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Life Swapping

Bartering and trading for a comfortable lifestyle on a budget

Implications - Credit-crunched citizens unwilling to compromise their lifestyles are swapping, bartering and trading their way to desired goods and services. Offering customers the ability to trade instead of pay offers a new way to connect with budgeting customers and can be applied on small or large scales.
Trend Themes
1. Bartering and Trading - As consumers struggle financially, they seek alternative ways to obtain goods and services through bartering and trading.
2. Virtual Swaps/exchanges - Online companies are offering virtual exchanges in different industries, allowing consumers to save money and access services or products on demand.
3. Social Network Exchanges - Social networks offer consumers a way to exchange or share goods and services with trusted connections.
Industry Implications
1. Retail Industry - Retailers can implement a bartering system to provide customers with alternative payment options.
2. Hospitality Industry - Hotels and vacation rental companies can implement the virtual and social network exchange system to allow a low-cost way for travelers to find accommodations.
3. Beauty Industry - Beauty companies can offer hair exchange services to satisfy the needs of wig and extension makers, while also allowing people to make money and donate hair to charity.
3.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
10 Featured, 56 Examples:
946,276 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Feb 09 — Oct 09
Trending:
Average
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

play_circle_filledBartering Brides
Bartering Brides
Kerry Coryell Trades Her Way to $75,000 Wedding
In July, Kerry Coryell posted a 3-page ad on Craigslist looking for folks that might be willing to trade services so that she could have the wedding of her dreams. To her delight, the response was overwhelming.… MORE
Beer Bartering
Beer Bartering
UK Pub Cashes in on Credit Crunch By Letting You Swap Goods For A Pint
Following the credit crunch trend, bartering is alive and well in the UK. The Marksman pub, located in Shoreditch, East London, offers beer in exchange for useful items or services. Dawn Kolpin, owner… MORE
Facebook House Swaps
Facebook House Swaps
Use the Facebook Shared Porch to List and Rent Vacation Homes
Because you wouldn’t want just anyone staying at your cottage or beach-front property, the Facebook Shared Porch ensures it’s a friend—a Facebook friend. The Facebook Shared Porch application aims to… MORE
Virtual Closet Swaps
Virtual Closet Swaps
ThredUP Uses Netflix Model to Help People Exchange Clothes
Prepaid envelopes are the key behind thredUP’s business concept, which follows a model like that of the virtual movie rental service Netflix. Helping users swap the clothes they don’t want for some they… MORE
Credit Crunch Hair Selling
Credit Crunch Hair Selling
Websites Let Desperate People Trade Their Locks For Cash
So, short hair is in style. An above-the-shoulder bob is considered chic. Next time you’re considering a drastic change, why not do it for money? Now, a trend of selling your luscious locks is flooding… MORE
Credit Crunch Art Swapping
Credit Crunch Art Swapping
Designer Peter Viksten's Gives Away Free Art in Sweden
The images above are from a brilliant art happening, which designer Peter Viksten hosted in Sweden. The guests were invited to arrive at the venue on time as there was a very good, albeit mysterious, reason… MORE
Abandoning Currency
Abandoning Currency
Trade in Skivvies for a Car With Russia's Credit Crunch Bartering System
Russians needing a new car can barter their underwear instead of using currency--although they must be premium, unworn undies. After all, this is for a new car! Ads are appearing in Russian newspapers… MORE
play_circle_filledFree Book Exchanges
Free Book Exchanges
Recession-Proof ‘BookCrossing ' Tracks Recycled Book Travels
‘Bookcrossing’ is the practice of leaving a book in a public place so it can picked up and read by others, who in turn leave it in a public place, and so on. Environmentally kind and recession-friendly,… MORE
Creative House Swaps
Creative House Swaps
Caravan Offers Unique Home Rentals for People in the Arts
We all know how expensive hotels are when working away from home; Caravan is a free service intended for creative people who may be working freelance or working on a shoot out of town.  How the site… MORE
Cashing in On Gift Cards
Cashing in On Gift Cards
CardSwap Lets You Dump Promotional Gift Cards for Cash
CardSwap is disrupting the gift card phenomenon by allowing members to sell their cards at decent discounts to other members. Somewhat similar to eBay, CardSwap acts as an intermediary, and takes a 6%… MORE

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