Not sure if this has already been suggested (did a forum search, didn't find it), or already planned, or maybe already there and I just can't find it but...
Lots of mmorpgs I've been playing lately, let you link items you have in the chat system. So people can either hover over, or click on (depending on game), the item in the chat system and see its stats just as you would if you were looking at it from an inventory.