We’re all in this together, as the expression of solidarity goes. It’s particularly true in the challenging world of local, independent business, where budgets are often shoestring and resources are limited. Enter Value Card Alliance (valuecardalliance.com), a bartering network that acts as matchmaker for businesses in need.
“What drew me to it in the first place was I thought it was kind of a marketing opportunity to turn my business on to a bunch of people who had probably never heard of what I do or used me before,” says Susan Wilcox, owner of the two The Herb Box (theherbbox.com) restaurants and a catering and events company. “It kind of opened up a new revenue stream for me. I learned all the things that they have to offer, which were things that we were paying cash for anyhow.”
Wilcox has participated in barter programs since she started her businesses more than 20 years ago. She joined Value Card Alliance about five years ago and, over the years, has traded catering services for weddings, corporate events and smaller gatherings for printing, T-shirts, power-washing and plumbing for the restaurant and tickets for hotels and attractions to incentivize employees. One summer, she bartered food for an air conditioning unit replacement. “That’s a big deal – that’s like 10 grand,” she says.
Value Card Alliance collects a percentage-per-transaction fee from barterers, but buyers and sellers don’t have to pay a membership fee or meet an annual quota of trades. Participating businesses are thoroughly vetted, and shady deals are not tolerated.
“They’re very good at policing the situation,” Wilcox says. “Like if you feel somebody is charging you too much or being deceitful, they’ll step in.”
Because a communal economy has to be even-steven.
Purple Maze
Founded in 2011 by Scottsdale father Anthony Conti and his late daughter Nitalia during Nitalia’s own cancer battle, The Purple Society connects families fighting childhood cancer with treatment information, research and support. This June, Purple Society launched The Purple Drug Guide, a free app that contains a database of more than 10,000 cancer drugs, experimental treatments and clinical trials. werpurple.org
Rental Fees
In July, real estate data company Axiometrics (axiometrics.com) released a report showing a rebound in the average rents for Phoenix apartments after a decline since May 2016 – $982 per unit per month in June 2017, up $2 from May 2017. Good news for owners and investors, not so great if you’re living in a walk-up.
