Zipsta aims to take stress out of buying services

Photo: Noé LECOCQ - Wikimedia Commons

Duane Sharrai wishes he had Zipsta to help him in building Zipsta. When his new consumer services website opens for business this weekend, potential buyers will be able to solicite and compare bids on needed services with a lot less hassle than he had to go through.

Zipsta is Sharrai's latest brainchild, a website where local consumers can post listings for services they need, such as landscaping, remodelling, web design, or just about anything else. Vendors will then be notified of that need, and will be able to post bids to provide  that service. The consumer will then be able to select from among the bids based on price, services provided, or reputation. Buyers and sellers can also leave feedback on one another.

The idea came to him after a frustrating experience in finding a service provider to help him with a project. He first had to go through the Yellowpages to find several candidates, then contact them, explain what he needed, and try to get pricing information. Often he would have to drive around to see examples of the vendor's work. But in the end he still did not feel like he was sure who he was working with or that he would get what he wanted.

It occurred to him that he was not the only one having this experience, and that others might also benefit from finding an easier way. Soon the idea for Zipsta was born. Part yellow pages, part eBay, the website offers consumers the opportunity to buy quality service from reputable vendors at a good price, and helps service providers gain high-quality leads and potential long-term customers. In time, Sharrai hopes to push the site to a wider audience beyond the Treasure Valley.

Building Zipsta has taken Sharrai and local web design firm RIA Fox nearly a year and a half. The effort culminates in a Launch Party from 6 to 8 pm June 12 at The Birches clubhouse in Nampa. The public is welcome to attend.

Though Sharrai hopes the site will be a big success, he ultimately hopes it will provide him with the ability to get more involved in charitable efforts. Helping others is important to him, and it's something he built into Zipsta. The site provides vendors the opportunity to donate part of their lead fees to a charity of their choice. "I didn't want to just ... help people out once Zipsta is big and successful," he explains. "Along the way I want to be able to--even if it's in a small degree--be able to start benefiting, to start helping different charitable organizations."

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