People in Ontario are getting creative when it comes to netting secondary income, also known as the “side mess,” and many are turning to second-hand economies thriving on online platforms.
Oshawa-born Slivia Booth recently started a business selling items at Poshmark, an app designed to buy and sell second-hand clothes and household goods, although she has been with the same company for nearly 25 years.
“I’ve always loved making a little money on the side,” Booth told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.
“I stumbled upon Poshmark and sold something [on it] that it was difficult for me to sell on the Facebook Marketplace within a week, “she said.
“Then I went through my house and started finding things, and things just kept selling, so I ended up turning it into this wonderful side business.”
At the time of publication, she says she has sold more than 3,500 items, paid off some of her debts and made enough money to renovate part of her home.
“It was a wonderful addition to my life. I never expected him to be so successful. “
Toronto resident Kerone McQueen also says virtual platforms have been essential to starting her custom decorating business.
“My partner Dylan and I decided to start a business because we both wanted to supplement our income – a source of income is not as viable as an option,” McQueen told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.
She says she wouldn’t be able to start a business if it weren’t for platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
“Social media has given us ways to connect with our target audience at minimal or free cost,” she said. “I don’t think we could have started when we were without these platforms.”
A March 2022 study by Simplii Financial found that many Canadian women engage in “side mess” in an attempt to obtain a secondary source of income.
It was found that of the 776 online Canadian women aged 18 and over surveyed, 90 percent of those aged 18 to 34 were interested in exploring opportunities to make money outside of their daily work. In all age groups this number has decreased to 76%.
However, the survey also highlighted that more than one in three women (39%) cite start-up capital as an obstacle to pursuing side work – something that virtual platforms help alleviate.
“It simply came to our notice then [intial] resources to build a website would have taken a lot more money to get to where we are now, ”McQueen said of his decision to start his own business on social media alone.
Sarah Fryer, chief executive of NextDoor, a neighborhood-oriented social media platform, told CTV News Toronto on Thursday that she had seen a significant number of users use the app to “make ends meet.”
“It was a huge moment to commit to our platform,” she said, noting that consumers are starting a business, selling second-hand goods and looking for side concerts using the app.
“I think when the economy is getting worse, with rising inflation, it’s a real need for people, but you also see people doing it with this kind of community.
Asked what advice she would give to those who want to start their own online business, McQueen said that basic technical skills will help you succeed online.
“You need to be familiar with basic marketing, editing and photography, as this will save you time and money in the long run,” she said. And know your audience – it doesn’t matter how good your work or content is if you don’t know how to reach or connect with it. “
Booth says that at least at Poshmark, sellers will get “what they put into it.”
“The possibilities are endless and the amount of work you put into it will surely pay off.”
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