The Smart Network for Business

The Smart Network for Business

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Leo Marks and TradeFirst:
Turning Everyday Spending Into Lasting Value for Business and Community

Sarah Stack, VP of Sales & Service
Member Since 5/1982

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Anita's Kitchen and TradeFirst:
Using Trade for Just About Everything

Joe Wegrzyn
Member Since 1/2008

TradeFirst helps Leo Marks Jewelers turn every purchase into new value, stronger relationships, and deeper support for local small businesses.

Leo Marks Jewelers is a trusted, family-focused jewelry store known for quality pieces, personal service, and long-term relationships with customers across the region. As an active participant in the TradeFirst network, Leo Marks has woven trade into its day-to-day operations to support both business growth and community-minded spending.

For Leo Marks, trade is not an occasional add-on but an integral part of monthly expenditures, used side by side with traditional cash spending. The team routinely turns to TradeFirst first for building maintenance, advertising, employee dinners and meetings, clothing, and personal items, treating trade dollars with the same care and intention as cash on hand.

By prioritizing TradeFirst whenever possible, Leo Marks channels more of its budget toward other local and small businesses in the network. This approach strengthens community connections, creates reciprocal opportunity, and keeps more value circulating among independent business owners.

Leo Marks highlights the consistently exceptional support received from the TradeFirst team, noting that every interaction is handled quickly, efficiently, and with genuine care. From dedicated account staff like Felicia, Nan, and Nena to hands-on involvement from owner Fred, TradeFirst remains a responsive partner that helps Leo Marks get the most from every trade opportunity.

We have been using TradeFirst alongside our regular spending for many years, and it has become an integral part of our month-to-month expenditures. Whether we need building maintenance, advertising, employee dinners and meetings, clothing, or personal items, we always check with TradeFirst first to see if they can meet our needs. We treat it with the same care as we do our cash on hand, and we appreciate that it allows us to do business with other small businesses. I have never contacted anyone at TradeFirst and received anything less than exceptional service. Felicia, Nan, Nena, and even Fred (the owner) consistently go out of their way to ensure that our needs are addressed quickly and efficiently.