In a recent post to social media I talked about being open to barter and trades and got a larger response to it than I thought I would, so I better make an official guide to what, where, how, and so on.
Firstly, thank you to everyone that is interested in trading with me. I've always loved doing trades at the art festivals I show at and have met some of the coolest people in doing so. While a market is an easy space for artists to trade goods, I wanted to open up this offer to those that aren't market vendors, in fact- I'm very interested in expanding into other areas and services for trading.
My goal is to implement a barter/trade system into my business, one that can be sustainable for me for the long haul. While I like having alternatives to money, I cannot sustainably accept every trade offer that comes my way while still living in a world where money talks.
That being said, below you will find some guidelines to how I'm going to operate my trade system within CHD. For transparency sake- these guidelines will most likely get adjusted and tweaked as I venture further into this idea so that we can make a meaningful trade that we both feel good about. For now, this blog will service as the official reference point for this system.
Guidelines for Making a Trade with CHD
- Communication: It's important to communicate in advance that you'd like to discuss a trade; email is the best avenue to contact me, or strike up a conversation when you see me at the markets. You're welcome to reach out on social media to start, but I will just tell you to email me if you want to move forward.
- Do NOT show up to my market booth with items you want to trade without having communicated with me and we have made a trade agreement.
- Goods + Services I'm interested in receiving as trade will be listed below in three categories of priority: High, Mid, Low; offers in the high or mid category are most likely to be accepted year round or as needed, while offers from the low category are more likely to be accepted during art festivals/markets with other artists/venders, and during the holiday gift giving season (Nov-Dec).
- Exchanges should happen at the same time so neither of us is waiting on what is owed; issuing gift certificates/store credit or other exceptions are possible when properly communicated.
- If I'm interested in your trade offer but don't have a use for it at the present time, I will communicate with you to see if I can reach out when I'm ready. This is mostly in reference to services; ie- hair cuts, photos, repairs, etc...
- Custom work is something I currently do not offer and will not be offering that as trade at this time.
- Some services must be done by a professional (car repairs, tattooing, electrical, etc...); while other services I will just ask to see a portfolio/examples of your work (graphic design, social media, photography, etc...).
- I reserve the right to decline any trade offers of goods or services as per my preferences and needs. Lists of suggested goods or services may change, be added to or reduce at any time as I see fit.
- These guidelines are subject to adjustments and changes at any time and without warning.
Now that these guidelines have been addressed, below you will find a non-exhaustive list of goods and services I would consider accepting as trade for my CHD jewelry work. If you don't see what you make, offer, or had in mind- just reach out and contact me to ask.
Top Priority or High Interest
- Foods: Fresh veggies/fruit/produce, locally raised meat/fish or eggs, baked goods, pickled or canned foods, herbs & spices, wild rice, honey, teas + coffee... *I am celiac- food must be gluten free and safe for me to eat; unsafe foods or foods exposed to high levels of cross contamination will void our trade agreement.
- Plants: Edible, culinary, and medicinal plants or fruit trees; Native plants, trees, shrubs (Tucson/AZ). *No Aloe or Agave.
- Home + Yard Labor: Landscaping, yard and garden work/clean up/maintenance, tree/shrub trimming, house cleaning, handy-person fix its or repair, light stucco repairs, simple carpentry and electrical/plumbing, chicken coop cleaning/maintenance, etc...
- Business Services: Social media help/content creation, marketing, graphic design and/or print services (fliers, tags, signs, branding, etc...); tech help with my website (Shopify), etc... *Don't have to be a pro, but I will want to see a portfolio/exmaples of work you've created; and just as I create my jewelry by hand with my time/energy, I expect the same in return- ie, absolutely NO ai.
- Travel or Lodging: Vacation rentals or other forms of lodging, opportunities to travel; train/airline vouchers, car rental/usage- truck, van, motorhome, etc...
- Jewelry supplies, tools, equipment: raw materials/metals (sheet metal, wire, precious metal scrap), Sterling, Gold, and Copper priority, quality hand tools, precious and semi-precious gemstones (cabs or beads), enameling powders, tools, etc.. just reach out with what you have to see if I'm interested.
Mid-priority or As-Needed
- Bodywork: Massage, acupuncture, facials, reiki, yoga, etc... *I'd be looking for these services for myself and/or my partner Weston; please let me know up if you have stipulations as to whom.
- Photography: Personal/couples sessions, professional headshots for Weston, business sessions for my jewelry with models or lifestyle product images.
- Hair Care: I literally always need a bang trim, wavy/curly hair care or training, natural hair products (MUST be gluten free/no wheat); would also consider hair care for my partner Weston (short hair cuts/beard trims).
- Tattoos for myself or Weston; Piercings for me *I have metal sensitivity and need solid gold/gold-fill jewelry- open to trades on the body jewelry or I can source my own if you can autoclave it.
- Astrology Readings and/or teaching, mentoring, or classes/workshops in the astro realm, admission to astrology themed events and gatherings.
- Events, Experiences, Workshops, Classes, Retreats: Tickets to live music, plays, musicals, festivals, etc... Workshops and classes to learn new DIY or creative skills; experiences or admission to interactive art spaces, natural spaces/gardens, museums, retreats, activities like horseback riding, skydiving, zip lining, etc....
- Vet services: Routine check ups or vaccines for our fur-babies (cats/dog); any services for feral cats under our care; health checks for our tortoise or chickens.
- Car services: oil changes and fluids, diagnostics and repairs, minor body work, interior cleaning, etc...
Lower-Priority
-
Natural Skincare: Oils, balms, bath bombs/salts/soaks
- Jewelry displays, boxes, storage, etc... personal or for my biz.
- Fire Items: Candles, incense, herb blends, etc.. also special lighters/covers, matches, etc... to be burned or to ignite. (Your friendly pyromaniac here has a LOT of Fire sign placements in her astro chart!)
- Clothing or wearables: Handmade, Vintage, Second-hand *for me or Weston
- Ceramics/Pottery: I can almost always be tempted by functional pottery.
- Art/Handmade: Hit me up with what you make; good for trades at festivals/markets
- Small Business Gift Certificates; another option for my fellow small business owners and creatives.
- Vintage/Secondhand non-wearables: Select furniture, lamps, mirrors, apothecary jars, brass figures/boxes/bowls/candle holders/frames, pots/planters, doilies, vintage luggage, a very specific style of green glass dishes (I'll add a pic soon)
- Witchy Goods/Services: spell kits, magical herbs/oils, etc...
- Tarot/Oracle readings *I enjoy a reading but not looking for decks or classes.
In closing, I'm looking forward to seeing where this idea goes. I know I will have to have some limits to how often each month/season I can trade, and I'm going to do my best to be upfront and transparent with you for what I'm capable of. By offering trade I'm losing out on cash-money that I would otherwise use to pay my mortgage, maintain my vehicle, or put food on the table. Trades that offset what I would otherwise purchase will always get top priority.
As always, I love hearing your feedback and ideas- feel free to leave a comment or contact me with your ideas or questions. Thanks!