Top 4 Trades of September 2026

As cool autumn days begin to settle in, our clients are making the most of their outdoor gatherings. In September, the number one trade was for wine! Over $81,000 was spent on wine—fully in trade. That's $81,000 in cash still in the purchasers' wallets. Take advantage of seasonal wine selections and plan ahead for fall gatherings, client appreciation, holiday gifting, and end-of-year events—all while turning the goods or services your business already provides into something you can enjoy. And from October 5–9, take advantage of our wine rebate! Shop wine on the IMS Marketplace and receive a 10% trade rebate on your wine purchases.

Look to printing services to refresh your materials! Prepare for increased seasonal activity or improve the customer experience before the holiday season. Outdated maps, brochures, menus, signage, handouts, and other printed materials can make a business feel less polished and may leave customers without the information they need. Instead of putting another strain on your cash flow, your business can barter its own goods or services through IMS Barter to earn trade dollars and use them toward professional printing. With trade, you'll update customer-facing materials, prepare for upcoming events or holiday promotions, replace worn or outdated materials, and improve the overall experience you provide to customers—all while conserving cash.

Liquidated equipment can provide an opportunity to replace aging or underperforming equipment, add capacity for upcoming projects, take advantage of reduced pricing, or secure equipment before prices and availability change. Instead of using valuable cash reserves or putting the purchase on a credit card, business owners like you barter their goods or services through IMS Barter to earn trade dollars and use those trade dollars toward the equipment purchase. This gives businesses another way to acquire equipment they need while turning their existing capacity, inventory, or services into purchasing power.

Worn, stained, or outdated floors can make a business look less professional while taking a beating from increased foot traffic, equipment, and everyday wear. September is a good time to address those problems before the busy holiday season, while there’s still an opportunity to schedule installation around your operations and start the next year with a refreshed space. An epoxy finish on your flooring can provide a durable, easy-to-maintain surface that improves the appearance of your business and protects the underlying floor from future wear. When you barter your goods/services with IMS, you can potentially pay for the project without using cash by providing your own goods or services to other businesses in the network, earning trade dollars that can then be used toward your epoxy flooring project.

Need to trade for other services for your home or business? Get in contact with your broker and let them know what you're looking for. Maybe your next trade will be one of October's top four!

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At the beginning of each new month, we go back and see what the Top 4 Trades were from the previous month. This helps us understand what our clients are looking for and how trade is supporting them in their daily lives and endeavors.
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