Trader Stu reveals how business barter creates opportunities for new customers and partnerships while sharing his journey using podcasting instead of SEO to market his business. He discusses innovative marketing strategies and shares exciting local events happening at the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

• Using barter as a powerful business growth tool that isn't taught in business schools
• Partnership with Quantum Local Media placing ads on indoor digital billboards in high-traffic locations
• Michigan Renaissance Festival featuring world market, belly dancing competition, steampunk contest
• Camping adventures and lessons learned including the exploding tent incident
• Hyperlocal marketing strategy focusing on education through podcast promotion
• Free advertising opportunity for businesses hosting digital monitors

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Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We unlock the secrets of business-to-business trade through powerful networking strategies and explore using podcasts as a marketing tool instead of relying solely on SEO.

• Working from home while dealing with family health challenges demonstrates today's business flexibility
• Renaissance Festival sponsorship provides free tickets in exchange for podcast promotions
• New partnership with an indoor billboard company creates opportunities for Metro Trading Association members
• Indoor billboards produce powerful results with an 83% recall rate among customers
• Businesses hosting billboards receive $4,600 in free annual advertising across multiple locations
• Targeting by county ensures advertising reaches potential customers within reasonable distance
• The concept of "15-minute cities" shows a return to local business and community focus
• High-traffic locations like restaurants, salons, and fitness centers make ideal billboard hosts

Contact us at 248-244-0000 and ask for Stu to learn more about indoor billboard opportunities in Oakland County.

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Behind the scenes of a local Chamber of Commerce networking event called "Coffee Talk," sharing real elevator pitches from business professionals across diverse industries.

• Speed networking events allow participants to give 2-minute elevator pitches to multiple tables
• Using notes is perfectly acceptable and helps ensure you cover all important points
• The key components of a good pitch include a clear introduction, what makes your business unique, and a specific "ask"
• Networking is a skill that improves with practice - don't expect to nail it the first time
• Even experienced professionals get nervous when presenting their business
• Diverse businesses represented include orthodontists, banks, recreation centers, art organizations, and more
• Building relationships through in-person networking can be more effective than relying solely on SEO
• Recording real pitches helps demystify the networking process for newcomers

Whatever y'all do out there, be good or be good at it.

Contact information for those who gave a 2 minute presentation:

1. Paint Creek Center for the Arts — Shaun Hayes — Shaun@PCCArt.org — www.pccart.org
2. Olivia Kay (Certified Speaker, Neuroscience Coach, and Author) — Olivia Kay — www.oliviak.org
3. ReSale Connection (Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan) www.semich.AssistanceLeague.org
4. Stand For What Is Noble — Elizabeth Graham Kaniarz — elizabeth.kaniarz@standforwhatisnoble.com — standforwhatisnoble.com
5. RARA Recreation — Samuel Lunt — Sam@RARArecreation.org — www.rararecreation.org
6. OPC Social & Activity Center — Jenay Frost — jfrost@opcenter.org — opcenter.org
7. First State Bank — Laurie Sigelko — lsigelko@fsb.bank — www.fsb.bank
8. David Powers — David Powers — DP@DAVIDPERFORMS.COM — www.davidperforms.com
9. The Marketing Shop — Vicky M. Winkler — vicky@tms.marketing — www.tms.marketing
10. Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan — info@wustylerochester.com — www.wustylerochester.com

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We unlock the secrets of Renaissance-era business strategies and discover how 16th-century merchants mastered networking, marketing, and creative value exchange long before modern B2B concepts existed.

• Medieval merchants created powerful visual branding with storefront symbols that became the precursors to modern logos
• Professional "criers" served as human billboards, offering free samples while chanting slogans—the original product demonstrations
• Guilds functioned as exclusive B2B networks, setting quality standards, fixing prices, and offering healthcare and retirement benefits
• Renaissance fairs were the original trade shows, featuring international merchants, experiential marketing, and on-the-spot deal financing
• Multi-party barter chains allowed merchants to trade globally without cash, using reputation-backed bills of exchange
• Merchant networks were built on generosity—those who hosted travelers or shared market intelligence earned lifetime referrals
• AI represents our modern renaissance, offering powerful business tools while potentially disrupting traditional jobs
• The core principles of business success remain constant: trust, creativity, and mutual benefit

Visit the Michigan Renaissance Festival now through September to experience living history and see merchant marketing in action. Find me near the turkey legs this week!

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Trader Stu explores why restaurants should join barter groups as a strategic business move in today's challenging economic climate.

• Restaurants face rising costs, cautious consumer spending, and fierce competition for loyal customers
• Barter offers a creative way to overcome these challenges while preserving cash flow
• Trade unused inventory and empty tables for essential services like cleaning, marketing, and repairs
• Joining a barter group provides an instant business community and built-in clientele
• Barter can help increase foot traffic by introducing new customers to your restaurant
• Trade dollars can be used for employee perks and benefits without increasing payroll costs
• Marketing and advertising opportunities through barter help expand your reach affordably
• Barter credits act as an alternative currency during cash-tight periods
• Some barter networks offer credit lines for significant expenses with interest paid in trade dollars

If you're intrigued, reach out to your local barter network. If you're not in my area, contact me for a referral. Remember, sometimes the best currency isn't cash, it's community.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Affiliate and influencer marketing are no longer just for consumer brands—they're transforming B2B marketing with performance-based models that prioritize trust and authenticity over mass reach. Traditional marketing approaches are converging with new digital strategies as B2B companies recognize the power of micro-influencers and genuine content partnerships.

• COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation across industries, pushing B2B marketing into new territory
• Performance-based affiliate marketing allows companies to pay for actual results rather than potential reach
• B2B companies focus on micro-influencers (10,000-50,000 followers) rather than mega-influencers
• Industry experts with engaged niche audiences generate higher trust and conversion rates
• Expert content like tutorials, webinars, and case studies integrate affiliate links organically
• AI-driven tools help optimize campaigns while respecting increasingly important privacy concerns
• Short-form video content is gaining traction even in traditionally long-form B2B marketing
• Authenticity is essential—start with 3-5 trusted influencers who align with your brand values
• Track performance with clear metrics and continuously nurture affiliate relationships
• Quality partnerships consistently outperform quantity in the B2B space

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll explore AI innovations in sales and creative barter marketing strategies shaping the future of B2B.

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Trader Stu shares strategic approaches for blending trade and cash to maximize business revenue and expand customer reach with real-world examples from new members.

• Combining trade with cash transactions creates a powerful marketing strategy that preserves cash while driving new business
• Birch Run Speedway uses trade for ticket sales while keeping concessions, merchandise, and sponsorships cash-only
• Customers who attend events on trade often spend more cash on-site since they perceive their admission as "free"
• Filling otherwise empty seats or appointment slots with trade customers brings in additional revenue with no incremental cost
• Salon example shows how to accept trade for select services (red light therapy, facials) while keeping high-cost services cash-only
• Trade clients often become loyal cash customers and refer others to your business
• Consider trade as part of your marketing budget, not a replacement for cash sales
• The strategic approach works for nearly any business with unused capacity or perishable inventory

Check out Michigan Renaissance Festival next month in August!

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

The Trading Post podcast unlocks the secret formula to transforming business cards into profitable relationships using a simple, measurable strategy that works at any networking event.

• Approach networking events with the "40 card challenge" - emptying your left pocket of business cards while filling your right pocket with prospects
• Most people fail at networking because they collect cards but never follow up properly
• Calculating your true ROI helps determine which events are worth your time investment
• Simple equation: (deal value) ÷ (hours invested including prep/event/follow-up) = your hourly ROI
• Memorable elevator pitches like "We'll put the seat down" for plumbers create instant connections
• Use a permanent marker to note conversation topics on the back of collected cards
• Follow up within 24-48 hours with personalized emails referencing specific conversations
• Digital alternatives like LinkedIn connections and NFC cards are changing networking dynamics
• The key to networking success is viewing it as an investment with measurable returns

Email your networking success stories to be featured in a future episode.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.