Community Stars: Your Complete Guide to Earning Stars and Winning Rewards
Learn how to earn stars, climb the leaderboard, and win BrokerBucks that reduce your service fees. Your complete guide to ShopBroker's Community Stars program.
What if selling on a marketplace actually rewarded you beyond just the sale price? What if active participation earned recognition and tangible benefits?
That's Community Stars. ShopBroker's rewards program that turns every transaction, every review, and every referral into progress toward winning BrokerBucks.
Here's everything you need to know about earning stars, climbing the leaderboard, and winning the monthly prize.
What Are Community Stars?
Community Stars are ShopBroker's recognition and reward system. You earn stars for activities that strengthen the marketplace. More stars mean higher visibility, community recognition, and a shot at monthly BrokerBucks prizes.
The Monthly Competition
Every month, the top three star earners in each of our seven cities win BrokerBucks:
| Placement | BrokerBucks |
|-----------|-------------|
| 1st Place | 💰 100 |
| 2nd Place | 💰 50 |
| 3rd Place | 💰 25 |
Current cities:
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Calgary
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Halifax
That's 21 winners every month! BrokerBucks automatically reduce your service fees on future sales and never expire.
How to Earn Stars
Every positive action on ShopBroker earns stars. Here's the complete breakdown.
[Table]
| Activity | Stars Earned | Notes |
|----------|--------------|-------|
| Complete a sale | 3 stars | Per transaction |
| Make a purchase | 2 stars | Per transaction |
| Write a review | 2 stars | After any transaction |
| Detailed review bonus | +1 star | Specific details earn extra |
| Complete your profile | 2 stars | One-time |
| Customize your shop | 1 star each | Up to 3 stars total |
| Refer a friend who sells | 5 stars | When referral completes first sale |
Sales and Purchases
Complete a sale: 3 stars — The core activity of any marketplace. Every successful transaction where you sell an item earns 3 stars. More sales, more stars.
Make a purchase: 2 stars — Buyers contribute to the community too. Each completed purchase earns 2 stars.
Building Your Reputation
Write a review: 2 stars — After completing a transaction, review the other party. Honest reviews help the community make informed decisions.
Write a detailed review: +1 bonus star — Reviews with specific details about the transaction, item condition, and communication earn a bonus star. Quality feedback matters.
Account Setup
Complete your profile: 2 stars (one-time) — Add your profile photo, bio, and location. First impressions matter for building buyer trust.
Customize your shop: 1 star each — Add a shop banner, description, and personalize your seller page. Up to 3 stars available for shop customization.
Referrals
Refer a friend who makes a sale: 5 stars — Share your referral link. When someone signs up and completes their first sale, you earn 5 stars plus referral rewards.
The Monthly Competition
Here's how the leaderboard works.
Fresh Start Every Month
Stars reset on the first of each month. Previous month's results are locked in, and everyone starts fresh. This keeps the competition accessible, so new sellers can compete with established ones.
City-Based Rankings
You compete against sellers in your city, not the entire country. Toronto sellers compete with Toronto sellers. Calgary with Calgary. This levels the playing field for smaller markets.
Top Three Win BrokerBucks
At month's end, the top three star earners in each city win BrokerBucks (💰 100, 💰 50, 💰 25). BrokerBucks are deposited to your account and automatically apply to reduce service fees on your next sales.
Strategies for Climbing the Leaderboard
Want to win? Here's how top performers approach the competition.
Focus on Sales Volume
Each sale earns 3 stars, the highest single-action reward. Volume sellers with multiple items naturally accumulate stars faster.
Volume strategy:
- List multiple items
- Price competitively for quick turnover
- Respond quickly to inquiries
- Keep delivery windows open
Never Skip Reviews
Every transaction is a review opportunity. Two stars per review adds up quickly. Detailed reviews earn bonus stars.
Review habit:
- Review immediately after delivery confirmation
- Mention specific positives (communication, packaging, accuracy)
- Be honest about any issues
Leverage Referrals
Five stars per successful referral is significant. If you know people with items to sell, referring them benefits everyone.
Referral approach:
- Share with friends cleaning out closets
- Mention to colleagues upgrading equipment
- Post your link in relevant community groups
Complete Your Profile
Easy one-time stars often get overlooked. Make sure your profile and shop are fully set up.
Checklist:
- Profile photo
- Bio written
- Location confirmed
- Shop banner uploaded
- Shop description complete
Why Stars Matter Beyond Prizes
Even if you're not chasing the monthly win, stars provide value.
Visible Trust Indicator
Your star count appears on your profile. Higher counts signal active, trusted community members. Buyers often prefer sellers with visible engagement history.
Stand Out in Search
Active sellers with higher engagement metrics get favorable placement in marketplace search results. More visibility means more potential buyers finding your listings.
Community Recognition
Monthly winners are highlighted in the Community Stars page. Top performers earn recognition across the platform.
Track Your Progress
Stars provide a tangible measure of your marketplace activity. Watch your count grow as you build your selling business.
Check Your Standing
Stay informed about your position throughout the month.
Leaderboard Access
Visit the Community Stars page to see:
- Current city leaderboard
- Your star count and ranking
- Days remaining in the month
- Previous month's winners
Star History
Your profile shows your star earning history:
- Total stars earned
- Monthly breakdown
- Activity that earned each star
- Prize wins if any
Notifications
Get notified when:
- You earn stars
- Your ranking changes significantly
- The month is ending
- You win the monthly prize
Getting Started: Quick Wins for New Sellers
New to ShopBroker? Here's your star strategy.
Day One Stars (Up to 5 stars)
- Complete your profile (2 stars)
- Customize your shop banner (1 star)
- Add shop description (1 star)
- Personalize shop details (1 star)
First Week Stars
- List your first item
- Make your first sale (3 stars)
- Write your first review (2-3 stars)
- Refer a friend (5 stars if they sell)
Ongoing Star Building
- Consistent listing activity
- Review every transaction
- Share your referral link
- Respond quickly to inquiries (builds sales)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do stars expire?
What if there's a tie?
When do BrokerBucks get applied?
Can I stack multiple wins?
Do purchases count toward the leaderboard?
How do referral stars work?
Start Earning Stars Today
The monthly competition is always running. Every sale, every review, every referral brings you closer to winning. Whether you're aiming for the prize or just building your reputation, Community Stars rewards your participation.
Want to maximize your sales? Check out our pricing guide and selling tips to increase your transaction volume.