Islander teen George Lejnine began fixing bikes when he was 12. Now, at 15, a sophomore at Mercer Island High School, he uses Craigslist to get out the word on his services. The teen has the only bike shop on the Island.

Lejnine’s ad on the popular on-line bargain site compares his prices and services to those of local name competitors.

Yet beyond the tools of new age entrepreneurs, getting the word out by word of mouth remains an effective tool.

“A lot of my business comes from word of mouth,” he said, noting that friends and parents send business his way.

And parents are useful. Lejnine uses the garage of his parents who live at Shorewood Heights for his shop. He used to have help, but now works on his own and figures — after a minute or two of thought — that he has seven bikes right now.

The Reporter reached Lejnine in the late morning by calling his cell phone number listed in the advertisement. He was at his shop during a free period at the high school.

Lejnine also hopes to continue a project that he began to purchase bikes from thrift shops to repair and give to needy kids.

Other Islanders make good use of Craigslist as well. A quick check of all items for sale or free brought up more than 400 fresh listings, all posted within a few days time.

Some listings appeared to be items from the same seller who is cleaning out closets, while others have more compelling reasons to sell. Some said that they can no longer afford a second car or are desperate to unload large items before they move.

There are rugs, shelves, dishes and collectibles. A sample of items includes a scented candle for $5, a terra cotta cowboy boot flower vase for $15, a 1996 Jaguar Vanden Plas 4.0 Liter 6-cylinder inline engine for $3,750, a couple of three gallon flush toilets for $20 each. There are maternity jeans, a piano and a six-foot-eight-inch-tall giraffe carved in Namibia from a single piece of wood for $200.

Contact Mercer Island Bike Repair by calling (425) 208-6784 or e-mail geolej@comcast.net.

For more ways to advertise, go to our Web site at www.mi-reporter.com or call (206) 232-1215.