S P OT L I G H T Info: vendvana.com
‘A Big Month for Us’ Vendvana celebrates its year anniversary By Heather Maxwell Executive Director Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce
M
ary Ellen Twohey used bartering as a tool for her business and had an epiphany. She wanted to build a community that changes lives through modernizing a proven concept. A year ago this month, she founded Vendvana, which provides a trade exchange marketplace and collaborative community to members with access to new customers, stronger cash flow and increased buying power. “June is a big month for us, as we are celebrating our launch a year ago,” Twohey says. “We are thrilled to be a part of this community and help others build better business through bartering.”
Why did you decide to open your business in the North Valley?
I have lived in the North Valley for 11plus years and this is where I love to call home. The North Valley is very welcoming to local businesses, which creates a great opportunity to build our Vendvana community with other like-minded members
The Anthem Area Leadership Academy works on a legacy project. (Photos courtesy Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce)
who help one another and make this the best place to live.
Do you own/operate any other businesses? If so, what? And, how do those endeavors complement this business? Yes, I am also the founder of Uncorked Media Group, which is an attention agency focused on achieving results for clients through helping them creatively reach their
customers through the right marketing messaging. Vendvana is essentially an additional marketing arm for our members. We showcase their products and services to our captive community to facilitate trading and bring them new customers to fi ll unbooked appointments and buy extra inventory.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of running your business?
The concept of bartering may sound old school to some business owners, and we are educating them on how our bartering system can impact their bottom line by conserving cash, bringing in new customers and more business while eliminating their extra capacity. We encourage our members to search Vendvana for an item or service first and use their barter credit before paying cash.
What differentiates your business from your competitors?
Vendvana is a hand-selected community of like-minded professionals that is like a Vendvana’s team is, from left, Michelle Ruggiero, director of client services; Mary Ellen Twohey, founder; and Kathleen Blair, director of sales.
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85085 | JUNE 2020
