So what happens if you own a business?
I discovered this fabulous organisation recently and thought it was definitely worth a mention to the many talented and community-minded people in Newton Stewart. It is called Galloway Local Exchange Trading System (LETs) and essentially it’s the exchange of goods and services that you can provide for those that you are in need of using a currency called a CREE. For example, I’m a website builder in dire need of relaxation so I visited a reflexologist who chilled me out completely, I gave them a Cree transaction slip for ‘x’ number of Crees. Then I helped another member who was having problems transferring from one provider to another and they gave me a Cree transaction slip.
All in all, it makes for a wonderfully sustainable community. And you don’t even need to make any cash payments. It is a non-profit system that exchanges offers and wants.
There are 60+ members in Newton Stewart and thousands of Crees were traded in 2009.
There are stacks of offers available including sewing, cooking, event management, reiki, dog minding, secretarial services, gluten free cooking, child care, and much more!
Of course I signed up and have just been to my first “LETs Meet For Coffee!” morning where Murray Designs held the floor with their fantastic collection of glass art and jewellery.
Being in business I obviously asked the question…
So what happens if you own a business?
I was told, If you run a business, a useful way to start is to offer what you think would be a fair percentage in LETS Credits and the British pound. The other person in the transaction is free to accept or reject, as in LETS, there is no obligation. LETS is its name and LETS is its nature!
The only requirement is that you are prepared to consider trading in LETS Credits for whole or part of the transaction. And I was provided with a "LETS Do Business" information sheet!
So, if you are running a business and wish to trade in LETS, ask Galloway LETs about the "LETS Do Business" information. Members of a LETSystem would prefer to trade in local currency, so you will probably find that your number of sales, and your total cash turnover will increase as your business joins the local system. Mine has.