Marketplace Live Brings Family-Focused Resale Experience to Maryville

Marketplace Live Brings Family-Focused Resale Experience to Maryville

New community-driven business offers a safe, affordable space for buying and selling household items

A new locally owned business is bringing a fresh approach to resale shopping in the Metro East. Marketplace Live, founded by Jessica Billingsley, is an eco-conscious furniture and home goods store designed to provide families with an affordable and convenient place to buy and sell gently used items. Billingsley sought advice for her startup from the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Marketplace Live operates on a vendor-based model, allowing individuals to rent space within the store to display and sell furniture, toys, and home decor. Sellers benefit from professional staging and support, helping their items stand out and sell more effectively, while shoppers gain access to a curated selection of affordable, quality goods.

"I saw a need in the community for a safe, welcoming place where people could both buy and sell their items," said Billingsley. "It's about creating an environment where families can find what they need at a price they can afford, while also giving people an opportunity to earn extra income."

At its core, Marketplace Live is built on the values of accessibility, sustainability, and community connection. The business provides a practical solution for households looking to declutter while extending the life of everyday items, all within a structured and secure retail setting.

Billingsley chose to establish the business in Maryville, drawn to its strong sense of community and supportive local business environment.

"Maryville has that small-town, family-oriented feel that really stood out to me," Billingsley explained. "The local businesses here are incredibly welcoming, and the area is centrally located, making it easy for surrounding communities to come together in one place."

As a first-time business owner, Billingsley turned to the SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE for guidance throughout the startup process.

"I had never opened a business before, so I really felt like a fish out of water," Billingsley said. "The SBDC gave me a resource I could rely on. They helped me walk through my business plan and think about things I wouldn't have even considered. It made me feel like I wasn't doing this alone."

Through the SBDC, Billingsley gained valuable insight into planning, operations, and long-term strategy, helping to build a strong foundation for Marketplace Live.

"Jessica's dedication to sustainability and purpose-driven entrepreneurship is truly impressive," said Jo Ann Di Maggio May, Director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE. "Our collaboration has been incredibly productive, and the SBDC is proud to champion the continued growth of Marketplace Live. "Beyond business, Billingsley emphasizes the deeper purpose behind the venture, supporting families and creating opportunities in an increasingly expensive world."

"Family is everything to me," said Billingsley. "This business gives people a way to declutter, earn extra cash, and find affordable items-all in a place they can trust. That's really what it's about."

Marketplace Live is quickly becoming a destination for locals seeking both value and connection, while contributing to a more sustainable and community-driven local economy.

About Marketplace Live
Marketplace Live is a Maryville-based resale store offering pre-loved furniture, home decor, and household items through a vendor-based marketplace model. The business provides individuals with a platform to sell their items while offering the community affordable and accessible shopping options.

About the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE
The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists entrepreneurs as well as existing business owners operating in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, and Randolph counties. The SBDC enhances the region's economic interests by providing one-stop assistance through counseling, training, research, and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses.

SBDC offices in Illinois are funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement among the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the community.

To learn how these no-cost services may help your business venture, contact the Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or [email protected].

PHOTO: Jessica Billingsley, founder of Marketplace Live