Ex-Yankee Pitcher Pitches Barter As Powerful Business Tool

Mission Viejo, CA - June 14, 2005 - Bob Meyer, a former major league pitcher in the 1960s who signed four-consecutive major league contracts with the New York Yankees, is now the most visible spokesman for the worldwide commercial barter industry.

Meyer is the publisher of BarterNews, which he founded 25 years ago. The magazine reports on the many ways barter can be used to leverage one's business, as well as up-to-date information on the happenings within the commercial barter industry.

"Barter is an underutilized and under appreciated business tool that virtually every business owner should be using, whether on a direct or indirect basis," Meyer emphasized. "Globally, it is a $600 billion-a-year way of doing business that enables companies of every size to secure needed products and services. Barter is a proven business tool used by firms for marketing, financing, and purchasing efforts.

"Given today's competitive marketplace, under capitalization by most startups, and the typical use of high-interest credit cards, anytime one's product or service can be exchanged for a needed business expense it should be embraced," he enthused. "And, it is easier than ever with some 800 trade companies, worldwide."

BarterNews magazine reports on three areas of barter-the commercial trade exchange industry (business barter clubs), corporate barter (large multimillion dollar transactions), and countertrade (transactions between countries). Its readership is international in scope, encompassing six continents.

The magazine has an extensive web site with comprehensive information on the subject, a free weekly e-newsletter, "The Tuesday Report," and hundreds of articles and contacts. For more information go to www.barternews.com.

About Bob Meyer: A former major league baseball player, Meyer signed the first of four consecutive major league contracts with the New York Yankees at age 21. After an 11-year professional baseball career he launched an import business, selling science-oriented products to schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. After numerous, profitable barter experiences Meyer sold his business and founded BarterNews in 1980. In addition to the magazine, he has authored a 532-page barter program for the business community and publishes a monthly newsletter for trade exchanges.

Acknowledgements for his contributions to the commercial barter industry are considerable. Most notable was his induction into the International Reciprocal Trade Association's "Barter-Hall-of-Fame" in its charter year, September 1997. He was also the recipient of the first-ever "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the National Association of Trade Exchanges in September 2004.

Contact: Bob Meyer, phone (949) 831-0607 or e-mail to bmeyer@barternews.com.