A Virtual Garage Sale with Benefits

by Heather Skolnick

In today’s world where one can now do anything via his or her smartphone, is it any surprise that someone would have the wonderful idea to sell “treasures” to their friends and neighbors virtually?  Enter Stacey Winnick’s brainchild, Chappaqua Moms Sales Facebook page.  This offshoot of Chappaqua Moms has been absolutely explosive in its popularity, with over 1600 members in just a few short months.  What could be better than a virtual garage sale from the comfort of your own home, 24 hours a day??? What about a virtual garage sale with new friendships thrown in for free? Who doesn’t love a BOGO?

As a New Castle resident for six years, I’ve found it difficult making friends. Not because people aren’t friendly but because both my husband and I work full time in the city and our kids aren’t yet in the school system.We are amicable with the folks on the Metro North platform that we see each morning and exchange pleasantries, and we are friendly with our next door neighbors, but that’s about the extent of our local relationships. My husband recently started playing softball with a town team and has made amazing connections with a great group of guys. But where was my “softball team?”

Enter Chappaqua Moms Sales. In the last few months, I’ve both bought and sold. I’ve met over two dozen lovely women from the community, all who are as friendly as can be. I’ve bought duplicates of toys I already own because I have twins and as you moms of multiples know, I need two of everything! I’ve had a mom meet me halfway between her house and mine to sell me a handbag that I just had to have. I’ve done my share of selling too. I’ve met grandmas looking for pre-loved toys for their grandchildren.  I’ve met moms-to-be buying baby equipment. I’ve met women who have a similar sense of style in clothing.  I met one woman who shares my love for handbags and suggested a new concept where women trade handbags!  Genius!  I’ve connected with people who aren’t interested in my “treasures”, but have connected me with other women who are! Because it is local, I’ve sold many items by merely leaving them on my porch and having the buyer leave cash at my door. Where else can you do that?

All of these transactions were with friendly, down to earth and savvy women from this community. These quick interactions have made this town feel more like a community to me. I now feel as though I “know” more about my town and the people who live in it.

Most notably, I’ve met a woman who shares a similar passion for decorating her home and garden. This person became a “repeat customer,” buying items that I had posted because they no longer worked with my lifestyle with three kids under four. We discovered that our shared love for French country home décor extended into our fashion sensibility as well. She asked to tour my home and quickly reciprocated with an invitation to tour hers. She hosted an open get together for other members of Chappaqua Moms and/or Chappaqua Moms Sales. I met a handful of other truly lovely, warm and friendly women. Two weeks later, a Friday night “appointment” with this woman to see an item I was selling turned into a bottle of wine and bite to eat with my family!

My husband loves to tease me about how much time I spend on Facebook now, perusing Chappaqua Moms Sales.  For now, I’m happy to consider it my “softball team.”

Heather Skolnick and her husband Neal have been New Castle residents since 2007. She works for Macy’s in the corporate offices helping to design their Omnichannel business process. She is the mom of three little kids, four-year old Lila, and two year old twins Andrew and Ryan. This is the first formal thing she has written since college.