Publish at April 09 2024 Updated April 09 2024
Our economy is mainly based on the purchase of new objects. Old items, on the other hand, end up in the garbage can or, at best, in the recycling bin. It seems that second-hand items are viewed with suspicion, even though they often haven't been used that much and collect dust. How about a return to the sharing economy? This was the idea that crossed the mind of Fauve Doucet, a Quebec citizen and mother concerned by the current over-consumption.
After conducting market research and setting up Facebook groups to generate neighbor-to-neighbor lending, the scale of the success led to the creation of an application available on Apple Store and Google Play: Partage Club.
The concept is simple. Once registered, users can propose objects they are willing to lend for certain periods to other members of the app in their neighborhood. Whether it's a baby exerciser, a bicycle, a large cauldron to make a recipe at a family party, or a sports camera, anyone can offer whatever they want and respond to requests.
Afterwards, people discuss and establish the terms and conditions, and then meet in person to exchange the object in a neutral location for the specified duration. What's more, the app can remind users if they're running late and need to return the item.
As with many other applications, it is also possible to rate different users and indicate when certain rules have been broken. Those in charge are currently working on an authentication system and even on possible loan insurance to compensate members if the item is not returned or is broken. All Quebec citizens can try out the service free of charge for 3 months, after which they will have to pay $60 a year to gain access to their neighbors. This way, we can provide customer service, keep the application evolving and avoid cluttering the service with ads.
The site also offers cities, businesses, apartment building owners and educational institutions the possibility of purchasing licenses to provide the service to a growing number of people. 3 municipalities in Quebec offer the service either at a lower price or free of charge to citizens. For its part, Université Laval has teamed up with the application to make it available to students and professors alike.
The solution is intended for Quebec territory only, but the app's success could lead to versions beyond the Canadian province.
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