There is a lot I could say about my experience with Remarkd, but I'm not going to go incredibly deep into it right now. As a tribute, I think it'd be fun to post some of the iterations the concept has gone through.
Tradr concept- July 2007
This was the initial idea I had for a Facebook app that would allow you to sell to your community. Notice at the bottom you could add a new item just by typing the description in a single field. Then you'd say what shape it was in, using a three star rating system, enter a price and click "Add".
Andrew Brown and I partnered in December 2009 and created Remarkd. We went heads-down into business mode here, not a lot of pictures to show. Here's how I described Remarkd to our technology partners Nearsoft:
Remarkd is building a online community marketplace, a "virtual garage" sale, and place
for people to post items for sale and talk about their favorite Cause within their
community. Think of Craigslist (sort of), but with 3 fundamental differences:
When people sell something, they will share a proportion of the proceeds with their
chosen Causes.
People will transact with people they know and trust – their friends, contacts or fellow cause supporters. They will also be able to buy/sell with people in the global Remarkd community.
The experience we are building fully embraces Web 2.0, next generation internet practices (e.g. mobile, Facebook & OpenSocial application access, user generated wiki & blog). Online community dialogue and messaging between members and Causes will create a reinforcing commitment to Cause goals (stickiness).
Remarkd's initial launch: September 2008
We launched in September with a whole host of non-profit "Causes" on board. Within a week of launch, we hit a catastrophic snag in our payment solution. Ultimately, we had to double back on the idea of helping Causes raise money. Long story short: the IRS doesn't like 3rd parties doing this.
Remarkd Stores concept: December 2009
Luckily, the fundamental technology we had developed was sound; in our updated business model, we would help community owners to monetize their network. Any OpenSocial-capable site could add the Remarkd Stores app and in a matter of minutes, members of the site's community would be transacting.
Individuals could buy & sell things, and commercial sellers would have a well targeted niche of customers. Remarkd had a revenue sharing agreement with partner sites, so the owners could supplement their other means of supporting the site. Our initial foray into OpenSocial targeted Ning networks.
Our initial launch partners were DGRUS, a super passionate collective of disc golfers.
Remarkd iPhone spec: January 2009
Jordan Alperin signed on to help us build the easiest way to sell things ever envisaged. I am not being hyperbolic: this app would have ROCKED.
Remarkd Anywhere spec: May 2009
We found out some interesting things about Ning networks with our Remarkd Stores app, primarily that despite the 2M networks on Ning, there weren't an incredibly large number that were ideal for a Remarkd Store.
We'd always had the notion of an install-anywhere app on our roadmap. We accelerated this and started building Remarkd Anywhere. A single line of JS and you'd have your Remarkd Store on any website.
And then we closed down
No one likes to close down the business they've toiled over night and day for close to two years. That said, I have learned so much over that stretch, I'm almost without words.
Remarkd is defunct, but I still ♥ Remarkd.
There is a lot I could say about my experience with Remarkd, but I'm not going to go incredibly deep into it right now. As a tribute, I think it'd be fun to post some of the iterations the concept has gone through.
Tradr concept- July 2007
This was the initial idea I had for a Facebook app that would allow you to sell to your community. Notice at the bottom you could add a new item just by typing the description in a single field. Then you'd say what shape it was in, using a three star rating system, enter a price and click "Add".
CloudFair concept: December 2007
At this point I was collaborating with Jason Wehmhoener, Nadine Schaeffer and Satya Palani on concepts.
Remarkd for Causes concept: May 2008
Andrew Brown and I partnered in December 2009 and created Remarkd. We went heads-down into business mode here, not a lot of pictures to show. Here's how I described Remarkd to our technology partners Nearsoft:
Remarkd's initial launch: September 2008
We launched in September with a whole host of non-profit "Causes" on board. Within a week of launch, we hit a catastrophic snag in our payment solution. Ultimately, we had to double back on the idea of helping Causes raise money. Long story short: the IRS doesn't like 3rd parties doing this.
Remarkd Stores concept: December 2009
Luckily, the fundamental technology we had developed was sound; in our updated business model, we would help community owners to monetize their network. Any OpenSocial-capable site could add the Remarkd Stores app and in a matter of minutes, members of the site's community would be transacting.
Individuals could buy & sell things, and commercial sellers would have a well targeted niche of customers. Remarkd had a revenue sharing agreement with partner sites, so the owners could supplement their other means of supporting the site. Our initial foray into OpenSocial targeted Ning networks.
Remarkd Stores: launched with DGRUS January 2009
Our initial launch partners were DGRUS, a super passionate collective of disc golfers.
Remarkd iPhone spec: January 2009
Jordan Alperin signed on to help us build the easiest way to sell things ever envisaged. I am not being hyperbolic: this app would have ROCKED.
Remarkd Anywhere spec: May 2009
We found out some interesting things about Ning networks with our Remarkd Stores app, primarily that despite the 2M networks on Ning, there weren't an incredibly large number that were ideal for a Remarkd Store.
We'd always had the notion of an install-anywhere app on our roadmap. We accelerated this and started building Remarkd Anywhere. A single line of JS and you'd have your Remarkd Store on any website.
And then we closed down
No one likes to close down the business they've toiled over night and day for close to two years. That said, I have learned so much over that stretch, I'm almost without words.
Now I just need some time to marinate.
Fin.