`For us to be successful locally and globally, our products need to have at least one of these four qualities,' says Pang. `The product has to target a niche market. if not, it has to be innovative. If it is not innovative, it must have differentiation. If it doesn't have any of these, then, at least, it must be competitive in terms of pricing.'
Barter also taps into a desire for social interaction and a sense of purpose. Amazon, eBay, and many of the Web’s most successful commercial sites have worked hard to foster a community around the transactions they facilitate, so it feels as if people are doing more than just purchasing goods and services: They’re building friendships, expressing their tastes, fashioning communities of interest. Barter exchanges take this a step further by removing the most impersonal element, cash. Transactions are preserved, which is important, because while we want to develop friendships and share our opinions, we also want to get stuff. But with money playing a less apparent role, the deals feel more personal, more authentic, more noble.