The Challenge: How do you keep your business and your life "blooming" when times are slow?

The ITEX Solution: By filling slow times with ITEX, you can keep marketing and building cash business even during the slow times.

The Florist's Story:

When Patricia Doyle opened M.G. Floral in 2000 there were lots of things that she wanted to do right away. A web site, advertising, printing and, of course, get business! The ITEX Marketplace helped with all of those things. Since she joined, she has done about $15,000 a year and has gotten her web site designed and hosted, her printing done, and a host of advertising by spending ITEX dollars instead of cash.

Advertising is critical for success but when business slows it's sometimes hard to find cash for anything other than operating expenses. "With ITEX," says Ms. Doyle, "I can pay for things that ordinarily wouldn't be practical during slow times."

Patricia uses the ITEX Co-op program to help her ITEX dollars go even further. For putting a small logo in her ads, ITEX will reimburse half of her ITEX dollar costs for advertising, up to $10,000 ITEX dollars per year!

In addition to saving her cash, she has built strong working relationships with hotels and B&B's in the area. They refer cash business like weddings and other events to her as well as bringing her their ITEX business. "Working within the ITEX Marketplace is nice," says Patricia. "They are business owners like me and it's a much easier sell."

Vacations and time for family are precious - if seldom seen - commodities for the small business owner. Patricia and her family have been able to use their ITEX dollars to help make this a priority as well. Travel deals for her, her husband and their three kids have been much more affordable and easier to enjoy when they can spend ITEX dollars instead of cash that's needed for the business and every-day bills. And because of her wonderful relationship with the ITEX Members in her area - they know the business will keep on coming!

What could you do with the extra money if you could turn slow times into buying power?