NeighborGoods News
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2010-03-03
Got kids? Save money by sharing stuff!
Families with young children need a lot of stuff. Clothes, toys, strollers, etc. Kids grow fast so this is the perfect stuff for sharing, lending, borrowing and renting. We know parents can use all the help they can get so we've created an entire category devoted to this type of stuff: Kids & Baby.
We've reached out to a few local Mom's groups including The Los Feliz Mom's Club, Booby Brigade, City Mommy and Peachhead and we've started to see more of these groups become active on NeighborGoods.
Are you a parent who could use some extra stuff? Do you have something you could share with other families? Join a group or just browse the kids category to see what's near you.
Do you have a stroller? Add it to NeighborGoods!
Do you have a baby swing? Add it to NeighborGoods!
Do you need a baby sling? Looks like there's one available in Altadena!
So come on baby mamma's and baby daddy's! Let's get sharing!
0 comments | posted by Neighbor Micki
2010-02-21
NeighborGoods is heading to SXSW
We're packing up and heading to Austin for this year's big South by Southwest festival.
I'll be speaking about local tech with some of my nerd heroes during SXSW Interactive. Come join us and learn more about NeighborGoods!
Mapping and Geolocation: Turnkey Approaches You Need to Know
Local and location are all the rage right now, and it's become clear that sooner rather than later every app in the world, big or small, mobile or not, will have mapping and geolocative abilities baked right in. So what about yours? This panel will cover the ins and outs of getting you properly situated with location-based technologies, covering approaches, tools, design and user experience, best practices, and future directions.
Speakers: Lane Becker, Joe Stump, Kate Imbach, MG Siegler, Micki Krimmel
Tuesday, March 16 at 05:00 PM
Ballroom C
Add to your plans on Plancast.
Not on NeighborGoods yet? We'll be handing out special invite codes during the event so be sure to find us. You might even be lucky enough to get one of our limited edition t-shirts! Follow us on Twitter and we'll tell you when we're handing them out and where to find us.
We can't wait to meet you!
0 comments | posted by Mickipedia
2010-02-16
Micki shares with Techzulu
I sat down for an interview with Amanda Coolong from Techzulu recently at an event in Los Angeles. We talked all about NeighborGoods - where the idea came from, how people are using it, and what the future looks like for the company. It was super fun chatting with Amanda and the video turned out great! Watch it here.
0 comments | posted by Mickipedia
2010-02-09
Let's Make Better Use of our Space and our Stuff
"Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time. Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time. Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time. It's time we gave this some thought."
This interesting opinion piece from the New York Times begins by reminding us of those words spoken by R. Buckminster Fuller 40 years ago. The editorial examines how we can better use space in our cities and how new data visualization technologies can help us find ways to revitalize unused paved alleys and industrial sites into public green space. It's all pretty geeky stuff but what it comes down to is the simple fact that we don't currently make the best use of our space. We overbuild giant buildings that barely get used and we leave large expanses of unused concrete. We build without a sense of the larger picture. How can we get the most value out of the space we are using? How can we apply a more sustainable approach to development?
Speaking of space, do you know how much self-storage space we use in America? According to the self-storage association, we have 2.35 billion square feet of self-storage space in this country. That is 7.4 square feet of storage space for every American man, woman and child.
All that stored stuff holds hidden value - monetary value and social value.
We can all agree that transforming unused blocks of pavement into green space and finding ways to use empty office buildings would help us be more sustainable. Ideas like this also make for stronger communities by creating more communal space and opportunities for gathering. The stuff we own has this same potential.
If instead of using a power drill once or twice a year and then storing it in a closet, we instead make that power drill available to our neighbors, we are getting more of the value out of that power drill. Now instead of purchasing 10 power drills, our block only needs one. That is more economically and ecologically sustainable. Sharing that power drill also gives us a chance to connect to each other. We can share stories about how we used the power drill or maybe even help each other with a household project. The power drill has the potential to help us strengthen our local community. How many things do you own that have that same potential? Take a look around your house and think about what you're not using today. Could someone else use it?
As a society, we have spent the last several decades working more hours to buy more stuff and then building barricades against our neighbors to protect that stuff. If we can lower those barricades just a little, we can create a more economically and ecologically sustainable system where the potential value is extracted from the stuff we produce and buy. So go on, get that stuff out of storage and into your community. What can you add to your NeighborGoods inventory today?
0 comments | posted by Mickipedia
2010-02-05
The NeighborGoods Rule: The Perfect Time is Now, Amex OPEN Small Business Rules
NeighborGoods is profiled in the Amex OPEN Small Business Rules series! Click here to watch the video. We're honored to be profiled alongside great companies like Thrillist, Etsy and Cafemom.
Our rule is a good one for all startups: The perfect time is now. Don't waste time waiting for the perfect set of circumstances to get your business going. Start now!
Thanks to Lindsay Campbell and the folks at Next New Networks for including us in the series. We're really excited for this opportunity to tell people about NeighborGoods!
To stay up to date with all the Small Business rules videos, follow them on Twitter!
0 comments | posted by Mickipedia
2010-02-04
Share your stuff on Twitter and Facebook!
We launched a pretty sweet update today to make it easier for you to share your stuff with your friends. You can now connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts to your NeighborGoods profile. You can see which of your Facebook and Twitter friends are using NeighborGoods and share with them through automated groups on the site.
You can also choose to share your NeighborGoods posts in your Twitter and Facebook streams. That way, when you add something to your wishlist, all your friends will see what you need and be able to share it with you!
So go connect your Twitter and Facebook accounts so you can share with more friends!
If you don't have an account on NeighborGoods yet, you can sign up using Facebook, Twitter or OpenID.
As always, we want to hear from you so if you have any feedback, send us a message!
0 comments | posted by Neighbor Micki
2010-02-03
Welcome City Mommy LA!
City Mommy LA is a place where savvy, hip moms can talk, share advice, get local resources and more all in one place!
We're excited to welcome City Mommy members to NeighborGoods! We created a group on NeighborGoods just for members of City Mommy so they can sign up and be automatically connected to one another.
Creating or joining a group on NeighborGoods is one of the best ways to get started on the network. You can log in any time and see what's available in your group. Add an item to your wishlist and the whole group will see what you need and be able to help you.
Anyone can create a group on NeighborGoods. You can create a group for your neighborhood, your church, your office, whatever! Check it out.
0 comments | posted by Neighbor Micki
2010-01-15
NeighborGoods helps you help others
If you've been following our blog, you might remember the story of the backpack that inspired the creation of NeighborGoods.
I was getting ready to visit Thailand and I needed a backpack. I asked around to see if I could borrow one but I wasn't able to find one in the limited time I had to plan my trip. I ended up spending over $200 on something I was likely to use only once (maybe twice).
I realized that this was true for most of the stuff I own. We all waste a ton of money buying stuff we only need for a little while, and then the stuff just sits there, gathering dust in our closets and garages. I created NeighborGoods to solve that problem.
Since posting the backpack on NeighborGoods, it's gotten way more use than it was getting hidden away in my closet. I feel good about reducing waste and helping my friends by letting them borrow the backpack. In a weird way, I feel like I'm doing the backpack a favor as well. By ensuring it gets used for its intended purpose, I'm showing the backpack (and the money I spent on it) the respect it deserves.
A couple days ago my backpack almost had a chance to help the earthquake survivors in Haiti. My friend Daniel placed a request on NeighborGoods to borrow it for his trip to Haiti with a relief organization. I ran home from work to meet him and give him the backpack. Daniel had to get on an earlier flight, so unfortunately, we weren't able to meet up.
Even though my backpack didn't actually make it to Haiti, Daniel's request to borrow it highlighted the potential each item on NeighborGoods has to improve our community. It's an honor my backpack could never have never received locked up in my closet.
I knew sharing my stuff on NeighborGoods would connect me with my neighbors. I had no idea it could also connect me with people in need. Who knows how your stuff might benefit someone else?
To support the relief efforts in Haiti, donate to one of the organizations listed here.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with the victims and their families.
0 comments | posted by Mickipedia
2009-12-30
NeighborGoods helps you stick to your New Year's Resolutions
You've got just one more day to finalize your New Year's resolutions. We're willing to bet you've got something on your list about buying less junk, right? Maybe you're resolving to save money, or maybe you want to live more sustainably, or maybe you just want to reduce clutter in your home. In any case, NeighborGoods is here to help you achieve your goals for 2010!
- Save money by borrowing instead of buying!
- Be a better neighbor by sharing and renting your stuff!
- Reduce clutter by selling or giving away all your unwanted holiday gifts!
Start the year off right and add some stuff to your inventory this weekend! Not sure what to share? We'll help you with suggestions. Get started here.
Happy New Year!
0 comments | posted by Neighbor Micki
2009-12-10
Tips for a shopping-free holiday from NeighborGoods
It's happened again - the holiday season is clearly upon us. Along with the good tidings and cheer come the cold weather, increased stress, and the heavy obligation to buy more junk even though we can't afford it.
NeighborGoods is here to lighten the load and help you focus on what really matters: spending time with your loved ones.
Instead of buying gifts, try one of these ideas to show your giving spirit:
Help around the house:
Give coupons for help with the housework. Specific, long-planned yet unfinished projects work better than daily chores like washing dishes.
- Borrow this ladder to clean the gutters.
- Borrow this chainsaw to take down a tree.
Give the gift of your time and expertise:
Build a website for a friend, bake a pie for your brother, or offer a few free hours of marketing consulting to a colleague. Whatever you do, you likely have skills that would prove valuable as a gift to someone who needs them. Or you can use this as an opportunity to learn a new skill!
- Borrow this sewing machine to make your own snuggie!
- Rent this deep fryer to cook up some holiday treats.
- Borrow this flip cam to make a family movie
If you must buy:
Be sure to get a specific list. Buy only what your loved ones really need. Guesswork gifts often end up in landfills. Services and consumable items are always big hits and often come with a lower environmental price tag (massages and booze come to mind as popular choices).
If you have ideas of your own about how to avoid shopping this holiday season, join the discussion in the comments!
1 comment | posted by Neighbor Micki