THUNDER BAY – Today, many people are seeking to simplify their lives and get rid of some of their pre-loved items. Now thanks to a Canadian company, there is a simple and family-friendly way to buy and sell right in your neighbourhood.
“VarageSale is like a virtual garage sale on your phone. It’s a free marketplace app that allows families to buy and sell affordable pre-owned items with their neighbours,” says Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer, Tami Zuckerman.
The Toronto-based company recently launched across Ontario, opening its doors to residents of Thunder Bay this month. To mark their launch, VarageSale partnered with First Book Canada to donate $25,000 in books to kids in need across the province.
“We’re really excited about setting up a new community in Thunder Bay.”
Started by Tami while she was expecting in 2012, VarageSale has evolved into a worldwide movement that touches the lives of millions.
What is VarageSale?
VarageSale started simply: an elementary school teacher was looking for a simple and trusted way to declutter her home and sell her extra stuff while pregnant. It has since grown quickly to challenge other online sales sites in the marketplace as a fun and easy-to-use site offering a growing number of items for sale—from nail polish to real estate!
VarageSale has worked as a virtual under-the-radar Internet juggernaut ever since the company launched three years ago. As of March 2015, the company raised $34-million in a Series B round of venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners (investors in Snapchat) and Sequoia Capital (investors in Airbnb, Google and Dropbox). The investment is being used to optimize the member experience in the app, and quickly expand the number of communities available throughout North America.
The startup aims to make the process of finding, buying and selling used goods convenient and more family-friendly than mainstream options such as Craigslist, eBay or classified ads, while also helping create bonds between neighbours.
Building these thriving communities more often than not results in something special. In some, people gather weekly to make the exchanges directly in person. In others, stories about random acts of kindness between neighbours continue to surface.
Why VarageSale?
When it comes to online transactions, there are few guarantees—up until now. If you’re looking for a buy and sell environment you can trust, you’re in luck! VarageSale was created to offer buyers and sellers a super local, family-friendly shopping experience.
It allows you to quickly scroll through a feed of beautifully displayed items, determine which members are reliable, see if you share any mutual friends on Facebook and read through member reviews (called Praises). This way, you can gauge your level of comfort before making a purchase in person!
To join VarageSale in Thunder Bay, visit: https://www.varagesale.com/thunder-bay-on-buy-and-sell