The Power of Aggregators: Amplify Hidden Value by Uniting the Dispersed

A decade ago, finding an out-of-print book often meant searching dusty secondhand shops, with a slim chance of success. Richard Weatherford, a small-time bookseller, saw this as a classic aggregation problem. He knew thousands of small shops each had a few rare treasures, but no one could see the whole picture. By building an online network (eventually called Alibris), he united all those scattered inventories, turning a dead market into a blooming, liquid exchange. Suddenly, niche customers and small sellers found each other, and items that once gathered dust started selling again.

Weatherford’s approach worked because he lowered the friction for everyone involved, using simple digital tools and shared standards. Soon, giant platforms like eBay and Amazon adopted similar strategies, connecting not just products but also talents, data, and communities. They became the go-to resource not just for common goods, but for millions of overlooked items that traditional methods ignored.

Researchers call this the 'power of combinatorial aggregation,' a key tenet in network economics. When the cost to join a marketplace falls, the potential supply explodes—and so does customer satisfaction and efficiency. The best part? Anyone can build a small aggregator in their community or topic of interest, even without advanced tech.

Pick a niche you care about—rare books, indie game guides, freelance design gigs, anything that’s scattered—and gather the top resources into one clean, easy document or post. Label, sort, and comment on each; share it with the most relevant online group or friends, and ask for feedback or suggestions. Notice how quickly your resource becomes valuable for others and how your own expertise and network deepen with every update. Who knows, you might even become the go-to connector in your field.