Karen Hoffman - The Art of Barter: How to Trade for Almost Anything

T here are so many people who have impacted this book and my life. Some people I will mention have passed on, but they absolutely affected my life in such positive ways. My apologies for anyone Ive forgotten to mention here; you are still in my heart.

Thanks so much to our agent, Krista Goering, for believing in Shera Dalin and me. Thanks to our editor, Ann Treistman, from Skyhorse Publishingwhat a joy you have been to work with!

Without Michael Gershman (author of Smarter Barter ), Phil Donahue (yes, the former TV talk show host), and Stuart Burstein (owner of the local Barter System International franchise), I would never have discovered retail barter. Thank you, all.

To my hundreds and hundreds of very cool clients, thank you for sharing the journey of learning together about the benefits of barter and creative ways to use it. My special thanks to clients who were with me from the beginning of my own barter company in the late 80s: Steve Bunyard, who gifted me with my single largest deala million-dollar transaction; Joe Eisenberg, who rescued me when I realized that this million-dollar transaction needed warehousing; Marty Daly, another big thinker who saw the potential that barter has yet to reach here in the United States; Steve and Cindy Tornatore, who have always treated their barter clients as wonderfully as they treated their cash customers. It was rewarding to serve you, and I count you not only as clients but as friends.

My deepest thanks to the three guys who helped me keep my barter spirits up and reenergized me when I was low: Bob Meyer, the publisher of Barter News magazine; Gary Monkman, a dear friend and an exchange owner in Waukegan, Illinois; and Paul St. Martin with the Allan Hackel Organization. Thanks for your time and our talks.

To some brilliant barter and business minds and those who gave so much to the International Reciprocal Trade Association and to me: Alan Elkin, Allan Hackel, Steve Goldbloom (thanks for your belief in me), Scott Whittmer (wow; as a board member, you gave and gave!), Susan Groenwald, Mary Ellen Rosinski, Lois Dale (the Queen of Barter), Reiner Husemann, Paul Suplizio, and Pascal Alexandre. Working with and learning from all of you was an honor.

To Bruce KammI love your possibility mind and how you saw such big things for the barter industry. Paul and Collette McConvillewhat awesome friends, what caring hearts. Mike Baer, wherever you are, thanks for your belief in me as well and for listening to my many ideas and running with them. Dawn Kerns and Larry Knaus, thanks for tolerating me as your boss for many years. Richard Harris, when we were not annoying each other, our passion for barter and making deals united us. I give thanks to the following people who, in addition to the service they have given to the barter industry, helped me research this book: again, Bob Meyer, Terry and Lee Brandfass, David Wallach, Harold Rice, Mauyra Lane, John Moore, and Alexandra Hart. Thank you, thank you!

Thanks also to so many people who contributed their time, knowledge, and wisdom to this book: Zeo Solomon and Amir Razmara, Debbie Bozsa, Dawn Maturen, all the folks at Active International, Maurya Lane for her tremendous sense of humor and incredible patience at answering unending questions, and the many other experts who helped in their own ways.

For the many wings beneath my sails, believing in me, helping me, in all my endeavors, I thank Linda Binns, Laura Schacht, Angela Lieb, Laura Herring, Sandy Brickey, Sue Schneider, Judy Ryan, Mary Kay Sheets, Julie Hood, Jackie Cook, Donna Gamache, Suzi Tozer, Tessa Greenspan, Kelly Alcorn, Karen Garcia, and so many more; my ESPW (Encouraging, Supporting Promoting Women) family; my eWomen Network family; and my Uncle Marty. I am truly blessed beyond belief.

Lastly, Shera Dalin; what a joy its been to collaborate and work on this book together. The flow was fantastic. You are brilliant, and you made this project so much fun! I adore you!