Golfing in Southwest Florida is a treasured pastime for generations of people. Unlike the greens you find in other parts of the country, or, even other parts of the state, there is something a bit more polished about the courses you find in our neck of the woods. Am I biased? Of Course! But, so are you. That is why every chance you get, you are meeting guests and important clients at your coveted tee time. “Anyone in for a quick round at a championship course followed by a five-star meal?” Has anyone ever turned that down? What the locals and snowbirds are looking for is one comprehensive source to direct them to the best courses with the most pristine greens. Throughout Southwest Florida, Golf Coast Magazine is the publications golfers trust most.
In the world of golf, there is always something exciting taking place. Exciting tournaments, lavish grounds and beautiful club houses supply the perfect backdrop for large-purse extravaganzas. Just the essence of a golf course with its pristine natural beauty, manicured to the umpteenth degree is so inviting and relaxing. And the actual sport of golf has grown immensely, probably because anybody with a good swing and calculating mind can play a good round. When golfers want to know how the courses are rated, price and tee time information, tournament details, or just want to immerse themselves in a gorgeous, high-quality golfing publication, they simply cannot find anything more comprehensive than Golf Coast Magazine. And, the best part is they scour Southwest Florida, looking for only the most elite courses in the area. All the vetting is done before you even show up for your tee time.
With publications in well over 1,000 locations throughout Florida, you can bet that if your favorite top-notch golf course is up to par, it will be featured in Golf Coast Magazine, and getting loads of advertising and attention. With an understanding that only the top courses make it into the publication, local courses are upping their game in hopes of making the cut. For news inside the tight-knit but global golfing community, there simply is no better source for “everything golf” including who is on top, educational and fundraising aspects of golf, and the scoop on tournaments everywhere, including details on nearby shopping and dining. Whether you are staying abreast of all the latest industry news through their paper-publications, online, or through their emailed newsletters, chances are if it is relevant and golf-related, you read it in Golf Coast Magazine.
When it comes to IBE, the leaders at Golf Coast Magazine have always found bartering to be beneficial in many ways. Agreeing with many other IBE members, they see it as a way to free up capital and to procure items and services they would not otherwise be able to get. But they also look at it as a means to give purpose to underutilized inventory or services that really cost the company little to provide in the way of bartering. So, allowing other members to use their “barter bucks” to advertise when space is available is a solution where everyone benefits. For Golf Coast Magazine, IBE is the barter organization that keeps on giving in new ways all the time.
Expressing yourself in creative ways is one of the best outlets. After a hard day at the office or school, it is an absolute stress reliever to partake in any activity that lets you, be you. Whether it be through walking on the beach, appreciating the natural beauty that surrounds us or by surrounding ourselves with people who make us strive for greater heights, we all want to identify with something other than our work and familial titles. Some people create art with a paint brush as if it is an added appendage, wistfully bringing life to boring white canvases. And yet others long to feel the wind beneath their feet as they plie’ or waltz across the dance floor with a beloved partner. If your heart beats a little faster at the mention of that last category, then please listen further as we talk Reflex Arts Dance.
With a yearning in her soul to introduce dance skills to all people of varying aptitudes with the same respect for the craft and fun techniques regardless of the age, Jackie Velasquez began her journey in 2015. After purchasing the dance side of the dance/yoga studio previously owned by her mentor, Mrs. Virginia East Shaddock, Jackie knew that to continue to grow her business she would have to add the most elite dance instructors, and create a solid curriculum based on fun. “We are fighting against tablets, video games, etcetera, so we need make the experience a creative, exciting one before they can take it seriously,” laments Jackie. It is that mantra that has allowed her to create a one-of-a-kind experience for her students which includes the Kiddance Syllabus, created by her mentor, Virginia, and one which Jackie had been trained on years before. Because she liked it so much and found it to be a great foundation for beginning dancers, Jackie has tweaked the materials to enhance all the modern dance accoutrements today’s kids love.
At the area Reflex Arts Dance studios people of all ages and skill levels can train on ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, aerial yoga and a host of other dance genres. Whether it be for competition training, performance enhancement, or for special occasions like weddings, proms, bar mitzvahs, or just to learn to move – – Reflex Arts Dance has you covered. Their noteworthy staff of instructors includes those with extensive training in not only specific dance medians, but also choreography, costume and stage design, touring and theatrical performances. Whichever way you choose to perfect your art or perhaps begin the journey of self-expression, Reflex Arts Dance is there to sweep you off your feet.
For Jackie, one of the perks of being a member of IBE has been the other “mompreneurs” she has been able to meet and to become friends with. As Jackie explains, “Joining IBE should be a no-brainer for every business owner out there. It is a really lovely program and just another great way to advertise your business and to get your name out there.” When asked which services Jackie regularly uses from the IBE community, she says, “For any handyman type jobs around the studios, or any jobs I don’t want to do myself, I consult IBE first.” And as for the future, she plans on finding out about the massage, restaurant and travel options available through bartering with IBE.
Some people are just born to entertain others. The service industry isn’t for everyone, but, with the right personality, it can be a marvelous route for someone with people skills and a talent for small talk. And, when that person has lived practically his entire life in the greater Sarasota area, developing relationships and cultivating connections – – well, magic happens. Thus, the case for namesake Eddie Ward of Eddie Ward Limousines. If you are looking for a fun ride, and maybe great seats for a rocking concert, don’t look any further than the fun guy driving the sparkly pink limousine.
For Eddie Ward, you just need to do one thing in order to ride in one of his amazing limousines. It involves a three-letter word. Any guesses? It is have F-U-N. After a career that has stemmed decades of driving for raucous rockers like Motley Crew and reality stars like Donald Trump, pre-presidential days, Eddie has learned the ropes amongst some of the most demanding stars and corporate VIP’s. As a private chauffeur for the famous or as a limousine driver for corporate families looking for something fun to do while in town for business, Eddie Ward holds the golden ticket in fun limousine rides for all.
“It’s not about driving a car,” Eddie explains. “It is about people challenging me with their oddest or most difficult request and being able to meet that client’s needs.” With a “no limits” attitude, Eddie is just as happy taking families for a dolphin watching excursion as he is easily navigating the Miami cruise ports for a stress-free delivery of a party of five. With all the trips he has made, Eddie is quick to say, “Kids’ parties with the parents so happy to see their kids excited for the limo is really the best part of the job.” With five cars, (one of them pink, not just everyday pink, but sparkly pink), and seven drivers, all licensed and insured, Eddie and his team can make sure you arrive in style for every occasion. Whether it be a wedding, birthday, prom, or reunion celebration, with just about every event sandwiched in-between, Eddie Ward Limousines is your fun ride to everywhere.
As a new member of IBE since 2018, Eddie joined IBE with one motivation in mind, painful teeth issues. After careful research he concluded the most cost-effective way to get his pearly whites repaired was to join the International Barter Exchange. With IBE, he could invest necessary capital into his limo business and let bartering take care of that pesky dental work. Eddie has never looked back, but he sure is smiling at the prospect of new ventures and newfound friends within the extensive network of IBE merchants. “In the short time that I have been a member it has absolutely been a success for me. I accomplished what I needed to and now look forward to seeing what else it has to offer and who else I can do business with.” Eddie Ward is just another one of dozens of happy, money-saving business members in the thriving IBE organization.
IBE Trade Dollars = A Valuable Relationship Currency.
The Internal Revenue Service views IBE Currency or bartering ‘trade dollars’ same as cash. At least when it comes time to pay taxes. Future growth in this ‘private currency’ universe is huge. Currently the barter business is a 900 Billion dollar industry. In the near future you will see ‘IBE Currency Accepted Here’, as a natural and organic payment option. Until you can ‘pay’ taxes with this valuable currency, the question remains.. what is the true value of IBE Trade Dollars. One of the most important things to establish with a barter exchange is wholesale cost, while earning or spending this new found currency. Bringing in new plus business and saving cash is a valuable tool. Belonging to a well managed barter exchange should be in your 2019 growth playbook. Realizing new business establishes a valuable relationship currency.
Using alternative currency when traveling abroad is familiar to us. We can use our converted currency in some countries where it is accepted, and not in others, limiting its value. The larger market there is to spend IBE currency in, the more valuable it becomes. IBE Barter has a large local market of card holders made up of top professional business people that accept IBE Currency for payment. IBE is also a member of the National Association of Trade Exchanges. This valuable reciprocal relationship expands our reach to help you spend IBE dollars. Accepting IBE trade dollars as a form of payment for the products/services offered, provides the opportunity to spend them worldwide. IBE Trade Dollars are a valuable alternative modern currency accepted worldwide in over 500,000 locations.
Business owners that choose to accept this alternative currency are smart forward thinking business builders. By providing their services/products, earning IBE dollars and spending them in place of cash, is truly smart business. When banking trade dollars with IBE you treat it like a traditional bank account. Technology drives the barter industry. IBE is a Licensed Owner of Trade Studio, a software that delivers a full arsenal of tools for the IBE management team, brokers, salespeople and clients. The IRS views a ‘barter exchange’ as a third party record keeping company. IBE Trade Studio software delivers 1099B reporting documents like clock work for end of year reporting. IBE provides timely monthly statements. 24/7 online account access, authorization processing, mobile app, quick response codes for restaurant redemption’s. All this is possible with responsive software.
IBE Barter brings new and additional plus business. Empty seats in the restaurant, empty hotel rooms, vacant venue seats, downtime in your business, excess inventory to move? Start putting these challenges to work for you. IBE introduces you to a new way of thinking about building and growing your business. IBE is a valuable relationship currency, an intrinsic value with purpose.
Nothing says, “I care about my establishment” more than a well-maintained and beautiful exterior area. When people pull into your driveway or parking lot, potholes, cracks, and stained cement lead visitors to wonder if the product inside of the building is any better. First impressions are everything. Though some view this is an overused cliché, the most successful business owners understand the significance of this statement. They know that in an instant a potential client’s perception of you can determine if they are to become a new source of revenue for your business, or just someone using your driveway to turn around in. You must catch them at first glance and your property had better be in pristine condition. You also need sidewalks and steps to be in good order, not only for the appealing esthetics but also to provide safe grounds for your customers and employees to navigate. If you are wanting to catch them at “hello,” let Mr. Pavers do the groundwork for that interaction.
Mr. Pavers has been serving the Sarasota area for over ten years with premium paving and asphalt services. From pressure washing, sealing, coating, restoration, and custom jobs, there is nothing that owner, Mauro Rodrigues and his team at Mr. Pavers cannot accomplish. Does your lanai need a breath of new life sprung into it? During the peak seasonal months when temperatures cool and the humidity lifts, you do not want to be stuck indoors. If walking into uneven pavers is stubbing your toes and your desire to spend time outside, let the experts at Mr. Pavers design a beautiful walkway leading to your little patch of paradise. If your pool deck looks weathered or just needs modernizing, do not despair. With a variety of options, there is quite certainly a plan that will work for your family or business. And, if you are an IBE member, why not consider contacting Mauro to see if bartering will work for your next project? Those are some savings we can all get behind.
Throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, several housing communities and professional centers have used the detailed services of Mr. Pavers. And their areas of expertise do not just lie in the outdoor arena. Any indoor flooring or counter job is in Mr. Pavers’ wheelhouse. In fact, the rave reviews online bear witness to the incredible work he does with tile, travertine, marble, and other natural and synthetic materials. There is no job too large or small for Mr. Pavers, and they are more than happy to review your work and provide a fair estimate today.
For Mauro Rodrigues, being a member of IBE is something he has been proud of for many years. “I love IBE,” Mauro explains. “It has been a large part of the way I do business and has saved me so much money over the years.” Mauro can often be found extoling the virtues of this tremendous bartering organization to anyone in business. “I don’t understand why you would not want to be involved; you can barter for almost anything.” Over the years, Mauro has used IBE for hundreds of services. He has even been able to buy an automobile and two property parcels though bartering. Purchasing the lots has proven to be lucrative, so, for Mauro, IBE is also an avenue to make investment income.
Painting your home or office building requires a good deal of education, preparation, and dedication. For instance, you must nail down the perfect color, which can be a daunting, if not endless, task of paint swatches and intense scrutiny. You are going to be living with this color for the long term, so this is one time where you need to get it right from the get-go. How about experience; as in, do you have applicable painting know-how to get the job done to your final liking? Then there is the matter of how much paint to buy, which brand, and decisions to make on primer and satin or matte finishes. In the end, large painting jobs can prove to be a stressful time in your life. Do you really have the stamina or desire to take this on alone?
With over 20 years’ experience in the painting industry, and a native Floridian, Danny Snider has learned what it takes to create an immaculate paint job that weathers Florida’s extreme summer temperatures, mildew-inducing humidity, and hurricane strength downpours and high-velocity winds. It is not an easy task and something that not all painting companies can tout. But at Snider’s Painting, a focus on surface preparation sets them apart from their competitors. Danny Snider knows starting with pressure washing and sealing processes extends the life of a paint job. Furthermore, they understand and respect our sensitive flora and fauna and unique weather conditions which require extra preparation and care. When your reputation is on the line and your client list reads like a “who is who,” though many of these decades-long clients have become like family, you put your absolute all into every single day.
Whatever your paint job calls for, Snider’s Painting has you covered. With an impressive client and referral list, which they encourage potential customers to investigate, Snider’s Painting is not afraid to tackle its esteemed reputation head on. They are immensely proud to have been involved with many community and high-end commercial and residential projects over the years throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, and the surrounding areas. Two current ventures include the Ringling Museum of Art & Design and Casa Mora Rehabilitation & Extended Care in Bradenton. But all one needs to do is drive down any road in a neighboring community, and a Snider Painting job is bound to stand out. It will be the one with perfect lines, impeccable coloring, and dead-on color choice. And, if it is a work in-progress, you can count on seeing a Snider’s Painting employee showing incredible respect for the environment and surrounding people and animals by using the safest most eco-friendly products available. In the end, the completed home or office will look like a work of art, because, it is.
Bartering through IBE has been a natural progression for Snider’s Painting. As someone who has lived in Florida his entire life, Danny is aware of which organizations work and those that do not. At Snider’s Painting, bartering allows them to bestow their incredible painting talent and experience on those who might not be able to afford a large painting job like a house or condo. With IBE, fellow members can call on Danny for these large ticket items while providing him with services that he needs. Everybody wins. And that is the perfect two words to describe the symbiotic relationship that exists for countless happy members of the IBE network.
Sometimes you need to move your body, that is just a fact. Dancing is the vehicle by which you achieve this natural urge to groove to the beat. For some, it comes easily as they remember wiggling about as toddlers, always ready to dance with anyone who was willing. Then, as they grew up the urge to boogie never subsided as proms, weddings, and evenings out at dance clubs showcased those talented twinkle toes. For others, dancing is something only dreamt about, as inhibitions and two left feet meant keeping a safe distance from any dancefloor was a good bet. But in the heart of everyone is a desire to move to the music, to let go, lose all inhibitions, and just feel free. It is there, even if another person must pull it out of them. If you are looking to up your game when the DJ spins your favorite tune, or maybe just want to look sweet during your first dance as wife and husband, consider lessons from Dancing on the Suncoast. Located in the heart of Lakewood Ranch, they are the go-to dance studio for many in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas.
Today, all the rage in wedding activities is hitting the dance floor as husband and wife, with a well-choreographed dance routine in tow. Patrick Johnson and his wife Cyntia opened Dancing on the Suncoast in 2001 and since that time have seen a dramatic uptick in people coming in for lessons for a specific occasion. Patrick explains, “I would say that is the bulk of our business, though we do see people coming in who want to look better as a dancing couple or learn moves they can use at the clubs.” Both with esteemed, championship dance backgrounds, Patrick and Cyntia love to watch the progression of their dancers. “Many times, it is the wife who comes in wanting the husband to learn to dance and he may not even show up for the first lesson. But they eventually come in and often cannot believe how much they love it.”
Individualized choreographed dance routines for father/daughter dances, proms and anniversaries are also a hot-ticket item. “People tell us what they want, what emotions they are trying to convey, and we pair the routine with their music for a one-of-a-kind dance. It is wonderful to see the results.” Patrick goes on to say the dance studio participates in several competitions throughout the year and utilizes their space for parties, dance recitals and similar events. “We see all ages coming in for a variety of dance lessons and we happily help them all reach their goals.”
Whether you are looking for private, individualized, couples, or social group lessons, Dancing on the Suncoast has been improving the moves of hundreds of lesson recipients, allowing them to feel confident on the dancefloor. From Latin-inspired dances like the salsa or merengue to swing and ballroom, it does not matter they type of dance lesson you are seeking just that your heart and mind are into it. From teens to centenarians, the feet always learn to follow.
A wonderful way to learn how to dance is to use bartering to procure your lessons. At Dancing on the Suncoast, they are happy to see new clients who are there through affiliations with the International Barter Exchange. As Patrick likes to tell people who may be on the fence about joining IBE, “We love all of the people we have met through IBE, it is just a wonderful way to network and grow your business.” Patrick and Cyntia enjoy the practicality of IBE but also the more elaborate services they can receive by using IBE. From car maintenance to massages, Hubcaps to teeth caps, and all the ABC’s of saving in-between, when it comes to IBE, ease of use and client satisfaction are inherent to the bartering process.
With nearly 20 years’ experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist and holding a certification in Integrative Manual Therapy, Traci Carroll, owner of Healing Arts Massage and Wellness, is uniquely qualified to take your pain and stresses away. With accolades like “miracle worker” and “answer to a prayer” following her, it is easy to see why her clients are so loyal and quick to share the healing powers that Traci holds within her skillful hands. Combining time-proven techniques with her innate ability to target the source of years’ long pain her clients have endured, then providing relief they imagined impossible has become a recipe for success for Traci and her adoring clientele.
With an impressive professional background that includes time spent at spas, yoga studios, physical therapy clinics, medical offices and the like, Traci has seen just about every pain or ailment a person may have. Whether it be from sports or auto accident injuries, a sedentary lifestyle or muscle damages incurred on the job, Traci has a remedy for what ails you. Traci strives to get down to the root of the problem, spending one-on-one time with the client discussing past events and medical histories. She utilizes her holistic background to add remedies to her patients’ care that are often unexpected but very welcomed. Traci understands pain can manifest itself in many ways and can often mask a deeper issue. You can be assured of a thorough, all-body approach when you visit Traci at Healing Arts Massage and Wellness.
With a variety of massage styles designed to meet every client’s individual needs, Healing Arts Massage has you covered. Some of the different massage modalities used by Traci include Swedish massage, hot rocks, chair massage, reflexology, strain/stretching, deep tissue and therapeutic massage. Her individualized approach to each client combined with her breadth of experience ensures each person with whom her hands come in contact leave feeling better. That is Traci’s daily goal and one which she readily meets. Recently, Traci was able to help a new mother with a highly colicky baby. The constant crying and discomfort of the baby put a huge strain on the mother, father and entire family. They thought they had exhausted all available resources through the medical system but found sizeable relief from infant massage administered by Traci. For any new parent, relief like that is immeasurable.
Traci’s all-encompassing approach to massage therapy is akin to the way that she has successfully run her business for the past two decades. She has found bartering with IBE to be an invaluable asset to her business’s growth and success. “I use IBE for everything; from the dentist, electrician, plumber, great restaurants – – there isn’t anything I’ve found that IBE doesn’t cover.” Traci goes on to say, “It is a no-brainer to me because I use it so often, and I always tell other people the ways that they can use it too.” Much like Traci takes the pain away from her satisfied clients, she lets IBE take the sting out of managing her monthly fixed expenses.
1. Increase Marketshare: When accepting barter business, not only do you increase sales, but you take the sale away from your competitors.
2. Reduce Overhead Costs: Using incremental barter sales to offset daily operating expenses can reduce overhead costs, i.e. janitorial service, water or coffee service, vehicle maintenance, signage, etc.
3. Collect Slow Receivables: Offer barter as a method of payment for buyers who are collection problems. Barter can also be a great alternative for buyers whose purchasing power is limited because of their credit standing.
4. Penetrate Lost Accounts: By accepting other goods as payment and filtering them through the network, you can penetrate elusive accounts.
5. Generate Referrals: More barter business typically means more people talk about your business and refer new potential cash customers, whom you otherwise would not find.
6. Reduce the Cost of Borrowing: Rather than paying cash interest on working capital or capital expenditure loans, establish a credit line from IBE Barter against future products sales – the interest is all on trade.
7. Enhance Employee Benefits: Secure employee loyalty and productivity by bartering for medical services, vehicle repair, uniforms, travel and other employee incentives.
8. Utilize Excess Capacity: As fixed costs remain the same during good times and slow times, utilize excess capacity to pay for operating expenses that are normally paid for in cash.
9. Convert Excess Inventory: List slow moving goods with IBE Barter and earn trade dollars that can be used for today’s operating expenses
10. Expand Your Advertising: Bartering your advertising will bring in new cash customers and you’ll be more visible as your competitors conserve their cash budgets.
11. Revamp your Printed Materials: Start off the New Year by revamping your company’s printed materials. Offset cash costs of printing, graphic design and commercial photography with barter.
12. Budget and Implementation: Lay out a barter budget and implement the plan throughout the year. If you budget for it, you can make it all happen!
These days, everyone is looking around their yards and wondering how they can spruce things up. Since we are all spending more time with out families, really evaluating what is most important to us, recognizing that our surroundings directly influence our peace and day-to-day enjoyment is crucial. Are we providing enough shade so that when the intense Florida heat arrives, we are ready to continue with year-round outdoor entertaining? Are our bushes and flowers pruned and trimmed so that they signify, “we care” about our green areas? Are walkways and play spaces free of stumps and roots that might cause children and visitors to trip and fall? These are all questions homeowners and professionals ask so that they can keep their people safe and truly live in a peaceful environment. If your yards and landscaping could use some help, there is one professional who will help turn your outdoor areas into havens. To step things up around your home or office, you need Affordable Tree Services.
For Ray and Eric, the principals at Affordable Tree Service, being the standard bearers in safety and as respected, certified arborists, “seeing the tree through the forest” is an easy mantra. They treat every client encounter as an opportunity to make a homeowner’s outside dreams come true. From precise trimming to major stump grinding, they are there to simplify the sometimes-massive undertaking of large tree removal. The best part of the process is that the friendly, capable professionals at Affordable Tree Services will haul away any remnants of their job well-done. You won’t be left with messy clean-up or discarded limbs strewn about, which is why people return to Affordable Tree Service for all tree-related services needed on their property.
The residential and professional properties situated on Casey Key, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch and other luxurious communities in the area represent the Florida lifestyle people from all over the world crave. They want to see manicured trees, pruned bushes, luscious outdoor living spaces that entice one to step outside and feel the sunshine. And you want to feel that way too, every single day. When your area becomes overrun like a scene out of a jungle movie, you need to call in the professionals. Whether it be for extensive crane and chipper services, hurricane clean up and haul away, or just beautifying the backyard for upcoming picnics, barbeques and graduations, Affordable Tree Service has you covered with impeccable service, great prices and, always, a job that is worthy of applause.
For Eric at Affordable Tree Service, helping employees out without being a huge corporation with bottomless pockets can be challenging. You want to offer all types of benefits and bonuses, but sometimes that just is not in the plans for a small business owner. Thankfully, IBE has filled that bill for the folks at Affordable Tree Service. “We are thrilled to be able to provide services to our employees that other IBE members offer.” Eric goes on to say, “From QR Certificates at great restaurants to walk-in medical clinics, car washes and so much more, our employees really appreciate the perks that IBE delivers.” And as far as ease of operation, Eric cannot say enough about the prompt and friendly service that Mary and Ron at IBE provide every single time. “It is so easy and convenient to join and there are just so many benefits, we just love IBE. If you have a question or need something special, you know they will have an answer in no time at all.”
