November 2007 Newsletter – Feel the Triad Trade Winds!
If you are having trouble viewing this e-newsletter, please click here.

Velocity Trade Exchange, LLC is a membership-based "barter network," committed to helping small to medium-sized businesses use barter as a tool to put power in their profits. With the Velocity Trade system, members do not barter directly with one another in the traditional way. Instead, they each have an account of "Trade Dollars" that they can spend with any other Velocity member, regardless of their need for what the other member has to offer. Members get started with a trade dollar credit line, giving them immediate buying power to purchase the goods and services they need with minimal cash out of pocket. Members gain market share and improve their profitability by becoming a provider of choice to a network of motivated buyers.

Know where to go – Triad Small Business Resource Guide: Here's a quick guide to which resources are most appropriate for various small business needs.
Keep Connected – Greensboro Networking Events: Here are a few upcoming events that may help you make the right connections in Greensboro:

     • Tuesday, November 13th – GMA After Work Networks
        5:00 – 7:00 pm – The Village at North Elm
     • Wednesday, November 14th – SynerG on Tap
        5:30 until ... – Ganache Restaurant
        Bring $5 or 3 canned goods for Greensboro Urban Ministry
     • Thursday, November 15th – Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
        Business After Hours – 5:00 – 7:00
     • Monday, December 3rd – BizLife Magazine
        Movers and Shakers Lunch – 11:30 – 1:00


Velocity Trade Exchange is proud to introduce our latest member additions, please welcome attorney Susan L. Hunt, PC, and Carolina Coffee and Tea. We're busy processing applications for several other exciting prospective new VTE members – stay tuned! Click here to view the full member offerings.


The following items are available for both members and nonmembers ("NM" may purchase at the same prices on a cash basis).

The Greensboro Gift


Member: All Wrapped Up
 Cost: Starting at $50 – upgrades & personalization available – call for a quote.
Trade Parameters: Starts at $50 – upgrades available – call for a quote.
Contact: Lea Frederick – (336) 324-3222
Macintosh Laptop Computer


Member: G4G Interactive
 Cost: $700 or best offer
Trade Parameters: T$100 Cash $600
Contact: Dawn Mitchell – (336) 510-7467
Preserve Family Photos! 35 MM Slide and Film Negative Scanner


Member: G4G Interactive
 Cost: $200 or best offer
Trade Parameters: 25%
Contact: Dawn Mitchell – (336) 510-7467


VTE Gift Certificate

Member: Velocity Trade Exchange, LLC
 Cost: Available in amounts of $10 and up.
Trade Parameters: 100%
Contact: Cathi Vogel – (336) 379-5066



Use your trade dollars as incentives for your Clients and Prospects: VTE Members can use their trade dollars to purchase goods and services as an incentive for their cash customers to buy now, commit to a minimum amount of time, commit to a certain number of transactions, etc. Think about what blocks your clients and prospects from completing the action you'd like them to take. It's often something very simple such as time, expense, and the big one, fear of making a mistake.

If what you're selling is truly a first-rate solution for your prospect(s), offering an incentive can often be effective in helping those on the fence take the leap over to your side. Look for goods and services offered by other members that you can purchase with trade dollars that might help your prospects reach a decision faster. Examples might include a lifestyle related incentive to the first customer who takes action, a drawing for all customers who take act within a specific amount of time, or for big-ticket sales, just as a thank you for choosing you.

Being creative can go a long way in distinguishing your company in the eyes of your clients, provided, of course, you select incentives which are likely to be viewed as something of value to your customer base. Incentives are not a "magic bullet," but they can be just the thing to encourage the hesitant buyer to make the move.


Thank you to all who came by our GMA Marketing & Technology Expo booth. We had a great day and hope our visitors and volunteers did as well. Thank you again to 336Events.com, AllOver Media, All Wrapped Up Custom Gifts, G4G Interactive, Grand Prix Greensboro, ShipOnSite, and SV2 Studios We're still coordinating the delivery of the last of the prizes generously donated – stay tuned for winner details!

The last VTE networking event of 2007 was held on Wednesday, Nov. 7th at Backstreets Restaurant - What a great group! We hope that our members and visitors found it as invigorating as we did to be surrounded by the caliber of individuals in attendance. Planning has begun for our January 2008 event – details will be released soon.

VTE is considering purchasing a table at the BizLife Movers & Shakers Awards Luncheon on Monday, Dec. 3rd, provided there is sufficient interest in seats. Members of Velocity can purchase a seat at the VTE table at the significantly reduced rate of $30 each; plus they may pay 50% cash / trade. Friends of Velocity may also take advantage of the table rate by purchasing a seat at the VTE table for $40 each. Seats will be available first for Velocity members, then if additional seats are available, to VTE Friends. Please contact us by Tuesday, November 20th if you'd like to take advantage of this special offer.

Members, you may now download a csv file of member contact information so that you can easily add members to your contact database. On the "My Account" page after logging in, there is a Member List link in the upper left hand corner. Right click on the link and select "save link as" – choose the location to which you want to save the file. You can then either import the file into your Outlook or other contact management system, or you open the file from Excel (change file type to "all files" to view the file), fix the formatting and save it as an Excel file if you prefer working directly from the spreadsheet.

Members, we will be placing a member card order very soon for our new members and members in process. New card orders must be imprinted in quantities of 20 or more. If you plan to order any VTE gift cards, use trade dollars for employees' end of year bonuses or if you would like to create a subaccount to keep personal expenses separate from the business expenses and you'd like to get that in the next batch ordered, please get the names you'd like on the card(s) to us by Monday, November 12th.


Holiday Ideas: How can you use your trade dollars for client, employee and personal holiday gifts? From gift baskets, to business books and cd's, to retail gifts, to home décor items, to gift certificates for dining, personal care, entertainment, and business resources… Your VTE membership can help you save your cash AND make a great impression on those who matter to you. Contact Us for more information or assistance.






Visit G4G Interactive.com to learn more and to view Dawn's online portfolio.

Dawn will have a booth at Tuesday's GMA event… please stop by to say hello.
Meet Dawn Mitchell, owner of G4G Interactive, Inc., a graphic design firm. Dawn began her career with a degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale; then honed her skills over the next 12 years in south Florida, first with a magazine publishing company, then with an advertising agency. She started G4G Interactive just a few years after college to take on side freelance projects as a supplement to her income.

She and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2005 to escape the high cost of living and hurricanes. Dawn looked for a full-time job, but continued to take on freelance projects "to fill in the gaps." Eventually, it became apparent that full-time entrepreneurship had chosen her as she became so busy with freelance projects that she no longer had the time to look for a position with a firm.

As Dawn has built a loyal client base in the two years hence, both in the Triad and nationally, G4G Interactive has become a flourishing graphic design business. Eventually, Dawn would like to build her business to the point that she can "travel around the world and visit all seven continents."

Something that might surprise you to know about Dawn: "I joined the Marines right after high school and broke my hip in boot camp." Thankfully, graphic design is typically a low injury career in comparison!

Dawn reports that she made the choice to join Velocity as a pioneer members because, "Cathi is a great person and I thought it would be a good experience for me to meet new people and try new things."



Did You Know? Velocity Member News: Would you like to see the directory listing of a member listed below but are not a member? Contact us to request any directory listing that is not included on the Featured Member page.

ActionCOACH is ready to help you stop letting your business run you, so you can start running and growing your business. Seats are still available for their November and December workshops, including:

     • "TeamRICH"
       Friday, November 16th (8:30 – 10:30 am)
     • FREE – "5 Ways to Better Business"
       Wednesday, December 5th (3 – 5 pm)
     • How to Create Raving Fans (CPE credits available for CPA's)
       Thursday, December 13th (3 – 5 pm)
     • 90-day "GrowthCLUB" session
       Friday, Decmember 14th

Click here for event details. For Velocity Trade acceptance information, visit ActionCOACH's Directory Listing.

The Brooks Group Sales Management Symposium: December 5th & 6th – visit www.brooksgroup.com for details and to book your seat today! For Velocity Trade acceptance information, visit The Brooks Group's Directory Listing. Massive Profits for You and Your Clients (CPE credits available for CPA's) on Thursday, November 29th (8 – 10 am)

New member, Carolina Coffee and Tea, has been quite busy with their newest addition, "The Spot for Tea Parties." With the same warmth and charm that keep Greensboro residents coming in for their daily coffee or tea, The Spot for Tea Parties is a place where children ages 4 to 99 can step into an enchanted garden and enjoy dress-up tea parties. The fun begins when children enter the tea garden and let their imaginations soar. Those precious hours of make-believe will come alive when children begin to explore the princess room and select from a variety of princess dresses, tiaras, boas, wands, jewelry, and princess slippers. Check out the details on their new and improved website.

Congratulations to G4G Interactive for celebrating their second anniversary in Greensboro, your talents are greatly appreciated! Click Here for a sampling of the projects that have kept G4G so busy!

Piedmont Triad Concierge is planning several upcoming singles Speed Dating in the Triad: November 13th at Solaris Restaurant on Summit Ave., December 11th at Lonestar Steakhouse on High Point Rd, and January 27th at Juice 'N Java on New Garden Rd. For additional information on these events in the Triad, as well as Raleigh/Durham, click here.

Solaris Restaurant is always ready to entertain you and tempt your taste buds! Be sure to check their website for the latest events hosted by Solaris.



Velocity Trade Exchange is extending the 50% member discount for all VTE web advertising options through First Quarter of 2008. Buy in bulk and save as much as 30% more! All VTE advertising options are available at 100% trade.



Velocity Trade Exchange, LLC
2007 Yanceyville St. • Box # 72  •  Suite 110  •  Greensboro, NC 27405  •  (336) 379-5066
E-mail Velocity Trade Exchange  •  www.velocitytradeexchange.com