Disruption alert: the Uber of rental stores?
Whimiy.com wants to disrupt the rental business by offering a nationwide neighbor-to-neighbor online rental community.
A press release announcing the launch of the company boldly drops the name “Whimiy” – a contraction of “what is mine is your” – into the company of other social sharing platforms “Uber” and “Airbnb.”
The founder of the service is Rhonda Harper, a former chief marketing officer at Sam’s Club, the division of Walmart. “I used to promote buying in bulk,” she said. “Now, I encourage you not to not buy at all.”
From tools and camping equipment to baby products and musical equipment, subscribers of Whimiy can rent items to and from each other. The prices are determined by the owners and renters.
“So many people have products that they don’t often use and yet don’t want to sell,” said Harper. “And, often people want an item for only a short period of time so it doesn’t make sense to purchase. The sharing economy is here to stay and Whimiy is the first one for items in your household, garage, and storage unit.”
When a member rents an item, Whimiy collects a 10% commission on the rental transaction.
Keeping the business “in the neighborhood” means that the service takes the members address and incorporates an 8-mile radius. Owner’s items will be advertised in that area only. Similarly, renters only can view items in that area.
Before it becomes a household word like Uber or Aribnb, Whimiy would have to overcome a myriad of competitors, including brand name retailers who stand by their products and their reputation. (Whimiy doesn’t offer refunds).
The concept will also face competition in the form of neighbors simply acting neighborly and lending each other products for free.
Dallas-based Whimiy promotes the concepts of “Earn cash. Spend less. Reduce waste. Build community.” And to sweeten the deal, Whimiy donates 5% of net income to non-profits that protect the environment. Time will tell if those concepts will help this sharing platform become a growing business.
A press release announcing the launch of the company boldly drops the name “Whimiy” – a contraction of “what is mine is your” – into the company of other social sharing platforms “Uber” and “Airbnb.”
The founder of the service is Rhonda Harper, a former chief marketing officer at Sam’s Club, the division of Walmart. “I used to promote buying in bulk,” she said. “Now, I encourage you not to not buy at all.”
From tools and camping equipment to baby products and musical equipment, subscribers of Whimiy can rent items to and from each other. The prices are determined by the owners and renters.
“So many people have products that they don’t often use and yet don’t want to sell,” said Harper. “And, often people want an item for only a short period of time so it doesn’t make sense to purchase. The sharing economy is here to stay and Whimiy is the first one for items in your household, garage, and storage unit.”
When a member rents an item, Whimiy collects a 10% commission on the rental transaction.
Keeping the business “in the neighborhood” means that the service takes the members address and incorporates an 8-mile radius. Owner’s items will be advertised in that area only. Similarly, renters only can view items in that area.
Before it becomes a household word like Uber or Aribnb, Whimiy would have to overcome a myriad of competitors, including brand name retailers who stand by their products and their reputation. (Whimiy doesn’t offer refunds).
The concept will also face competition in the form of neighbors simply acting neighborly and lending each other products for free.
Dallas-based Whimiy promotes the concepts of “Earn cash. Spend less. Reduce waste. Build community.” And to sweeten the deal, Whimiy donates 5% of net income to non-profits that protect the environment. Time will tell if those concepts will help this sharing platform become a growing business.