How the idea for bizunlimited came about

Judith Hunt, bizunlimited co-founder, first developed the idea after a similar system helped her get a world-beating sailor in to a crucial race and later became the life-line for her earlier business, First Base

Nature of the business:

First Base - Judith Hunt, owner/manager. Branding through events, specialist in managing entrepreneurs and extreme sports people, their campaigns and their brands.

Business issue:

How to find £40k to get our ocean-racing star to the start-line of the first of 7 ocean races within 8 weeks, when sponsor has just pulled out after 9/11 World Trade Centre disaster

Solution sought:

Offset £40k of expenditure through a b-2-b trading exchange

The only trading exchange solution in 2001:

500 small businesses trading through a barter exchange offering a “pooled” bartering service. No online directory, presence or payment method - hard to see what services offered and who was trading - difficult to use – worked on 100% barter only

Results and benefits:

£5k tanked laptops, £3.5k logos/branding on hull and sails, £1k printed press packs, £2k design, £20k container/freight forwarding, £2.5k hotel space/hospitality for press conferences, £1.5k photography, £2k van leasing, £2.5k mobile airtime

Ocean racer got to the start-line and won the race …

First Base traded out of T£40k debt by bartering event management expertise in the barter exchange

When lost major client in 2002, used barter to bolster business

Inspired to create an online trading exchange for businesses using a Complementary Currency and cash instead of just barter currency...

back to top

Chateau Select & Thorne Creative

Nature of the business:

Chateau Select: specialist wine importer, supplying wines, champagne and fortified wines from Australia, France, Portugal and South America, to private clients in the UK and independent restaurants and clubs.

Thorne Creative: newly re-launched independent consultancy and branding practice

Business issue:

Chateau Select: Looking for better and more cost-effective ways to present the breadth of offering without detracting from French core products, increase sales volumes, repeat sales from private clients and reduce administration overheads

Thorne Creative: as newly relaunched business, looking for new business, every £marketing had to work hard

Solution sought:

Chateau Select: a rebrand of offering and foundation design for new website

Thorne Creative: new customers at low cost of acquisition, opportunity to publicise breadth of experience and skill through membership of community

What bizunlimited provided:

Access to a range of suppliers who could deliver Chateau Select’s requirements and who would negotiate on CCpart:£part. Chateau Select responded to online promotion by bizunlimited member Thorne Creative offering full brand audit for £1000 at CC40% including logo, stationery and website

Results and benefits:

Chateau Select: addressed business issues without recourse to cash reserves.

Thorne Creative: won first client for new business with very low acquisition cost and valuable ‘fresh’ client reference site for marketing his services

What Jason Thorne of Thorne Creative says about bizunlimited: "Just wanted to thank you. I've just had my first bit of work ever through a business referral network within one week of joining bizunlimited. Long live bizunlimited!".

What Bill Warry of Chateau Select says about bizunlimited: "Some exchanges insist on most business being transacted entirely in the organisation's own virtual currency. Others allow you to choose your own percentage of virtual currency. I do rather like bizunlimited for precisely this reason. It is always important to keep a healthy balance between cash and virtual money. You can't pay the VAT man in virtual currency!"

for more details sign in and click on search to trade with these members

back to top

Real You International: testing a new product

Nature of the business:

Real You International Ltd - established international performance coach in corporate arena.

Business issue:

Wanted to diversity client base and work more closely with entrepreneurs

Solution sought:

To be able to pilot a coaching service for owners of smaller businesses at low risk/cost

What bizunlimited provided:

Captive audience of SME business owners, 20% consultants relying on fee-based model

Opportunity to test market new workshop to receptive business professionals, at low cost/no cost thanks to bizunlimited’s promotional activities and unique payment model

Opportunity for business members to trial Real You International’s service at low risk by paying part CCs and part £s for workshop participation

Results and benefits:

Real You International ran successful pilot workshop, gained incremental business at very low £cost

Member businesses attended workshops usually charged at £1000 per person for £147 paid CC50:£97

What Clayton Ainger of Real You International says about bizunlimited: "Since becoming a trading partner with bizunlimited, opportunities which I would have first thought impossible have become open to me and Real You International.

I would highly recommend that all small business owners make bizunlimited their first port of call when seeking to increase cashflow, win new business and become part of a caring business community".

for more details sign in and click on search to trade with this member

back to top