We explain why sponsoring niche podcasters and YouTubers beats mass ads for small businesses and local services. We share pricing ranges, performance tactics like affiliate links, and how authenticity drives trust and conversion.

• housekeeping, health update, and sponsorship changes
• local referrals and side projects including game trailer and indoor media billboards
• limited-time free ad screens for early indoor media adopters
• why micro-influencers outperform celebrity and mass media for SMEs
• host-read authenticity and trust from real experience
• measurable ROI with affiliate links, codes, and custom URLs
• pricing bands for 1k–100k creators and budget planning
• local vs national targeting for relevance and cost control
• B2B focus on credibility, guesting, and long-term trust
• action plan: test 3–5 creators and allocate 5–10% budget

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

After a brief hiatus due to illness, I return to discuss my career pivot and new entrepreneurial plans. I'm scaling back my work at Metro Trading Association to pursue substitute teaching and explore starting a cottage food business.

• Transitioning to part-time work at MTA due to changing economic landscape
• Starting substitute teaching as a stable career option amidst AI advancements
• Planning to launch a cottage food business under Michigan's $25,000 sales cap
• Exploring food business ideas with low overhead and high profit margins
• Considering the example of a successful but mediocre BBQ vendor at a campground
• Evaluating multiple income streams for better work-life balance

Visit the Renaissance Festival for their final weekend! Metro Trading Association members can get tickets on trade.

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Sustainability means more than recycling—sometimes it's about getting creative and maximizing what you already have, whether it's grilling equipment or business resources.

• The dilemma of repairing versus replacing a Weber kettle with rusted vents
• How spending $126 on repairs proved better than $1,800 on a new gravity smoker
• Preserving valuable accessories, knowledge, and muscle memory when upgrading
• Business owners resist change for similar reasons: comfort with existing processes
• Finding value in teaching children hands-on approaches rather than automation
• Smart, sustainable moves: audit what you have before replacing it
• Upgrade or repair before buying new, especially when already invested in tools
• Resistance from your team might signal a need for training rather than overhaul
• Resourcefulness is something to celebrate and share with customers

Hit me up if you want to trade stories, join MTA, or just chat business or barbecue!

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Trader Stu reveals how business barter creates opportunities for new customers and partnerships while sharing his journey using podcasting instead of SEO to market his business. He discusses innovative marketing strategies and shares exciting local events happening at the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

• Using barter as a powerful business growth tool that isn't taught in business schools
• Partnership with Quantum Local Media placing ads on indoor digital billboards in high-traffic locations
• Michigan Renaissance Festival featuring world market, belly dancing competition, steampunk contest
• Camping adventures and lessons learned including the exploding tent incident
• Hyperlocal marketing strategy focusing on education through podcast promotion
• Free advertising opportunity for businesses hosting digital monitors

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We unlock the secrets of business-to-business trade through powerful networking strategies and explore using podcasts as a marketing tool instead of relying solely on SEO.

• Working from home while dealing with family health challenges demonstrates today's business flexibility
• Renaissance Festival sponsorship provides free tickets in exchange for podcast promotions
• New partnership with an indoor billboard company creates opportunities for Metro Trading Association members
• Indoor billboards produce powerful results with an 83% recall rate among customers
• Businesses hosting billboards receive $4,600 in free annual advertising across multiple locations
• Targeting by county ensures advertising reaches potential customers within reasonable distance
• The concept of "15-minute cities" shows a return to local business and community focus
• High-traffic locations like restaurants, salons, and fitness centers make ideal billboard hosts

Contact us at 248-244-0000 and ask for Stu to learn more about indoor billboard opportunities in Oakland County.

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Behind the scenes of a local Chamber of Commerce networking event called "Coffee Talk," sharing real elevator pitches from business professionals across diverse industries.

• Speed networking events allow participants to give 2-minute elevator pitches to multiple tables
• Using notes is perfectly acceptable and helps ensure you cover all important points
• The key components of a good pitch include a clear introduction, what makes your business unique, and a specific "ask"
• Networking is a skill that improves with practice - don't expect to nail it the first time
• Even experienced professionals get nervous when presenting their business
• Diverse businesses represented include orthodontists, banks, recreation centers, art organizations, and more
• Building relationships through in-person networking can be more effective than relying solely on SEO
• Recording real pitches helps demystify the networking process for newcomers

Whatever y'all do out there, be good or be good at it.

Contact information for those who gave a 2 minute presentation:

1. Paint Creek Center for the Arts — Shaun Hayes — Shaun@PCCArt.org — www.pccart.org
2. Olivia Kay (Certified Speaker, Neuroscience Coach, and Author) — Olivia Kay — www.oliviak.org
3. ReSale Connection (Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan) www.semich.AssistanceLeague.org
4. Stand For What Is Noble — Elizabeth Graham Kaniarz — elizabeth.kaniarz@standforwhatisnoble.com — standforwhatisnoble.com
5. RARA Recreation — Samuel Lunt — Sam@RARArecreation.org — www.rararecreation.org
6. OPC Social & Activity Center — Jenay Frost — jfrost@opcenter.org — opcenter.org
7. First State Bank — Laurie Sigelko — lsigelko@fsb.bank — www.fsb.bank
8. David Powers — David Powers — DP@DAVIDPERFORMS.COM — www.davidperforms.com
9. The Marketing Shop — Vicky M. Winkler — vicky@tms.marketing — www.tms.marketing
10. Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan — info@wustylerochester.com — www.wustylerochester.com

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We unlock the secrets of Renaissance-era business strategies and discover how 16th-century merchants mastered networking, marketing, and creative value exchange long before modern B2B concepts existed.

• Medieval merchants created powerful visual branding with storefront symbols that became the precursors to modern logos
• Professional "criers" served as human billboards, offering free samples while chanting slogans—the original product demonstrations
• Guilds functioned as exclusive B2B networks, setting quality standards, fixing prices, and offering healthcare and retirement benefits
• Renaissance fairs were the original trade shows, featuring international merchants, experiential marketing, and on-the-spot deal financing
• Multi-party barter chains allowed merchants to trade globally without cash, using reputation-backed bills of exchange
• Merchant networks were built on generosity—those who hosted travelers or shared market intelligence earned lifetime referrals
• AI represents our modern renaissance, offering powerful business tools while potentially disrupting traditional jobs
• The core principles of business success remain constant: trust, creativity, and mutual benefit

Visit the Michigan Renaissance Festival now through September to experience living history and see merchant marketing in action. Find me near the turkey legs this week!

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Trader Stu explores why restaurants should join barter groups as a strategic business move in today's challenging economic climate.

• Restaurants face rising costs, cautious consumer spending, and fierce competition for loyal customers
• Barter offers a creative way to overcome these challenges while preserving cash flow
• Trade unused inventory and empty tables for essential services like cleaning, marketing, and repairs
• Joining a barter group provides an instant business community and built-in clientele
• Barter can help increase foot traffic by introducing new customers to your restaurant
• Trade dollars can be used for employee perks and benefits without increasing payroll costs
• Marketing and advertising opportunities through barter help expand your reach affordably
• Barter credits act as an alternative currency during cash-tight periods
• Some barter networks offer credit lines for significant expenses with interest paid in trade dollars

If you're intrigued, reach out to your local barter network. If you're not in my area, contact me for a referral. Remember, sometimes the best currency isn't cash, it's community.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.