Parkes Automotive joins Talents alternative trading system

March 17th, 2010
By David Armstrong

Parkes Automotive have become the first Motueka business to sign up to the Talents Trading system, believing it's a great way to promote local trade.

Parkes has a reputation for promoting community awareness, and for its determination to run a sound business success without compromising the environment.

Talents stands for Tasman Area Local Exchange Network and Trading System, a non-profit scheme launched in last October that uses the current value of a free range egg as the unit of currency, rather than the dollar note. The system uses a website to allow sellers to price and promote their wares and buyers to look for local products and services that they may not be able to afford in the conventional dollar-based economy.

"We joined because our personal and businesses values are to help to build a sustainable future," says Anita Newport, who owns the business with her husband Andrew (photo, right, with their two children).

"We see a big part of sustainability is about building a strong community and helping others to meet their needs. We like the concept that 'So long as you can offer something of value you can have from the community goods and services of like value'.

"If you can help somebody to meet their needs and receive something for it in return, it's a win-win situation." Parkes Automotive offers WOF's as part of its trading "offerings" - 80 Talents for a car and 50 for a trailer or motorbike. Accepting Talents (2 Talents is about $1 in conventional value) is just as easy as accepting any other form of payment, Anita says.

"If somebody comes in for a WOF, they will sign the Talent trading sheet for proof of trade and then a simple online transaction deducts talents from their account and credits ours. We can then use our credits to buy other products and services available from any of the users of the scheme. Online account details, statements and trading information makes our tax responsibilities easy to account for if applicable."

She says they were a bit skeptical about being part of it, as the services and products available from other traders is limited. "But the more businesses that become involved, the better it will be for everybody. It's a great way to promote services and products you have available and keeps things local."

They have traded only a few times so far but they're looking forward to using their credits to get some firewood. "Not having to hand over money for that this year will feel good and getting someone to do my garden in return for something we actually enjoy doing works for me."

A glance at the website listings for traders and products, there are about 45 traders in the Tasman district offering about 85 products and services. The similar Golden Bay "HANDS" trading scheme has over 400 users.

Joining the system involves an online application through the www.ces.org.za website and the help of Motueka administrator Ron Sharpe. If you want to find out more, the TALENTS stall is running at the Motueka Market each Sundays for the present. Its purpose is to familiarise people with the idea of a local currency, encourage them to join the network, and to display a small portion of the wares available on the network.

[For more on Talents, read this news item]

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