NeighborGoods, An Online Network Promoting Actual Sharing

When we talk about "sharing" online nowadays, we are most likely referring to social media -- the act of sending our friends and colleagues links to stories, funny videos, photographs. But the sharing-service startup NeighborGoods promotes real sharing -- or rather, the sharing of real goods. NeighborGoods is an online network that facilitates local sharing. Members are interested in borrowing and renting, but not selling, their items to one another.

Founded last year by Micki Krimmel, the startup service was initially restricted to Southern California. As a member of the LA Derby Dolls, Krimmel had a strong local following. But Krimmel has a large Twitter following as well last month, and now NeighborGoods has launched nationwide.

NeighborGoods is similar to Craigslist or Freecycle, but it gives you a lot more control over who can see your items (and which items folks can see). When you add an item to the NeighborGoods inventory, you can allow your friends to borrow the item for free, for example, while charging others a rental fee to use it. Or you can decide to make the item only available to friends. "It's your stuff, so you set the rules."

NeighborGoods has lots of features that make sharing easier: a reservation calendar, automated reminders, wishlist alerts, and private messaging between neighbors.

NeighborGoods has an interesting business model. Rather than charging a fee based on each transaction, posting, renting, and borrowing are all free. There's no charge to use the site. Instead, there is an optional $4.99 fee in order to verify your identity. "Our verification system builds more trust into the network and provides verified members with access to more items," says the NeighborGoods website.

The verification process, along with a transparent peer rating system, helps to promote a safe and secure environment in which people can feel comfortable sharing and borrowing goods. As the name of the company suggests, the service aims to help build a stronger community and to "connect neighbors in meaningful ways making for happier, healthier neighborhoods."

The NeighborGoods service also helps people save money and resources, by encouraging us all to store less and share more. As the website notes, the startup's mission is to help NeighborGoods members "live less wasteful and more connected lives." With all the time spent touting "sharing" in social media, it's good to see a startup working hard to support sharing offline as well as on.