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Tracy Jong, an attorney in Rochester, New York, joined IMS Barter in 2008. When Tracy opened her new law office, her target client base included individuals and small to medium sized companies. A local IMS member needed trademark legal services and there were no attorneys in IMS that provided patent and trademark services. When she was approached to join IMS to serve this potential client, she had no experience with it and had only heard about barter exchanges in casual conversation. The representative presented a good case for giving IMS a try. As it turned out, the potential IMS member client that requested her services never proceeded. However, over the first year, other clients worked with her and her IMS trade dollars grew. Tracy now actively promotes IMS to all of her business clients, especially when she incorporates a new business.
About two years after joining, Tracy believes it was a great choice. "IMS members are generally entrepreneurs themselves, and they make great clients. They are informed and easy to work with, and have made a great addition to my practice. I have worked with IMS members on patents and trademarks, my specialty area, as well as a variety of other business related matters. I have handled several purchases and sales of businesses, incorporations, liquor license work, collection related matters and contract disputes. I have also handled estate planning and real estate matters for members. I enjoy the diversity."
In the beginning, her firm was not sure how it would use the thousands of trade dollars it generated. There certainly were many area restaurants and entertainment places. When she learned YMCA was a member, it allowed Tracy to pay for not only her family's membership, but to pay for memberships for employees and extended family members as holiday and birthday gifts. Trade dollars have been used for office supplies, employee bonuses, corporate gifts, and abstracting services for real estate transactions for clients.
Tracy has no trouble spending her IMS trade dollars on useful things. In fact, she hopes to increase her trade dollar business in the coming year. She has found that it does not detract from her cash business in any way. These are clients who wanted to use trade dollars and would not have come to me on a cash basis. The clients have been pleased with my work, generating both repeat business and referrals. It has been a great experience.
