The Mission

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩. SWAPSTER aims to transform how international students furnish their spaces in Maastricht by creating a seamless, eco-friendly shopping experience. By promoting the circular economy, SWAPSTER reduces waste and offers students an affordable, sustainable, and convenient way to furnish their living spaces in Maastricht. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 is to establish SWAPSTER as a network of easy-solution stores across international student hubs, making sustainable, budget-friendly furnishing an effortless reality. We will initially build a strong presence in Maastricht, supported by key partnerships with social organizations to raise brand awareness among incoming and outgoing students. Our dedicated team is ready to grow SWAPSTER from a local initiative into a global brand committed to sustainability and student support.

The Challenge

Amongst (international) students it is a 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 to find appropriately priced merchandise to furnish their living space. Arriving in a foreign city with 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, they often have few choices—typically large retailers that lack both affordability and a focus on sustainability. Additionally, students face the difficulty of reselling items at the end of their stay, often leading to loss of value, inconvenience, and even waste as items are left behind.

The solution

SWAPSTER is the comprehensive 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 for students’ furnishing needs. SWAPSTER’s physical stores will allow students to both buy and resell items in one place, establishing a fully circular customer experience. With affordable, high-quality used goods and an easy resale option, SWAPSTER removes the hassle and high costs associated with temporary furnishing. Through key partnerships and a committed team, SWAPSTER will build a strong local footprint and brand presence, starting in Maastricht. This pilot store will be our testing ground, from which we aim to grow into a sustainable, scalable business model, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐏𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 that can be implemented in other student cities worldwide, combining environmental impact with student-centered convenience.