While shopping is obviously a favourite pastime of many, nothing hits like shopping for others – especially when the budget isn’t your own. That was the dream scenario that Justin Miller, a designer producer based in Los Angeles, found himself in when he was tasked with curating Facebook Marketplace’s “Still Available” residency, a three-day IRL activation that brought the online shopping platform to life. Held at an art gallery on Melrose Avenue, the residency, which coincided with the platform’s 10th birthday, housed a selection of items from Facebook Marketplace’s most popular categories, including fashion, cars, home decor and more.

From July 23 to July 25, visitors of the residency were able to explore everything from vintage T-shirts to old-school magazines, with the residency providing the opportunity for consumers to not only experience listings in person, but also connect with fellow secondhand shopping lovers.

Below, we spoke to the designer about being open-minded when shopping online, his holy grail Facebook Marketplace find and curating “Still Available”.

The residency had such a wide selection of finds, with the categories ranging from cars to fashion. How did you go about sourcing everything? 

I absolutely can’t be trusted when it comes to fashion and cars, so we outsourced. Michael Washington and Vin Anatra brought in some amazing cars. Fashion creator Madi Webb brought in items from her closet that people could purchase via her Facebook Marketplace, and BG Vintage sourced vintage tees guests could choose from to custom embroider on site. 

I handled the furniture, art, decor, and overall vibe. The Facebook team put together a general floor plan and mood board as a starting point, but then let me take control and let whatever Facebook Marketplace had to offer dictate the exact direction of each space. That’s the key to shopping on Facebook Marketplace. You can’t have one exact item in mind; you have to be willing to go with the flow a bit. I started with the bigger furniture pieces. The amazing cream corduroy Vladimir Kagan sectional and the orange stainless steel chair were the first pieces we confirmed, and they really kicked off the space.

What was your favourite part of that curation process?

Spending someone else’s money is always my favourite part of a project! It’s too easy to overthink a purchase when it’s your own hard-earned money. I think the most unique part of this project was the ephemerality of it all. We were creating a space that would only exist for three days. I didn’t have to think about comfort, durability or practicality, which are always such hindrances when you’re sourcing for a home. Aesthetics were really our only concern!

What was your favourite find from “Still Available”?

We sourced so many amazing pieces, but I think my favourite was the stack of vintage TVs playing Facebook Marketplace commercials. We rented them from a woman who loves restoring vintage TVs and computers, and she turned that passion into a business, listing them on Facebook Marketplace and renting them out for photoshoots and events. It was such a highlight of the space, but it also really highlights how Facebook Marketplace has given sellers a platform to turn their passion into additional income. And I know it sounds like I’m being paid to say that, but I really do mean it. Facebook Marketplace has changed people’s lives.

What category are you always scrolling through on Facebook Marketplace?

Furniture and art are my main kinks. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say kink, but I don’t think any other word is accurate here! Facebook Marketplace’s algorithm is honestly too good. It learns what you gravitate toward most and keeps showing you more of it. It’s dangerous for my spending because it shows me things I suddenly can’t live without, even when I wasn’t looking for them.

With Facebook Marketplace turning 10 this year, how do you think the platform has changed the way that people shop?

Thinking back to shopping in 2015, resale and classifieds sites felt a bit sketchier and more anonymous. Since Facebook Marketplace listings are directly connected to a Facebook profile, it feels more legitimate and less mysterious. I think that put people at ease and really opened up the possibilities of secondhand shopping for so many people.

Vintage furniture and fashion have exploded over the last ten years, and I’m sure Facebook Marketplace has played a part in that. You can find amazing things thrifting, but it’s an art that many people don’t have the patience to learn. Scrolling through listings on your phone with photos and descriptions is just a much more approachable way to shop secondhand. I also think Facebook Marketplace has shown people just how much variety exists in the world. If I only had the ability to shop for furniture that was new and currently available in stores, I wouldn’t have a career as a home design creator. What I’m able to do with design is only possible because I have access to vintage and secondhand pieces.

Do you have a holy grail Facebook Marketplace find?

I found an extremely rare chair by Danish designer Frits Henningsen. I bought it for $50 and sold it at a Sotheby’s auction a few months later for $108,000. It came from a wealthy Beverly Hills couple who were purging a bunch of things from their house. They knew it had some value, but it was pretty damaged, so they let it go. I think that might possibly be the best Facebook Marketplace find anyone has ever made!

With the rise of microtrends and fast fashion, second-hand shopping platforms have become a way for people to regain a sense of originality. How do you think shopping on Facebook Marketplace has helped your own taste evolve?

You can find everything on Facebook Marketplace, but not necessarily what you’re looking for at that exact moment. You have to be much more open-minded than if you were walking into a specific store for a specific item. I think that encourages creativity and problem solving. If I’m designing a room, I have to have a Plan B and a Plan C in case I can’t find exactly what I originally wanted.

My entire apartment is furnished from Facebook Marketplace, and some of the most special pieces were ones I stumbled across and ended up designing the room around. You can find things on there that you literally couldn’t find anywhere else in the world, so it has exposed me to so much variety that I never would have seen otherwise. My style draws from so many different eras and places, and I think that has a lot to do with it.

What’s your number one tip for shopping on Facebook Marketplace?

I’m on Facebook Marketplace several times every day, so I have lots of tips. Actually, that’s a tip in itself. You need to check it frequently! The really good finds often go fast.

But I’d say my number one tip is to look at the listings with bad photos. Some of my best finds came from listings with photos that were blurry, too dark, or cropped way too close. Normally we’d just scroll right past those, so you have to train yourself not to.