Stuff4Hire.com, a new sharing-economy that will allow users to lend and borrow household items - from drills to Cuisinarts to snow blowers - launches its crowdfunding campaign on February 1st.
NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Stuff4Hire.com will offer people an innovative and inexpensive way to find products that they need only once every six months or even for a once-in-a-lifetime project. On the other hand, people who have well-maintained tools, gadgets or appliances that are gathering dust in a closet or under the sink can generate some income by "loaning" these goods out for a fee.
Jude Alexis, the founder of Stuff4Hire, is initiating a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.com in an attempt to raise $15,000 which will be used to launch the site and to raise awareness of its existence within the community.
"Stuff4Hire will provide people with access to items that are otherwise costly or difficult to obtain," Alexis says. "If you're an amateur photographer and you infrequently need lighting equipment, then it makes more sense to rent it from someone within your community who has that equipment. Doing so reduces the total cost of ownership of that item for everyone."
This concept is on the leading edge of the sharing economy movement that seeks to empower people on a grassroots level. From food co-ops to Airbnb, companies such as Stuff4Hire.com provide consumers with alternatives to simply adding to the proffers of mass-market retailers and large corporations. "This platform provides a digital marketplace that allows owners to rent underutilized items to their neighbors instead of buying them new from a company," Alexis adds. " Stuff4Hire will also help minimize the over-consumption of products, thereby reducing our environmental footprint."
The company's founder has also been diligent about setting up procedures that will help protect both lenders and borrowers in any transaction carried out through the site. Stuff4Hire will mediate transactions by holding a deposit from the borrower at the time of rental. When the item is returned to the lender, the borrower's deposit will be returned minus a fee for the rental. Stuff4Hire will mitigate disputes between lenders and borrowers, and will provide limited protection for items that are lost or damaged.
Members will be encouraged to provide reviews about their rental experiences. Negative reviews will serve as warning to prospective lenders or borrows against bad citizens.
Individuals who are interested in making a pledge should go to http://www.kickstarter.com and search for Stuff4Hire. People may also go to http://www.stuff4hire.com and click on the "Make a pledge" link.
Media Contact: Jude Alexis, 212-381-0498, [email protected]
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SOURCE Stuff4Hire.com
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