Strapped for cash? Swap your services for goods
Monday April 27 2009
A GROUP of students have set up a bartering website for goods and services to help individuals and businesses combat the current recession.
Brothers Gerry (22) and Jeff Harte (24), from Donnybrook, along with friend Fionn McDonnell (22), from Dalkey, established Swop-o-nomics, a website dedicated to swapping.
The site allows people to exchange their skills, services and goods for absolutely no charge.
And the savvy entrepreneurs said that they predict a revolution in the way we do business, especially in these particularly turbulent times.
"I think things are going to change; people will have to be open to other ways and not just be a pure cash society," said Gerry.
"We have been hearing so much about unemployment, which reached 11pc the other day, and barter seemed like an interesting idea, so we set up the website."
Although it has only been established for just over a month, there have been over 4,500 hits and with 96 people signing up as members.
"We've had a hairdresser who has swapped a haircut for clothes from a retailer," explained Gerry.
"It was set up as a community based thing. There is a feedback rating system so we can weed out anyone who is not providing a great service."
But the service is not just confined to skilled individuals.
"We are looking to get some businesses in to free up some cash," said Gerry. "Cash is vital for businesses at the moment."
For more details visit www.swop-o-nomics.com
cmurphy@dublin.ie
- Claire Murphy
