We're Either On Something or Onto Something

So we thought we had a good idea when we decided to launch a boutique auction site where women could buy and sell great brand name clothes and accessories for what they're worth. Really, who wants to wade through thousands of pages of lawnmower parts, sports tickets and used gym equipment on the the big Bay?

You could have knocked us over with a feather boa when we read in the Wall Street Journal that specialized auction sites are all the rage:

Niche Sites Going After eBay

Gazelle, Glyde Seek to Lure Users by Making It Easier to Sell Used Goods Online
 
By GEOFFREY A. FOWLER

A host of Web start-ups are gaining traction based on the premise that they make it easier for people to buy and sell online than the company that invented the idea: eBay Inc.

Second Rotation Inc.'s Gazelle.com site, which offers people a set price to take used gadgets like iPods and laptops off their hands, last month more than doubled the number of products, to 18,000, that it took in compared with a year earlier.

Glyde Corp. last month launched its own online marketplace that allows consumers to sell used books, DVDs and videogames in a system that automates posting a listing, figuring out how much to charge and even mailing it out.

Many of these companies are tapping a recession-friendly opportunity they dub "re-commerce," which essentially means using the Internet to find a second life for used stuff that usually just gathers dust on bookshelves and in garages.

Simon Rothman, Glyde's chief executive, says Americans have about $300 billion of used media at home, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. "Only a percent or two of what they have on their bookshelves shows the opportunity," says Mr. Rothman, a former eBay executive. "There are millions of Americans that don't feel like they are part of e-commerce."

Yard sales started moving to online marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist nearly 15 years ago. Yet, as those sites have soared in popularity, selling on them has become more complicated.

Niche marketplace sites have grown by bringing new buyers and sellers online, as well as attracting merchants disgruntled with eBay. Etsy Inc., whose marketplace sold $21.9 million of handmade products last month, saw its number of unique shoppers more than double in November from a year ago to 6.4 million, according to Web traffic monitoring firm Compete Inc. Unique shoppers on Bonanzle, a marketplace for collectibles founded in 2008, hit 749,000 last month, up from 99,600 a year ago, according to Compete.
 
Read the entire article here:
 
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704825504574584100491201362.html
 
As larger auction sites scramble to become more specialized, user friendly and affordable, you, our lucky friend, can proceed immediately to fairyland and get your shop on now.

Clean Closet, Full Wallet

Now's the perfect time to clean out that closet or sell some of those "not quite right" Christmas gifts. Why? All basic seller listings on Fairy GodCloset are FREE until 3/15/10!

Buying and selling on Fairy Godcloset couldn’t be easier.

Here's how it works:

Selling
You can have a fatter bank account and cleaner house in five easy steps:

1. Follow New Years’ Resolution to clean out that closet.

2. Choose some new or gently used brand-name clothing or accessories that could use a new home.

3. Register at Fairy GodCloset.

4. Decide if you’d like to put your items up for bid or sell at a fixed price. Post descriptions and photos of your items.

5. Ship item to winning bidder and get paid.

Buying
Take some of your auction profits or Christmas cash and shop the product categories at Fairy GodCloset:

1. Bid on an item or buy at a fixed price.

2. Pay the seller for your item – most will use PayPal and can even accept credit cards with PayPal.

3. Get your great new find and show it off!

4. Repeat as necessary.

Click the links for more information on selling and buying or see the “help” section at Fairy GodCloset. If you still have questions email us at sellersupport@fairygodcloset.com.com or buyersupport@fairygodcloset.com

Fairy GodCloset is Here!

After many days and night of blood, sweat, tears, Starbucks and Doritos our dream of offering women a place to buy sell and bond is a reality.

Fairy GodCloset was born out of a simple idea of providing girlfriends with a way to give each other a fashionable leg up in this economy.

Its a place to buy and sell quality name-brand apparel and accessories for what they're worth.

Let’s face it…other auction sites can be annoying as you wade through pages of garden gnomes, sports tickets and lawn mower parts to find your fashion gems.  At Fairy GodCloset, all you’ll find is women’s apparel and accessories. What’s better, you and your buyers decide what an item is worth and you keep more of your money.

Honesty between girlfriends using Fairy GodCloset is our core value in creating a fun and safe place to shop. This is where you make extra cash while making someone else’s day. As with any good fairy, we’ve got a little of the unexpected up our sleeves. In addition to finding great fashions here, you’ll also find wedding, big event, maternity and work wear here so you can save or make money on those limited use items.

Buyers and sellers can feel good because they’re going green while making green -- after all "re-use" is environmentally friendly.

If you have lots of things to sell, you can open up a “closet”. Buyers may become a fan of your style and will want to keep coming back to see what’s new.

Buy. Sell. Bond.

Have your own Ex-Boyfriend Collection? We’re happy to help you unload your baggage here and mend your broken heart with cash. Just tag your item as being “From the Ex-Boyfriend Collection” and you’ll have the option to tell your story. Don’t spare one juicy detail, but rise above and leave out names, addresses and identifying info.

Your girlfriends are adding new stuff to FairyGodCloset faster than you can wave your magic wand (from last year’s Halloween costume, of course) so check back often and watch for great specials and promotions.

We really want to hear from our girlfriends, so give us your feedback on the site and how we can better serve you by emailing us at comments@fairygodcloset.com.