Eric and Courtney Driegen have launched a website to help local businesses sell their wares.

The couple are avid shoppers and know many local entrepreneurs, says Eric Driegen.

When they thought about how they could make extra money while helping local buyers and sellers, the Mount Hope couple came up with Lyst (shoplyst.ca).

Driegen describes it as an online hub for local entrepreneurs.

“We’re trying to make it much easier for them," Eric Driegen.

Etsy is worldwide listing of retailers, he says, so the cost of shipping is often a barrier for shoppers because it increases the price of an item significantly.

And it can be difficult to find these type of items on Kijiji, he adds.

“We thought, why not come up with something to fill that market gap and help people who are trying to sell locally and also people trying to find this stuff locally,” says Driegen.

“We’re trying to make it much easier for them.”

Lyst is also different than many websites in that it lets vendors post and sell their items without charge.

The company makes money through advertising sales and vendors who pay a fee to promote their wares on the site, says Driegen.