a heavy, matriarchal uruli In Bell Metal, dull with a patina of age hunts next to thin, gleaming wine glasses, while an old-world valve radio in working condition outshines the many brass knick-knacks for sale at the show Is. There is a tiny outlet in a by-lane on the bustling Kesavadasapuram-Ullur Road, which was started in 2017 by techie Sujit Babu and entrepreneur Bijulal Chacko. Its Facebook page says, ‘The Show Shoppe is a one-of-a-kind shop where we host garage sales throughout the year.’
Ashwathi Babu | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Meanwhile, Ashwathi Sujith’s Facebook page Preloved Stuffs Trivandrum was started in 2018 to help residents with incarceration. She wanted to find a way to help people recycle household items, artifacts, clothing, books, etc. Since I work in the IT field, many of my colleagues tell me about garage sales that are popular overseas. I decided to do the same. When I put clothes and toys on our page, it immediately broke. This gave me the confidence that we are on the right track,” says Ashwathi.
online garage sales
Like Ashwathi and Sujith, Indi TG has always been concerned with the amount of household stuff collected and the waste generated by households over the years. It was forcibly brought home when she and her husband moved into their respective flats. Indy discovers a pile of clothes she’s accumulated since her college days. “The tendency is to give them to our domestic help. But once, I found some goods in a hawker’s shop that I had given away. That’s when I thought of an online version of a garage sale to upcycle household items,” says Indy.
Indie TG | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Her Facebook page, Rehome Reuse Trivandrum, has 2,600 followers and features a wide range of products from sarees and readymades to furniture, crockery, books and plants.
While Indy and Ashwathy make a point of selling many products at a nominal price, Nayana Premnath’s Facebook page Freecycle Trivandrum has pre-loved products donated by members of the closed Facebook group. Recently, a member posted pictures of a chest of drawers she no longer needed; It was taken the same day it was displayed on the page. Nayana, a vlogger and ardent supporter of sustainable practices, says the page is an attempt to help people dispose of and donate things they no longer need, instead of hoarding and hoarding them.
exchange fair
The success of flea markets and online garage sales has prompted VK Prashanth, MLA from Vattiyoorkavu constituency in Thiruvananthapuram, to organize three such sales to upcycle all kinds of products. Called ‘Cammatta Chanda’ (exchange market), the sale includes electronic equipment, pre-loved furniture, toys, books, clothes, home appliances, etc.
Glimpses of the Exchange Fair organized at Jawahar Bal Bhavan. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Prashant says the sales exceeded all his expectations. While the first two editions were one day, the third edition was held for a week in the premises of Jawahar Bal Bhavan. “For the third edition, we charged buyers a commission of 10 per cent of the sales. That was to pay the rent and arrange food for the volunteers. Otherwise, it is completely free for those who put products up for sale. We facilitate recycling and buyers pay sellers directly,” says Prashant.
He says that the fourth edition of ‘Kammat Chanda’ has been planned for April.
Nayana says that the freecycle trend is just gaining momentum in Thiruvananthapuram. “In Bengaluru, there are hundreds of people who do this. My page Freecycle Bangalore has over 15,000 followers and 50 to 60 posts every day,” adds Nayana.
Many of the city’s residents hesitate to buy pre-loved clothes, says Indy, even if they look as good as new. “When we post pictures of clothes and sarees, people inbox me asking for details. Many are picked up almost immediately. Still, they shy away from buying clothes they already like. It can take time for people to accept that it’s okay to buy clothes they already like,” admits Indy.
Visitors try on pre-loved bangles at an exchange fair held at the Jawahar Bal Bhawan. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
While they make up their mind about buying or accepting products they already like, many people already start looking for bargains.
Sujit remembers two chairs and a brass three-seater set for ₹1,200 Uruli for a nominal amount. “It depends on the sellers or donors. Many of our donors are senior citizens living abroad or youths who have shifted homes. Only a few people put their assets up for sale to earn money,” says Sujit. had forced them to shutter down for a few months, Showshop has managed to weather the storm. “We provide commercial space to connect buyers and sellers of pre-loved items. One can hand over a used item to the shop for sale and one can walk in and buy it,” says Sujit.
Bijulal Chacko and Sujit Babu for Show Show | Photo credits: Sreejit R. Youth
Ashwathi, Indi and Nayana claim that if people take the time to declutter, they will see how much stuff they have that hasn’t been used over the years. “After a wedding in the family, of course, there are gifts that remain open for months. Give it to them This is also with clothes that have not been used for a long time, books used for coaching and so on,” says Indy.
Ashwathi recommends starting with a cupboard or a shelf in a room and then keep decluttering. “I’m a big fan of decluttering guru Marie Kondo, but each person can approach clutter in their own way,” says Ashwathi.
They all emphasize that it’s never too late to start decluttering and donating or selling items you already love to those who need them.