By Marketplace Lab I June 11, 2026
For years, marketplaces have been built around products.
Technology marketplaces list software. Shopping marketplaces list products. Service marketplaces list businesses.
But communities are different.
People do not wake up in the morning wondering which software application they need. They wake up thinking about problems they want to solve.
How can I save money?
How can I grow my business?
How can I find volunteers?
How can I learn a new skill?
How can I discover resources that can help my family, organization, or community?
The challenge is not a lack of information. The challenge is finding trusted information.
Today's consumers are overwhelmed by advertisements, sponsored content, search engine results, social media recommendations, and an endless stream of new apps, services, and websites. While there are more choices than ever before, there is often less confidence in which solutions are actually worth using.
This is where community marketplaces become important.
A community marketplace is more than a directory. It is a trusted discovery platform where recommendations are curated, reviewed, and organized around real-world outcomes. It helps residents, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, volunteers, creators, and community builders discover tools, resources, services, guides, and opportunities that provide genuine value.
For local communities, this creates a powerful advantage. Instead of relying solely on global search engines and generic recommendations, people can discover resources that are relevant to their local needs and interests.
Over time, a marketplace becomes part of a community's infrastructure. It becomes a place to learn, discover, share knowledge, and support one another.
That is the vision behind WBN Marketplace™.
Not simply a marketplace.
A trusted community resource built to help people discover things that work.
Marketplace Lab is the research and discovery section of WBN Marketplace™, exploring useful tools, resources, opportunities, services, and community recommendations from Canada and beyond.
WBN Marketplace™
Built By The Community. Curated For The Community.
Tags: #Community Building, #Marketplace, #Small Business, #Nonprofits, #Local Communities, #Community Resources #WBN News