Barter Holiday Expo encourages Cape Cod businesses to trade up.

I’ll trade you quahogs for carpentry work. Better yet, my neighbor will provide the wood and your brother the chef can make chowder for all of us.

Cape Codders have been bartering even before the American Revolution.

What? Cash in on great holiday gifts without cash?

New England Trade, the region’s oldest and largest barter and trade organization, will holds it’s a Holiday Barter Expo on Monday, December 10, 5:30 – 9 p.m. at the Hyannis Golf Club, 1840 Iyannough Road #2, Route 132, Hyannis, MA 02601.

There is no cost to participate in the event. Potential new businesses that call prior to the expo will be given discounted membership to New England Trade and complimentary VIP Tickets to the expo. For additional information about the Barter Expo, visit www.newenglandtrade.com or call (781) 388-9200.

This year as the economy gets tighter and companies are cutting back on corporate gifts, employee incentives, and new customer incentives, many New England Trade members are bartering for their holiday shopping. Companies are also utilizing barter to move excess merchandise or sell additional service capacity.

Participants can browse a wide range of gift ideas and services. Among the available items will be such holiday shopping essentials as jewelry and watches, electronics, gift baskets, exercise equipment, clothing, sunglasses, ski lift tickets, restaurant gift certificates, vacation lodging, chocolate and candies, candles, and more.

“This Barter Expo will open the eyes and minds of the business community,” note Ken Meharg, CEO of New England Trade. “Our guests are always astounded by the range of products and services available through barter.”

Gary Oshry, President of New England Trade added, “Public acceptance of barter has grown enormously in recent years. This event is sure to be fun and gives business owners a sense of the cash flow enhancer a trade organization can offer.”

TRADING UP IN NEW ENGLAND
Since, 1980, New England Trade has helped thousands of businesses gain a competitive edge by using barter. Barter is a creative way to increase sales and decrease cash expenses. 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.

With a new, fully functional online “Marketplace” e-commerce platform, New England Trade has added a new dimension to both their reach and convenience for members. Now members can click and choose a wide range of goods and services, from travel reservations to gift certificates to auto care to professional services and more.

Worldwide, more than $600-billion is traded annually by small firms and giant companies alike. Nearly one-third of all U.S. businesses are involved in some kind of barter and more than 65 percent of the corporations listed on the New York Stock Exchange use barter to reduce surplus inventory and bolster sales.

New England Trade, located at 926 Eastern Avenue in Malden, Mass, has more than 1,000 members throughout the region. In business for three decades, it is the largest independent barter organization in New England. The company is a founding member of the National Association of Trade Exchanges, New England Trade manages more than $10-million in sales annually and has a staff of 7 people. The company is a long-standing member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce.

For additional information about the Barter Expo, visit www.newenglandtrade.com or call (781) 388-9200.