Bartercard franchise breaks into the peninsula

Long-standing local businessperson and Bartercard franchise member, Len Hockey, is now bringing the world’s largest and most successful trade exchange to businesses throughout the Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, with the opening of Bartercard Melbourne Bayside.

Bartercard facilitates a cashless exchange of goods and services between its members, using a currency known as Trade Dollars (T$1 equals AU$1). As a result of trading, new sales are generated and cash is conserved in a business, leading to a reduction in the cost of borrowing and an improved bottom line.

Bartercard began on the Gold Coast in 1991 and has since grown to become the world’s most widely recognised trade exchange. Indeed, the operation is to date represented in 16 countries: Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, United States, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus.

There are currently more than 56,000 active Bartercard members worldwide, 22,000 of which are Australian-based.

Len Hockey is heading up Bartercard Melbourne Bayside in the role of brokerage principal. In his local community Hockey is best known for his 30-year career running a plastering business in the building trade on the Mornington Peninsula.

“I have long had an ambition to run an operation such as the Melbourne Bayside brokerage, so I’m obviously very pleased to have turned this vision into a reality. I believe that through my work as a broker, I’ll be able to make a real contribution to the prosperity of businesses throughout the area, and also play a role in maintaining the health of the local economy,” he says.

Hockey maintains that with 25,000 businesses operating throughout Frankston and the Peninsula, the prospects for the financial services franchise to become a part of daily working life in the area are excellent.

“In essence, a Bartercard broker acts as a business partner and networking expert for its members,” he explains. “My staff and I are here to provide the services which will help members increase their business turnover and maximise their opportunities to conduct barter transactions within the trade exchange.

“There are a host of ways in which businesses can utilise Bartercard membership, and I will be ensuring that as many businesses as possible have the opportunity to assess the benefits. By working together, I’m sure Bartercard will be able to create substantial trading opportunities for all manner of local businesses.”

Bartercard members are typically small to medium-size operations from a broad cross-section of industries, including manufacturing, building, retail, finance and travel.