Bob Meyer, a former major league pitcher in the 1960s who at 21 signed the first of four-consecutive major league contracts with the New York Yankees, is now the most visible spokesman for the worldwide commercial barter industry.

Meyer is the publisher of BarterNews, which he founded 25 years ago. The magazine reports on the many ways barter can be used to build one’s business by acquiring new customers, increasing cashflow, and gaining that all-important competitive edge in the marketplace.

“Barter is an underutilized and under appreciated business tool that virtually every business owner should be using, whether on a direct or indirect basis,” Meyer emphasized. “Globally, it is a $600 billion-a-year way of doing business that enables companies of every size to secure needed products and services. Barter is a proven business tool used by firms for marketing, financing, and purchasing efforts.

“Given today’s competitive marketplace, under capitalization by most startups, and the typical use of high-interest credit cards, anytime one’s product or service can be exchanged for a needed business expense it should be embraced,” he enthused. “And, it is easier than ever with some 800 trade companies, worldwide.”

BarterNews magazine reports on three areas of barter-the commercial trade exchange industry (business barter clubs), corporate barter (large multimillion dollar transactions), and countertrade (transactions between countries). Its readership is international in scope, encompassing six continents.

The magazine’s extensive web site, barternews, has over 1000 pages of comprehensive barter information, articles, a free weekly e-newsletter, “The Tuesday Report,” and 800 barter company listings.