Business idea: A New Way to Connect and Share in Your Building

Hello everyone! This is Naoko and I'd like to introduce my business idea.

Introduction

Can you imagine how quickly kids grow and outgrow their clothes?

Even expensive, branded, or favorite items can become unwearable all too soon. And when you have three children like I do, those outgrown clothes can quickly pile up in your closet and linger there.

Traditional options for dealing with these items:

• Donating to donation bins
• Selling on online platforms such as Marketplace or Kijiji
• Giving them to thrift stores such as Value Village

In my opinion, these traditional methods have their drawbacks. Donating to bins raises questions about where the items end up. Selling on Marketplace or Kijiji involves the hassle of chatting with and meeting strangers. Plus, I don’t have a car to transport items to Value Village.

Concept

I’ve come up with a new idea: a community site where only residents of the same building can connect with each other.

This platform would be exclusively for residents of the same apartment or condo building, allowing neighbors to buy and sell items, offer and seek local services, and share information on deals—all within the comfort of their own building.

Benefits

• Convenience: No need for commuting or driving, as everything is local to your building.
• Security: Reduced risk of scams with transactions and interactions happening among known neighbors.
• Connection: Opportunity to meet and interact with other residents, fostering a stronger community spirit.
• Affordability: Items and services can be provided for free or at a low cost, or exchanged through barter, helping those in need within the building.

Contents

Buying and Selling

• Exchange children’s clothes
• Toys
• Furniture
• Books and stuff

Rental

• Car
• Bicycle
• Books
• Cooking equipment
• Cleaning equipment
• Suitcases

Work and Help

• Childcare, babysitting and pick-up
• Tutoring
• Pet care
• Home repairs
• Cleaning 
• Moving furniture

Summary

While similar services might exist elsewhere, I’m not aware of any current platforms specifically for building residents. This community site aims to enhance local connections and simplify the process of giving and receiving within your own building. It offers a practical, secure, and friendly alternative to traditional methods of handling unwanted items and local needs.

I’m excited for the day I can launch my own business soon!