The Drop interviews the Founder of UEA’s Online Marketplace

Interested in buying or selling 2nd hand textbooks? Lost a memory stick? Looking for job opportunities? If you answered yes to any of those questions then U-BAS is the place to go.

The 500 display boards spread over campus are not needed anymore now that U-BAS is here to make buying, selling and advertising so much easier.

U-BAS works as an online marketplace and what makes it even better is that it is totally free to use.

It stands for University Buy, Advertise and Sell and all you need to get going is to sign up with a UEA email address.

Here's the link to the site: http://u-bas.co.uk/

U-BAS was founded by Aisha Bassett, third year medical student, and so we decided to catch up with her for an interview. This is how it went:
 

The Drop: Where did the idea for an online marketplace for just UEA students come from?

Aisha: The idea for came about in 2009, when I came to the University of East Anglia in Norwich to study. I was looking for other students who I could buy second-hand textbooks and other items from for my flat, but I couldn’t find a central place to find the people or the items. I then realised that there are over 500 display boards spread over campus with different ads on each of them. It would take hours to visit them all and even after such a search I wouldn’t be guaranteed to find what I needed. I thought, why not have a central place find all these ads that is organized, quick and accessible to all?

This is when the idea of U-BAS was born. U-BAS is a place for students to buy directly from other students, sell their used or new items and connect with students at their university, as well as others without any user fees.

The Drop: Congratulations on launching the site – how did you do it? Tell us how you managed to turn your idea into a reality.

AB: Thank you. It was hard work. I bought the domain for U-BAS soon after I had the idea. I then was advised to create a business plan where I detailed the ideas I had for the site, how I planned for it to be sustainable and to grow. 

2 years after I bought the domain I got an automated email asking if I still wanted the website and that's when I realised I'd have to get the ball rolling or give up on the idea. Through a friend I found a website developer to create the site according to the design I had in mind. Then over several months and many revisions the site was finally completed.

I was ecstatic to see my dream come to reality. I planned a launch party which took place on February 24th in LT2 here at UEA. The launch party was to celebrate the launch of the site and to build some hype and get some buzz going about U-BAS in the student population.

Here I explained how the idea came about and gave a live tutorial on how to use the site. Over 50 people turned up ranging from supportive friends to students who received a launch party flyers earlier that week. There was music, free give aways and food.

The site went live directly after the party and it’s been growing rapidly ever since. Since then U-BAS has expanded and we now have a dedicated team of students, 'TEAM U-BAS', who are managing the social media pages, advertising and marketing.

The Drop: Why should students use U-BAS?

AB: U-BAS is the paperless way to get the word out quickly and easily and hopefully will soon replace bulletin boards. It is one of the best places for students to buy directly from other students, sell their items and connect with students at their university, as well as others, all for free.

Its for those looking to buy and sell books, offload electronic items, or even find housemates. Lost items can be listed on U-Bas, such as memory sticks accidentally left in the library, or a coat abandoned in the Hive by mistake.

Staff and faculty have begun advertising paid positions available just for students and recent graduates.

To sign-up, you must have a university e-mail address. The site is also open to university staff and faculty. Unlike gumtree or craigslist which is for everyone, U-BAS is just for students. It is for students and run by students for the benefit of other students.

Join us U-BAS:

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/U-BAS/175015715922739

Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/UBAS_UK

The Drop: I can see someone is trying to flog a Tartan Kilt. Is that the most unusual item you have seen on the site so far, or has there already been something else even more out of the ordinary on there?

AB: U-BAS was created for students to buy and sell things that they have. Each item is unique and what each wants to sell is completely up to them. We want students to be able to buy anything and everything and also sell anything that they have. That is exactly what the site is created for.

The Drop: Fantastic. Well we wish the project all the best  of luck and thanks for the interview, Aisha. 

U-Bas is also participating in the BBC's Be Your Own Boss competition where they are against 499 other start-ups to raise as much money as possible from £100. 

So they are running an event an Wednesday 16th May where they'll be selling pancakes and milkshakes in the Hive. For more details, check out the facebook event here: www.facebook.com/#!/events/406981032667825/

Lastly, if you are a student with an entrepreneurial streak in you and you run some sort of money-making scheme on the side, then please get in touch because the Drop wants to hear from you.