Campus Leftovers article in Bucyrus Telegraph Forum

“I am the director of the Annual Fund at Tiffin University. Working in the field of education and as a former college student, I saw all the items out by the curb that could be of use to someone else,” Pinion said.

Pinion decided to start a business, CampusLeftovers.com.

“The Web site allows users to buy, sell and trade items for free,” Pinion said.

The site, set up similar to CraigsList.com, focuses on college students and faculty. Pinion started planning the business about two years ago and launched the site last fall.

“As the business grows and begins to turn a profit, I am going to start an endowment fund for college students in the name of my mom, Kay Pinion. She was a firm supporter of higher education,” he said of his mom, a successful, Bucyrus-based Mary Kay Cosmetics sales director, who died in 2005.

His Web site offers a variety of items for sale or trade including dining room tables, musical instruments, motorcycles, kitchen appliances and textbooks.

“The site is growing quickly as people learn about it,” he said.

Users can browse the site without logging in and can search by school or ZIP code. Those who want to make a purchase, Pinion said, must register.

Sellers can put pictures of their wares on the site. It is up to buyers and sellers to work out transaction details.

“I just provide the service,” Pinion said.

Pinion consulted the owner of NewFinds.com, Dave Morrow, who helped him get started.

“My sister, Tiniel Pinion, has been helping to promote the site. Dave Hudson and Brad Starkey helped with legal advice and Linda Adams helped with branding and the creation of the logo,” Pinion said.

Pinion set up Edconnex LLC, the Web site’s parent company, and has applied for a copyright for the site.

“My goal is to get as many institutions as possible to use the Web site. I’m trying to build up the clientele base,” he said.