Waikato Business News October/November 2022
Waikato Business News has for a quarter of a century been the voice of the region’s business community, a business community with a very real commitment to innovation and an ethos of co-operation.
Waikato Business News has for a quarter of a century been the voice of the region’s business community, a business community with a very real commitment to innovation and an ethos of co-operation.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
10<br />
Bartercard NZ turns 30!<br />
This month Bartercard NZ turns 30. Founded in 1991 on the Australian Gold<br />
Coast, Bartercard is the world's largest trade exchange and New Zealand’s<br />
leading business trading currency, attracting new customers and increasing<br />
sales. The concept allows businesses to exchange goods and services without<br />
using cash; instead, they use trade dollars. Bartercard started in New Zealand in<br />
1992 and has over 10,000 cardholders, with 50 staff across 12 regional offices.<br />
bRewards was introduced in late 2019 as a way for members to refer new<br />
businesses to the Bartercard ecosystem and earn valuable bPoints, which can<br />
be exchanged for everyday spend gift cards, including grocery and petrol<br />
vouchers. Since its launch, some members have been rewarded hundreds of<br />
dollars worth of gift cards.<br />
Supporting NZ businesses to grow<br />
Over the years, Bartercard has helped many businesses grow and realise their<br />
potential by filling some of their spare capacity with new customers and<br />
through access to its interest free business lending.<br />
Bartercard’s Interest Free Line of Credit allows many members to cover the<br />
essential start-up costs of their business or invest in revenue-generating<br />
expenses such as marketing and advertising, interior fitouts, equipment,<br />
larger premises, and extra storage space sourced through Bartercard’s<br />
cashless ecosystem. It’s offered as a cash-alternative currency that comes<br />
without the interest rates of a business bank loan.<br />
Some members use their trade dollars to invest in properties, allowing for<br />
spare capital to be invested into bricks and mortar. Bartercard is an excellent<br />
opportunity to fill empty seats and idle capacity for accommodation<br />
providers, restaurants, bars and cafes.<br />
Over the years, Bartercard has built strong strategic alliances with many<br />
sporting teams, charities, and business groups to help save cash and sell<br />
unused assets, including Heart Kids NZ, Sky Sport Breakers, Chiefs rugby<br />
and the Blue Light charity. These organisations use Bartercard to sell<br />
unsold advertising space, sponsorship packages and tickets. With the trade<br />
dollars they’ve generated, they’re saving cash by offsetting some of their<br />
expenses using Bartercard for costs associated with functions, raffle prizes,<br />
merchandise and the equipment needed to run successfully.<br />
Mixing business and pleasure<br />
Bartercard’s online Marketplace has millions of dollars worth of products<br />
and services available to allow members to offset cash expenses by<br />
acquiring them through the trade exchange, conserving cash flow. Many<br />
members also use their trade dollars for lifestyle purchases, such as dining<br />
out, accommodation and hobby activities.<br />
Ongoing success<br />
While the business has diversified over the years, the very essence of<br />
Bartercard remains for its members; growing their sales and attracting<br />
new customers when they want them.<br />
Bartercard NZ Chief Operating Officer Paul Hebbink has been with<br />
the business since its early inception and was recently presented with<br />
an Outstanding Service and Dedication Award at the team’s national<br />
conference. “It was an honour to receive this award and a complete<br />
surprise. I am extremely proud of what the business has achieved over the<br />
years. Bartercard allows our members to continue trading through these<br />
challenging times and conserve that all-important cash. We have<br />
some big growth plans, and I’m excited about our future.”<br />
As part of the 30th birthday celebrations and to thank its members, Bartercard is<br />
giving away 30 gift hampers made up of 30 products available through its online<br />
Marketplace. Any member who transacts 30 or more sales and purchases or<br />
transacts more than T$3000 in trade volume (trade dollars) goes into the draw to<br />
win one of these 30 exclusive hampers.<br />
Winners will be announced in early December.