Sharetown - A reverse logistics side hustle that capitalizes on unsold inventory from direct-to-consumer brands

Sharetown is a service that partners with furniture and mattress brands to handle their return requests. Local representatives pick up items that customers no longer want and resell them, often at a significantly reduced price. The founder mentioned in the podcast is Chris Taurus.

Why It Works

This business model works because it taps into the growing trend of sustainable consumption, allowing consumers to buy high-quality items at a fraction of the cost, while also giving brands a way to handle returns without taking inventory back.

Revenue & Traction

Sharetown reps can earn between $1,500 to $3,000 a week by selling items that are often worth much more retail, with some mattresses reselling for $600 while the retail price could be $2,000.

Founding Story

Chris Taurus started Sharetown by recognizing an opportunity in the direct-to-consumer space where brands have excess inventory they want to offload. He leveraged local networks and online platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to resell these items, creating a flexible business model that doesn’t require upfront inventory costs.

Business Playbook

1. Find 10 potential customers for Sharetown - A reverse logistics side hustle that capitalizes on unsold inventory from direct-to-consumer brands and interview them about their pain points. 2. Create a simple prototype or mockup based on the feedback gathered. 3. Test your prototype with 5 of the interviewed customers to validate your solution. 4. Develop a minimum viable product with core features only. 5. Launch to a small group of early adopters and collect testimonials.

Additional Information

To succeed, ensure you have a strong vehicle for transporting the goods and a small storage space for items before they sell. Familiarize yourself with local regulations regarding reselling used goods, and consider investing in cleaning or sanitizing the items to increase their appeal.