I have a soft spot for any woman who decides to take the big leap and start her own business. I know firsthand that it's not easy and that there are always going to be ups and downs. Even though the early days are exciting, they can also be a bit scary and hard. I owned and operated an online business for six years, so because of that, I feel somewhat of a kinship with other small business owners, which is why I always choose to support them whenever I can.
This past May, Marlina Kinnersley started Kiinzel, a local (Greater Toronto Area) marketplace to shop and swap with friends and the community. Buyers can visit the site to discover local deals, new, unique, and pre-loved finds. Sellers have their own storefront profiles and list their stuff for free. Not only is shopping like this an excellent way to re-use and recycle a wide range (Baby & Kids, Books & Texts, DVDs, Electronics, Home & Garden, Fashion, Music, Sports, Toys, and Video Games) of your unwanted items, chances are, you most likely have something around your home that you can turn into some extra cash—and who doesn't like extra cash?!
I connected with Marlina and asked a few questions about her new business.
Why the name Kiinzel?
Kiin comes from the root word of 'kin,' meaning a person having kinship with others. Zel represents the playful, fun, and social side of the platform. We consider our user community family and we want them to have fun!
Why did you start Kiinzel?
I've been selling and buying new and gently used products for over a decade. I've used popular marketplaces and they haven’t changed at all. From no shows to poor online user experiences, there are way too many hassles to deal with. I had a vision on how to change these bad buying and selling experiences into easy and fun ones.
What do you hope to achieve with Kiinzel?
Our hope is to encourage people to help others while inspiring positive impact within communities. We want to build thriving, unified communities that benefit both the environment and society. Our goal is to save over 1 million items from landfills, have 1 million items shared, and 1 million community connections made!
Why was creating a business that is good for the environment important to you?
I grew up on Vancouver island where there is a lot of clear cutting and after a lecture in elementary school about recycling I became the RRR (Reuse, Recycle and Reduce) queen at home. According to NPD Group, we have over $7,000 of unused goods sitting in each household which means there are many people who have more things collecting dust in their closets and basements than they have cash. Kiinzel provides a way to save money and make money or simply swap between friends and neighbours.
Why did you choose to support local crafters and handmade artisans?
Many of our handmade crafters upcycle their products, meaning they make something new out of something old. They are a part of the local economy and these crafters find Kiinzel a great way to reach moms in their communities.
Do you plan to expand outside of the GTA?
Once the GTA is thriving, then we will roll out to other cities across Canada. City roll out will depend on interest, so if you want Kiinzel to launch in your city sooner, sign up and invite your friends to do the same.
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If you are in the GTA and you are interested in buying, selling, or swapping your unwanted items, then try out Kiinzel. The bonus is that you’ll feel good about using this service because you are supporting a small business, clearing out clutter from your home, and helping to keep what you no longer want out of a landfill. It’s free to join, there is no cost to you, so why not check it out?
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