You may have heard the term “sharing economy” refer to the sharing of cars by the likes of ZipCar or short-term abodes by Airbnb or even crowd-sourced funding by Kickstarter. These are examples of new ways of doing new things by leveraging technology. These shifts in thinking and technology have brought us new ways to make money, save money, help others and create relationships, all while bettering our social experience and environmental impact.
However, the creative application of these shifts in changing old world activities into entirely new paradigms and creating better, more efficient and more enjoyable versions of something we already had is perhaps the most powerful change we can all experience.
Enter Pinecrest Marketplace, an online community that members say is “more addictive then Candy Crush.” Our behavior of buying and selling household and other items locally is virtually a national pastime. Pinecrest Marketplace has managed to successfully blend this local analog activity with a digital social online sharing economy that promises to unlock a tremendous and empowering opportunity for every community around the globe. The rise of the modern Internet — especially now that it’s in your pocket — allows people to continue buying and selling items like they always have enjoyed, but with the efficiency and speed technology provides.
Right here in our community something unique and special is happening, and you’re either part of it already (or have a friend who is), or will be by the end of this article.
Pinecrest Marketplace is an addictive, online social marketplace to buy and sell everything in your home, while having fun and making friends. It provides residents of Pinecrest and some neighboring communities an opportunity to buy and sell their gently used goods in a fun, safe, closed, “velvet rope” type environment. Members buy or sell at a deep discount from a friend (or friend of a friend), monetizing high-quality unused goods and buying things they really want at amazing prices, all usually in the same day and within a 10-minute drive from your home. Everything from designer goods to furniture, children’s items to concert tickets can be bought and sold at Pinecrest Marketplace.
The group appeared on Facebook three months ago and has quickly grown to over 1,200 members. To date, Pinecrest Marketplace has a 70 percent success rate on selling items posted.
Pinecrest Marketplace is a unique concept bringing people together in a fun, social and safe way to buy and sell while eliminating the stress of regular shopping. The process is almost too simple and uses tools you’re undoubtedly familiar with:
Upload a picture of your item to the private group with a price and description and then just wait — sometimes only a few minutes — for people to inquire about your goods before being able to mark it sold.
There is no shipping, no searching racks, yet there are great goods and an easy way to make extra money and meet new friends while meeting up locally. Buyers and sellers are exchanging at school carpools, coffee shops, neighborhood stores, their homes and even in their children’s ballet classes.
“I love the idea that I am offering a new, valuable platform to my community and, in the process, connecting so many local friends and neighbors,” says Pinecrest Marketplace CEO and moderator Melissa Clarin. “The members have told me it is contagious and something that we didn’t know we really needed here in Pinecrest. It’s like the missing link. If you price your items right, which I recommend 50- 75 percent off retail for most items, they will sell, some in as quickly as under five minutes.”
Here is a link to Pinecrest Marketplace: <www.facebook.com/groups/pinecrestmarketplace/>.
All members must be approved by the moderator to maintain a local and friendly network. This trend is here to stay and is going to continue to thrive and flourish in popularity and sales. The group is bringing a digital twist to a local consignment shop and blends online product voyeurism with an offline social life. Looks like eBay and Craig’s List finally have some competition.
Any questions regarding this group or becoming a member can be directed to <Melissa@pinecrestmarketplace.com>. Link to join: <www.facebook.com/groups/pinecrestmarketplace/>.
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