Eclectibles
Madison treasure hunts since 2014
Hi there! I love thrifting, trinkets, haggling, and getting the right collectible to the right person.
I've been thrifting all over Madison, WI since 2014. There is nothing more magical than stumbling upon something you hadn't even been searching for. Whenever I found something that I didn't like but I knew my friends or family loved, I would snag the deal and surprise them with an adhoc gift.
As the years went by I had AMAZING buys—and also had my partner carry home co-op bags full of Beanie Babies with me—but the whole time I felt a rush and wanted to understand more about the collectibles business as a whole.
Whenever I found something that wasn't for me but felt perfect for someone else, I grabbed it and delivered a surprise. Eclectibles is rooted in that joy of matchmaking great finds with the people who will love them most.
2014
First Madison thrift runs
2024
Bins of toys & trinkets = action time
Fast-forward to 2024, my dwelling is littered with organized bins of toys and trinkets. Something had to be done. I began to research and understand how to best:
- Identify a cool item of value.
- Discover an item's current true value.
- Price it in a way that resonates with collectors.
This was a great process that took minutes searching and taking pictures. The actual listing experience was tedious because I was just using my phone and hunting for the right product angles and compelling features to entice buyers.
I loved finding the needle in the haystack—but I hated sewing the sweater.
Why I'm building AIAL
My goal in designing AIAL is to consolidate my item identification, sales knowledge, and engineering abilities to condense a rather tedious and ambiguous task and make it simple and affordable.
I want the thrift store experience for everyone to be instantly gratifying, exciting, and lucrative. AIAL's mission is to deliver just that—great products getting to the right buyer for excellent value.
Identify
Bring computer-vision smarts to learning what makes a trinket special.
Value
Surface real-time comps and pricing insights without endless tab-hopping.
Share
Publish beautiful, persuasive listings that feel effortless.
Eclectibles is my love letter to every unexpected score in Madison and beyond. AIAL is the toolkit that turns that love into a shareable, sustainable business—one that keeps the thrill intact while smoothing out the steps between a great find and its next home.
– Sean