Bargainista interviews Marta Nowinska from SwapSity

As you may know, I've been intrigued by local swap parties. Last year when Marta Nowinska approached me about promoting her swap meet on Bargainista, I was happy to help. Last week when Marta emailed to let me know she was launching SwapSity – an online consumer barter community – I suggested we do an interview.

What inspires you?

I love bringing my ideas to life and building exciting initiatives from the ground up. The creative process, along with the challenges it brings, fuels an entrepreneurial flame within me. Dialogue and idea-sharing also bring me new insights and spark my creativity.

Where did you get the idea for SwapSity?
Often, my best ideas come in flashes of insight, which was the case with SwapSity. The thought of swapping things crossed my mind one early morning in 2005, while on the way to work. Market research revealed clear potential for consumer barter in Canada. The idea was also fresh and unique, so I set out to create SwapSity.

Are you planning on holding swap parties in other locations besides central Toronto?

We started out with swap meets for downtowners and if there is significant interest, we will definitely consider expanding our events to other locations.

What would you like people to know about your approach to swap parties? How are they different from others and how will they integrate with the SwapSity brand?

Our brand offers the option of both an online and offline swapping experience. The swap meets have a variety of themes depending on the season. To date, we’ve organized a general garage sale and a book-movie-music swap. Upcoming events may include toy swaps for parents, clothing exchanges and arts and crafts fairs. Our events are open to everyone, including those who are not SwapSity members.

You’re on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr and have a blog, how are you using social media to help build SwapSity?

Our social media presence keeps growing. We share our swap meet photos on Flickr, tweet daily swap listings on Twitter and feature interesting items on Facebook. Recently, we have also started highlighting success swap stories on our blog.

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• SwapSity Swap Meet & Garage Sale
  

SwapSity Swap Meet & Garage Sale

It’s great when members of the community are starting their own swap meets and ask me to help them share their event news with you. SwapSity is a new community founded by Marta Nowinska, that’s focusing on helping Torontonians live a little greener through swapping.

What?
SwapSity Swap Meet & Garage Sale
This green event will bring together savvy swappers, eco-enthusiasts, parent barterers and thrifty shoppers, all under one roof. Keep useful things out of landfills, find new treasures, free yourself from the clutter and have tons of fun trading! With both swapping and selling taking place, it will be the ultimate garage sale and a swap meet rolled into one.

Where?
Walmer Road Baptist Church
Ground floor, enter from south side
188 Lowther Ave. (Spadina & Bloor) (map)
Toronto

When?
Saturday, Aug. 29
1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

How Much?
General Admission: $3.50, now $2
Table Rental: $5, $9, $16 (book in advance)


(Note: I don’t know Marta and this event seems less grassroots that then swap meets you’re used to seeing posted on Bargainista.)

Swap-tacular Swap-iversary Clothing Swap Party

Glad to see Hope and the gang are celebrating their one year anniversary and as always, this one is bigger and better then the last. It’s just so grassroots and sounds like a lot of fun. Swap parties are also an inexpensive and green way to refresh your wardrobe, clean out your closet and give to those in need.

What?
Swap-tacular Swap-iversary Clothing Swap Party: A fun and frugal way to revamp your wardrobe

Refresh your fall wardrobe and help us celebrate a year of Swap - Don’t Shop events! Just show up with your unwanted (but clean & good quality) clothes, and leave with a revamped wardrobe!

There will be delicious snacks, on-site alterations, door prizes and more!
Workshops include:
• Shibori,a traditional Japanese tie-dying technique
• Alterations 101
• Top 10 Styling Tips for Men and Women
• Sewing workship

All clothing, shoes and other accessories (but no socks and undies please) which are clean and in good condition are welcome.

At the end of the day all unclaimed clothing will be donated to local charities.

Where?
St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Church
103 Bellevue Ave. (at College) (map)

When?
Saturday, Aug. 15
noon-4 p.m.

How Much?
Admission (with at least 5 swap items)
Women $8
Men free

RSVP
clothing_swap@hotmail.com

Join the facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61408230503

Affordably Entertaining: Swap Parties

Last spring, I participated in a seven-part, one-minute, home entertaining video series where I discussed swap parties. By the way, swap parties are one of the most popular topics on Bargainista.

I hope you enjoy my interview with the lovely Samantha Gutstadt, host of Affordably Entertaining:



Check out the other episodes and blogs too:
• Creative decorating with Gillian Lawtie from Pink Mafia
• Grow your own with gardening expert Veronica Sliva
• Host your own tasting party featuring Ange and Pax from iYellow Wine Club
• DIY hostess gifts with Angelune des Lauriers
• Value-priced wines with Victor Borja-Sheen from the LCBO
• How to make your next house party ROCK featuring Noah Cappe from Superfly Entertainment

FYI, the series currently airs on Pizza Pizza-TV, a network in more than 200 southern Ontario Pizza Pizza locations, operated by Rogers Digital Network Solutions.

SWAP & Support Your Sisters

Remember Tamsin, my partner in the NutriSystem Challenge? In this guest post, she explains her latest project.

I've been hearing more and more chatter about clothing swaps. Magazines, friends, bloggers are all describing clothing swaps as the eco-cure for our shopping blues during the slow economy. Last month, I ventured to my first clothing swap -- hosted in Toronto by StyleHog.com. It was a lot of fun! Much more civilized scene than my girlfriend Sarah and I joked could have been. (Though, I would like to have seen better quality clothes...)

I was looking for fundraising ideas because I am joining a humanitarian mission to Kenya in 7 weeks. I thought it'd be a blast to host a clothing swap party where women from various social circles hook up to swap some serious style. I hope for this even to have a particular focus on quality.

Good News! Everyone is invited. (Participation is limited to the first 30 ladies - register now!)

You will love this if you have clothes that:
• You adore but simply aren’t “YOU”
• No longer fit well
• Deserve better loving by another fashionista.

What?
Swap & Support Your Sister – A Swap Style for a Fabulous Cause!
• Make a $20 donation* and the idea is very simple: You mingle, while we organize by size.
• Bring 3-4 under-loved or under-worn items (clothes, accessories, shoes) to the party and leave with 3-4 “free” fabulous finds for your closet!
• A mirrored change space is provided

To maximize Swap Nirvana and ensure a great selection, all items MUST be:
• High Style
• Great Condition
• Quality Label
• Clean
• Current (Less than 2 years old)

Snacks * Refreshments * Door Prizes

Why?
Support Tamsin’s humanitarian mission to transform the lives of orphaned girls in Kenya.

When?
Friday, June 5: 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Who?
You (bring your girlfriends!) – arrive on time, as participation is limited.

Where?
146 De Grassi St. (map)
street parking

How?
Register now!

If you have questions about the mission (I would love to tell you about it!) or clothing swaps (I had plenty of questions before my first swap!), you can email me (Tamsin) directly.

*Your $20 donation supports abandoned/orphaned girls in Kenya & tax receipts can be issued

SWAP - Don’t Shop clothing swap party #3

Glad to see Hope and the gang are at it again only bigger and better. It’s just so grassroots and sounds like a lot of fun. Swap parties are also an inexpensive and green way to refresh your wardrobe, clean out your closet and give to those in need.

What?
Swap - Don’t Shop clothing swap party: A fun and frugal way to revamp your wardrobe

Gather up your unfortunate holiday gifts, regrettable impulse sale purchases and other unwanted clothing, and come out to our first co-ed clothing swap, where you’ll leave with bags of wonderful new wardrobe favourites!

All men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and other accessories (with the exception of socks & undies) that are clean and in fairly good condition are welcome.

As well as fabulous clothing and yummy snacks, sewers will be on hand to do basic alterations and demos on reinventing your wardrobe.

At the end of the day, all unclaimed clothing will be donated to a local charity.

Where?
Beaver Hall Gallery
29 McCaul St. (north of Queen St.) (map)

When?
Saturday, Feb. 21
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

11 a.m.: Drop off your clothes, socialize, and enjoy the yummy snacks and drinks.
Noon: The swapping frenzy begins!

At the end of the day, all unclaimed clothing will be donated to charity.

How Much?
$8

RSVP
clothing_swap@hotmail.com

Join the facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61408230503