LocalBrokers.ca
An e-commerce venture I helped establish in 2006 to sell goods on behalf of others through eBay. I envisioned a service that would help retailers sell their existing stock online without LocalBrokers purchasing or holding the inventory.
Making online selling a service
As eBay was becoming more established, I saw an opportunity to help people sell goods without having to manage the process themselves. While still running my other businesses, I brought the idea together with two friends who had recently graduated from Concordia University.
We established the company and an office, offering to sell goods on behalf of others in exchange for a commission.
The retail opportunity
The model I envisioned could serve retailers across different categories, from bookstores and clothing shops to other businesses with extra products or overstock to sell. We would photograph products, create listings, and handle sales and shipping.
Retailers would retain their stock, setting listed items aside until sold. LocalBrokers would not need to purchase or hold inventory, earning a commission on sales and processing fees for handling and shipping.
The broader marketplace model, connecting independent sellers with online buyers without buying their stock, is now central to global e-commerce and a major part of Amazon’s retail business.
A different direction
My partners handled the day-to-day operation and focused on selling goods for individuals, rather than the retailer-focused model I had envisioned. As that direction diverged from mine and my other businesses continued to require my attention, I sold my shares to an incoming managing partner.