Originally published Monday, March 9, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Veteran financial journalist Jon Talton blogs daily on the most important economic news, trends and issues involving Seattle and the Northwest.
Comments (5)
E-mail article
Print view
Interface
Unique form of recycling
A weekly column profiling companies and personalities.
What: Kashless, in the Queen Anne neighborhood in Seattle
Who: Martin Tobias, 45, founder and CEO
Mission: Create a channel for people to give away items of value; extending their useful life and keeping them out of landfills — at least for a while.
Garage beginnings: Serial entrepreneur Tobias developed the idea for Kashless while cleaning out his garage, where he found several items he had no room for. He tried to sell some, but found the cost of advertising and lost time exceeded their value. So a giveaway made sense.
Common courtesy: The rules differ from standard monetary transactions, The transportation burden falls on the "buyer" to pick up the item. But Kashless will soon institute a shipping service, where the buyer provides the seller with a postage-paid label. Tobias also thinks buyers in a Kashless transaction are more reliable than those he has met through the classifieds. "When I was trying to sell my things, people would say they were coming over and just didn't show," he said. "I wasted several weekends waiting."
Employees: 6
Financials: The venture-funded company does not disclose any financial details, and Tobias won't project when profitability will occur. He expects all operational revenue to originate from advertising.
Get more out of life: The economy has forced people to consider other ways to replace a broken component than just by purchasing a new one. "If we don't have what you want, you can enter a search and we'll notify you if one turns up on the site," Tobias said.
Mixed results: The company has more than 8,900 items now listed. Tobias expects it will become a default choice for people who want to get rid of things.
— Charles Bermant
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
Sunday Buzz: Expedia, Intelius, Classmates slapped by Senate report
Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
UPDATE - 04:28 PM
Senate Democrats at odds over health care bill
Your Funds: Money for nothing: Some investors pay for advice they never get

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helen's and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Tugboat sinks in Seattle's waterfront
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Senate vote clears hurdle
234 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
119 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
114 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
109 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
107 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
86 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
85 - Game thread
68 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
51 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
45
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helen's and Astoria, Ore.
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'









