Taking a paper clip and turning it into a house sounds like a cheesy magic trick or a phony instance of resourcefulness on the 1980s TV show "MacGyver."
Kyle MacDonald, however, has pulled it off.
One year ago, the 26-year-old blogger from Montreal set out to barter one red paper clip for something and that thing for something else, over and over again until he had a house.
On Wednesday the quest is ending as envisioned: MacDonald is due to become the proud owner of a three-bedroom, 1,100-square-foot home provided by the town of Kipling, Saskatchewan. MacDonald and his girlfriend, Dominique Dupuis, expect to move there in early September.
Blogger Proves One Red Paper Clip Can Indeed Buy a House
Blogger Proves One Red Paper Clip Can Indeed Buy A House
Trend Themes
1. Bartering Economy - The trend of bartering items for goods or services instead of traditional currency can offer disruptive innovation opportunities for peer-to-peer marketplaces and digital communities.
2. Creative Resourcefulness - The trend of finding new and innovative ways to use everyday items can offer disruptive innovation opportunities for sustainability-focused industries and makerspaces.
3. Online Challenges - The trend of online challenges that encourage participants to achieve a goal can offer disruptive innovation opportunities for companies looking to engage with social media-savvy audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Peer-to-peer Marketplaces - The trend of bartering can be leveraged in peer-to-peer marketplaces such as Craiglist or Facebook Marketplace, providing more choices for buying and selling goods and services.
2. Sustainability-focused Industries - The trend of creative resourcefulness can be applied to sustainability-focused industries such as eco-friendly packaging, waste reduction, and upcycling, leading to more innovative and environmentally-friendly products and practices.
3. Social Media Companies - The trend of online challenges can be leveraged by social media companies to increase engagement and participation on their platforms and attract a wider audience.