Buy & Sell Locally: Varage Sale
Photo Credit: twincitiesonthecheap.com
Photo Credit: twincitiesonthecheap.com
Garage sales: the epitome of the philosophy that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. With the technology takeover handmade posters advertising local, neighbourhood garage sales are no longer as common as they were in the 90’s. The excitement of browsing through different items at a fraction of the cost while getting to know your neighbours and supporting sustainable shopping practices has dwindled. Garage sale lovers and sustainable shoppers fear not – there’s still a way to purchase goods, declutter your own items and connect with your community – VarageSale lets you do all of the above from the comfort of your own phone!
What is VarageSale? An idea so practical that it’s no wonder over millions of users have signed up on the site and use the app to buy and sell their items. A virtual garage sale, the site allows shoppers to find great deals, get/give away free items and switch to seller mode to earn cash. Now you may be thinking isn’t that what Ebay or Craigslist do? Why should I use this site instead?
Photo Credit: www.varagesale.com
Co-Founded in 2012 by Canadian-born entrepreneur Tami Zuckerman and her husband Carl Mercier the company aims to provide users with a simple, trustworthy interface to not just buy and sell but connect with community members. Described as the fastest growing Canadian start-up in 2015 and raising $34 million from investors, both Tami and Carl proudly balance being parents and business moguls. Their passion is evident as despite having millions of users, the site maintains a small-town, cozy feel to it. The blog on their site featuring lifestyle, parenting and sustainable purchasing tips adds to the overall charm!
Both the website and app are straight forward and easy to use. A Facebook account is required to create an account but with over 1.23 billion Facebook users, using it as a tool for authentication is not uncommon. Once approved, users put in their location and are able to search existing online communities based on proximity. Though you can join any community regardless of distance, it’s amazing to see how many users are already close by – The Downtown Toronto community already has over 15 000 users with 27 409 items! Members can write brief bios about themselves, comment on items and earn/give ratings on transactions. The site offers a Start a Discussion feature which gives users the opportunity to join conversations on everything from Parenting Tips to Automotive trends, Fashion, Health, Beauty and more! If you don’t see the topic you’re looking for, you can easily start your own thread.
VarageSale can not only earn you cash, enable you to find great deals and make new connections, it encourages a sustainable lifestyle. Through buying/selling new and/or used items that may have otherwise gone to waste, it promotes recycling at the comfort of your fingertips – another Canadian born company to be proud of!
