said Meharg. “ By offering gift certificates to his establishment, he can accrue the bartering dollars to get those items with a fraction of money out of pocket.” said Meharg.
Adds Meharg, “We anticipate our Facebook page as being a resource for our members to post on new products or services they are offering, provide testimonials for fellow members and, in general, just stay plugged in to what’s going on with our organization.”
For more information on New England Trade, please visit www.newenglandtrade.com.
Trading up in New England
Since 1980, New England Trade has helped thousands of businesses gain a competitive edge by expanding their revenue and reach with barter. Restaurants, auto services, travel, retail stores, and professional business services such as accounting, legal and advertising/marketing are a sampling of the numerous clients who do business with New England Trade and each other. Maintaining offices at 926 Eastern Avenue in Malden, Mass., as well as 100 West Main Street in Hyannis for its Cape Cod branch (www.CapeCodTrade.com), New England Trade has become the largest barter organization in New England. The company is a founding member of the National Association of Trade Exchanges and a member of the International Reciprocal Trade Association, New England Trade manages more than $5-million in sales annually and has a staff of 10 people. New England Trade is operated by experienced, Certified Trade Brokers who know how to make barter work for business. The company is a long-standing member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce.
For additional information about New England Trade, please visit http://www.NewEnglandTrade.com or call 781-388-9200.
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