Come spring, and it is a time to celebrate! In many parts of India, spring is the time of harvest and hence heralds celebrations. Bonfires are lit and old things are discarded. In other parts of the world, spring is the time people choose to clear out their homes. Replace the old with the new.
As spring fast approaches (or at least that's the hope we are living in right now!), one looks forward to getting rid of the old and unused stuff. Many-a-time, it is an opportunity to get rid of those purchases that we have made and have later wondered why! Or even stuff that we buy and have used (or worn) only once before. We either grow out of it or get bored of it. Its at this time of the year that we start seeing signs for yard sales and thrift and Goodwill stores get generous donations in lieu of the severe space constraint!
And then there is the urge to buy new stuff- stuff that can replace the old. Or even stuff that we just want to indulge in- Books, electronics, jewelry (often even when we have enough of them!). There is a certain guilt attached to consumerism after a certain point, and one wonders if his/ her purchase was even necessary.
As spring fast approaches (or at least that's the hope we are living in right now!), one looks forward to getting rid of the old and unused stuff. Many-a-time, it is an opportunity to get rid of those purchases that we have made and have later wondered why! Or even stuff that we buy and have used (or worn) only once before. We either grow out of it or get bored of it. Its at this time of the year that we start seeing signs for yard sales and thrift and Goodwill stores get generous donations in lieu of the severe space constraint!
And then there is the urge to buy new stuff- stuff that can replace the old. Or even stuff that we just want to indulge in- Books, electronics, jewelry (often even when we have enough of them!). There is a certain guilt attached to consumerism after a certain point, and one wonders if his/ her purchase was even necessary.
The idea of a buyer meets seller is not new to anyone, anymore. The ingenuity of eBay and Craigslist has faded in our collective memory. Today it's a fact of life. Yet, even with the ease of selling or buying stuff at the click of a button, people find it tedious to run a transaction that involves buying or selling a product which is not critical to one's life! Very often the resale value is low and just not worth the hassle.
But what if the stuff could help a charity in need of funds? Or better yet, if one could shop for bargains and indulge in a guilt-free purchase that aids a charity? A thought too good to be true, is exactly what WebThriftStore makes a reality.
WebThriftStore uses a simple concept- don't want something? Add it to the storefront of a charity you support at no cost to you. The buyer pays the published price. But here's where it differs from other online trading platforms. 80% of the price paid for the goods goes to the charity through which you made the sale, and the remaining 20% to WebThriftStore.
But what if the stuff could help a charity in need of funds? Or better yet, if one could shop for bargains and indulge in a guilt-free purchase that aids a charity? A thought too good to be true, is exactly what WebThriftStore makes a reality.
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| Source: http://eranyc.com/ |
What I love about the concept:
The Insight
It is simple enough. One man's trash is another man's treasure. There is always a demand, so even if it's not on your 'need to have' list, it will be on another's. Yet, in this case, there is the added incentive of supporting a charity through a simple transaction. The inertia to sell or buy is disrupted by the promise of doing some good in the process.
The Model
As a business model, the logic seems obvious- connect the buyer to the seller- and make them feel good about making the world a better place! It is easy to enlist any non-profit organization, since the entry cost is nil. The storefront is free and the only requirement is to start off the store. By taking over the transaction hassles (of packaging, shipping etc.) the company eliminates the apprehension and facilitates a simple trade, but for a good cause. At its simplest best, it functions like the lemonade stand that collects for charity. Online! Yet, it also has a margin to make in the process- while facilitating donations, the company itself is a for-profit organization.
The perks
Other than creating a space that matches supply and demand of the market, WebThriftStore also offers some simple benefits. The sale of a product accrues a Tax deduction to the 'seller'/ 'donor'! So in a way, one gets a tax break for de-cluttering! To a buyer, not only is there a good bargain on the product, there is also the satisfaction of having 'donated' to a cause, rather than just to consumerism! The whole transaction gives one something intangible- the feeling of having done someone good!
The Win-Win of the situation does make this concept very interesting and lucrative. Yet what remains to be seen is whether 20% is a good enough margin for a company to operate on given that shipping, transportation and other charges are borne by them!
Note: I do not work for WebThriftStore and have written about it from an independent stand point.
The Insight
It is simple enough. One man's trash is another man's treasure. There is always a demand, so even if it's not on your 'need to have' list, it will be on another's. Yet, in this case, there is the added incentive of supporting a charity through a simple transaction. The inertia to sell or buy is disrupted by the promise of doing some good in the process.
The Model
As a business model, the logic seems obvious- connect the buyer to the seller- and make them feel good about making the world a better place! It is easy to enlist any non-profit organization, since the entry cost is nil. The storefront is free and the only requirement is to start off the store. By taking over the transaction hassles (of packaging, shipping etc.) the company eliminates the apprehension and facilitates a simple trade, but for a good cause. At its simplest best, it functions like the lemonade stand that collects for charity. Online! Yet, it also has a margin to make in the process- while facilitating donations, the company itself is a for-profit organization.
The perks
Other than creating a space that matches supply and demand of the market, WebThriftStore also offers some simple benefits. The sale of a product accrues a Tax deduction to the 'seller'/ 'donor'! So in a way, one gets a tax break for de-cluttering! To a buyer, not only is there a good bargain on the product, there is also the satisfaction of having 'donated' to a cause, rather than just to consumerism! The whole transaction gives one something intangible- the feeling of having done someone good!
(PS: I love the innovative posters!)
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| Source: https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net |
Note: I do not work for WebThriftStore and have written about it from an independent stand point.
Hi, gud to see both of us with the same first and last names
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