Hong Kong - In difficult times, many companies start to dispose of their underperforming assets (which may include excess inventory, past due receivables, real estate or capital equipment) through liquidation. By bartering, instead of selling at a loss, a company can aquire essential goods or services they need while conserving cash and reducing expenses. In difficult times barter can become a particularly effective way of remaining competitive or getting otherwise unaffordable items.

Celebrating 5 years its fifth year in business, the Ormita Commerce Network is recognized as the world's largest barter exchange enterprise, with a barter turn-over in excess of $2.8 billion US dollars in 2011 alone.

Spurred by the recession, which left many businesses cash-poor but with an abundance of inventory, bartering for goods and services is in vogue once more. This year, more than two hundred thousand businesses bartered in excess of $3 billion worth of goods and services through the Ormita barter exchange.

Businesses become Ormita Barter members for a variety of reasons including the ability to improve their cash-flow, boost sales and client referrals, increasing their marketing power and reach or accessing interest free lines of barter credit. When comparing bartering against liquidating a product for cash or going without it makes good sense to do a trade.

"Reciprocal trade has allowed the country not only to recoup and preserve its foreign exchange but also enabled key industry sectors to develop and expand new markets and products for export, acquire sophisticated technology, obtain foreign direct investments, and avail of specialized technical/specialized training," claims Raymond Estioki, head of the Central Bank of the Philippines.

Even the U.S. Department of Commerce has come to the barter party, with it's Under Secretary, Eric Hirschhorn, stating that "U.S. prime contractors generally see barter as a reality of the marketplace for companies competing for international sales. Several U.S. prime contractors have informed BIS that offsets are usually necessary in order to make these sales - sales which help support the U.S. industrial base".

Though most choose barter to pay for services such as advertising or goods such as office equipment, some also share the benefits. Samsung, for example, barters for employees' year-end bonuses. Last year, the company funded a corporate retreat and gifts for senior management. This year the company will be doing it again.

Where to get information about barter:

The Mutual Credit Barter Exchange Library - http://www.mutualcreditlibrary.com/

The Ormita Commerce Network - http://www.ormita.com/

Barter For Advertising - http://www.barterforadvertising.com/

Barter For Equity - http://www.barterforequity.com/

For information about the Ormita Commerce Network please contact:

Selina Markham
Marketing Manager
Telephone: +852 5808 2722
[email protected]
http://www.ormita.com/