StuffBuff launched its private beta last month, marking the onset of what the company hopes to be a new era in live auctions. Readily comparing itself directly to eBay and Craigslist, StuffBuff takes a more social approach to direct sales. The result is a series of products that bring live auction features to the web, and social networking integration options to help you carry your auctions with you across your online presence.

Seeing as the holiday season is now in full swing, we’ve had time to see that online shopping has increased from last year. Many are taking note of initiatives from the likes of eBay towards increasing holiday shopping sales, and the necessity for consumers to stick to their budget has a lot of people flocking to sites like eBay and Craigslist where they can find products at cheaper rates than full retail value.

The other factor to consider in online shopping this holiday season in particular is the level of interest in social media marketing. After dabbling in virtual goods markets last year, several retailers have re-launched similar efforts yet again. And the increased support virtual goods along with the growing level of acceptance consumers are demonstrating for virtual goods and other forms of social media marketing (which could include something along the lines of a Facebook app or a Twitter-run promo) gives retailers even more leeway than they witnessed in previous years.

All of these factors give StuffBuff ample ammo for launching its own auction service, which combines several aspects of direct market exchanges, social media integration and auctions. The ability to scan and catalog items based on their bar codes leverages technology towards the ease-of-use on the consumer end. Embeddable auctions for items you’re selling makes the auctions themselves portable and increases their visibility as you post them on various websites and social networking profiles. Multiple formats for auctions lends a sense of entertainment and convenience for participants, and easy payment options encourages sales.

The hope, of course, is that StuffBuff can gain traction and prove that its tactics are the most sensible for the way in which we currently utilize online outlets for consumer activity. The series of StuffBuff products so far supports that hope, as it considers convenience factors, time availability and current technological and social media trends. Adding an air of common sense towards the ability for an individual to empower their selling ability while still saving time and money is a major feat that StuffBuff is ready and willing to undertake.

As more of us cling to our budgets and seek better ways in which to leverage our social networks for the purpose of finding recommendations and products, StuffBuff actually wants to push new trends along and change the way in which we buy and sell products. Finding yet another way in which to monetize social media interaction could be largely beneficial for StuffBuff as well, as many other auction and classifieds services that operate as social networking applications still remain too limited to be effective.

Time will tell us if StuffBuff can pull it off. The concept is an interesting one, and the dedication to utilizing new trends and capabilities for making the use of its service easier puts StuffBuff in a good position moving forward. Feel free to try StuffBuff out for yourself. Click here and use BUB09 as the invite code upon registration.

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