A Sunshine Coast start-up is seeking to make it easier for people to borrow equipment they may need only occasionally instead of buying it.
LendMe, launched in October, connects people willing to lend items including power tools, pressure washers and ride-on mowers with people who want to hire them.
Founder Samuel Groves developed the idea after cleaning out his family garage in 2018 and finding drills still in their cases, ladders and camping equipment, which had been bought for specific purposes and rarely used.
At the same time, he had watched friends and family buy equipment they needed only temporarily.
That sparked a question: what if people could borrow something from someone nearby rather than having to buy it?
The concept took years to develop, with Mr Groves saying he invested thousands of dollars in app developers, marketing companies and other services while experiencing repeated setbacks.
At one stage, he was unable to obtain the original app code and lost access to the business’s social media accounts, leaving him questioning whether the idea would ever become a reality.
But rather than abandon the project, he decided to start again by learning about business, marketing, technology, platform development and sustainability.
“I eventually rebuilt the entire website and developed the iOS and Android application platform myself, introducing improved features, stronger security measures and a more considered user experience,” Mr Groves said.
Establishing trust was another important consideration, particularly when asking people to hand over valuable belongings to someone they had never met.
Mr Groves incorporated identity verification, a bond system, secure payments through Stripe, safety guidelines and comprehensive terms and conditions to provide accountability for both parties.
Certain items, including motor vehicles and weapons, are prohibited, although trailers, caravans and non-motorised equipment can be listed.
LendMe charges lenders a 10 per cent service fee on the hire amount, with no additional fees for borrowers.
Mr Groves sees the platform as an opportunity to encourage more sustainable consumption by making better use of products already in circulation.
“If one perfectly good item can be shared between five households rather than sitting unused in one garage while four others purchase the same thing, there’s an opportunity to make better use of existing resources and reduce demand for unnecessary production,” he said.
The Coast was the natural starting point, with its outdoor lifestyle and community focus aligning with the business’s objectives.
Although the app is available Australia-wide, Mr Groves wants to build awareness locally and expand suburb by suburb, establishing a strong base of lenders and borrowers in each community.
Looking three to five years ahead, he hopes LendMe will become the first place people consider before buying something they might only need once.
“Ultimately, we want to help make borrowing and lending a normal part of everyday life – creating communities where people can save money, make better use of what they already own and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
The service is available via LendMe.
