The Smart Network for Business

The Smart Network for Business

5,000 MEMBERS STRONG.

Growing Through Trade.

BORN IN 1978, STRONGER THAN EVER IN 2024

Founded in 1978, we are one of the nation’s most experienced and established trade networks, brokering over half a billion dollars in trade in more than 1,000 categories of goods and services. 

Acting as a financial and strategic partner, TradeFirst is dedicated to the growth and prosperity of all our members in Michigan, Ohio & Florida.

OUR HISTORY

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1970s
  • 1978 - TradeFirst opened its doors under the name Michigan Trade Exchange.
  • 1979 - TradeFirst developed a revolutionary program to calculate and manage trade transactions using data point terminals.
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1980s
  • 1983 - Acquired the Toledo, Ohio office.
  • 1986 - Launched a 24-hour telephone authorization system.
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1990s
  • Early 1990s - The Michigan Trade Exchange becomes the Trade Exchange of America.
  • 1990 - Instituted broadcast fax capabilities to notify members of new trading opportunities.
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2000s
  • 2000 - Launched interactive web presence capable of online trading, account maintenance, and member/category searches.
  • 2002 - Started weekly eSpecial, an opt-in email for new goods and services. 
  • 2002 - The Trade Exchange of America became TradeFirst.com.
  • 2003 - TradeFirst became the only barter company in the United States to offer swipe mag-card machines to members.
  • 2008 - TradeFirst was the first barter company with a rating system allowing the community to publish instant feedback about transactions and sellers.
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2010s
  • 2010 - Launched the TradeFirst app for smartphones, allowing access to nearby member dining, retail, entertainment and other goods and services.
  • 2011 - Created interactive training videos for members to easily learn how to get authorizations from our swipe machine, smartphone app, online and over the 24-hour line.
  • 2013 - Card swipe innovations for smartphones and tablets, as well as USB connectable devices.
  • 2015 - Introduced wireless tablets for members to use for transactions.
  • 2017 - Improved TradeFirst smartphone app user experience with interactive mapping and real-time driving directions.
  • 2018 - Launched online marketplace for purchasing gift cards.
  • 2019 - Launched member-to-member online marketplace.
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2020s
  • 2023 - TradeFirst.com becomes TradeFirst: The Smart Network for Business.

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