Website launched to help people barter

TWO Stratford women have set up a website that combines internet marketing with old-fashioned bartering.
Mary Stanley is the founder of Barter Smarter, an online network where people within the community can exchange surplus goods and services with others, without the need for money to change hands. The website was launched in March and she and technical whiz Betty Luckhurst, who created the website, are keen to spread the word so more people start using the service, which is free.
Mary says she initiated the service as a way to help people in the community who are battling to manage rising prices and tight budgets.
"I've just seen a lot of families struggling, living in homes with leaky roofs or problems with their electrical wiring, and they just don't have the money to fix it," says Mary. "One of the things I love about Kiwis is they're so multi-talented, there's all these talents that they have, which often they don't see the value in."
Skills such as dressmaking, baking and handyman abilities can be exchanged between people.
Someone could trade a bag of their child's outgrown clothes for a special birthday cake made by someone else with a talent for cake decorating, she says.
"Say you have a guy who's a single Dad and he's a plumber, but he needs child care. There's a woman down the road who's just set up a day care service, but she needs a new bathroom – perhaps the plumber could do the bathroom work in return for several months child care."
The barter system helps strengthen the community as people using it get to know each other, and it could be a useful resource for older people who need help, as well as younger ones.
"Someone could drop a load of firewood around for a person who is older. Instead of bugging their Mum to buy a new charger for their cell phone, teenagers could go online and trade an old cell phone they're not using for a charger that fits."
"It's about helping the community during these tough times. My husband is an electrician. Someone has contacted us who wants to trade some electrical work for some gardening, so we're making a deal."
"Who pays whom with what is between the people making the trade – the website just puts them together, says Mary. "It's empowering for people, its not a charity and a way to share your gifts and talents."
People bartering for work such as electrical or plumbing work should make sure the person doing it has the appropriate qualifications first, she says.
There's also a page for goods to be donated.
"It's community friendly and it's about people using their gifts and talents."
- For more information visit www.bartersmarter.co.nz or email barter.smarter@yahoo.co.nz