A Prince Albert woman has come up with a creative solution to tackle Canada’s consumerism.
Alex Jordan created an app that rents tools, household goods, and even wedding decorations to people in the community. Lend !t (Lend It with an exclamation point),
Her app development journey began in January when she came up with an unused item in her home.
“I looked around my garage and thought, ‘Oh my god, I just have stuff lying around here that I only use once, twice, three times,'” said Lend !t app developer and CEO. CEO Jordan said during the event. thursday interview morning paper.
“I wish there was a platform where I could sell items like this and help people who are suffering from inflationary prices.”
Jordan said she was greatly inspired by the concept of AirB&B, an app that allows people to rent out their homes.
Lend !t allows you to lend items in your home to others.
After users download the app, they log in and select a city. From there, you can search for specific items or browse by category.
Gather the items you want to rent and set a daily rental rate. Users can then decide on their own transportation arrangements.
“There are people who are already using it,” Jordan said. “A lot of the wedding decorations were used here this last wedding season and it was really exciting to see it.”
Renters attracted to canoes and kayaks
Water sports items have been a big hit this summer, she says. Many people rented canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to enjoy Saskatchewan’s lakes.
The app is available to people across Canada and the United States, but its largest user base is in the community of Prince Albert, where the idea was born.
Lend !t is a commission-based app, so Jordan earns $5 per transaction.
Jordan said the effects of inflation he experienced were the main motivation for creating the app.
“I’m not the only one suffering from inflation, everyone is suffering right now,” Jordan said.
“I really thought if I could put something out there that would give people the freedom to earn their own rent and make money in a safe place and save money by just renting, wouldn’t that work? .”
Logo for Prince Albert-based app Lend !t (Submitted)
Jordan worked with an American coding company to design the app in January, and it took about six months to complete.
App Users must have a valid credit card to use the Service. Lend !t uses a third-party service called Stripe. This service protects users from fraud and allows refunds to be issued to users in need. That way, the app itself won’t store your credit card information.
Lend !t includes rental agreements for renting items to others. To avoid disputes between users, you can deposit the items you want to rent and disclose if the item is damaged.
Jordan says safety is Lend !t’s top priority and they are looking for ways to improve safety as the app continues to grow. By 2025, the app will automatically place deposits into escrow.
Jordan said she wants to not only spread awareness of her app across Canada, but also create a larger conversation about consumerism in the country.
“If I can help our community in any way, that’s really my vision,” she said. “We really want to change the narrative for future generations about how we save money and borrow and lend instead of buying everything.”
Jordan’s next goal is to use Lend !t to partner with various businesses in Prince Albert.
She is looking forward to partnering with Rock Trout Events, a Prince Albert venue that rents out its venue to area musicians. Lend !t allows you to book venues through the app.
“Rather than having them message you all the time on Instagram or email, we have everything in one place and communicate with people that way,” said Nicole Poliszyn, who runs Rock Trout Events with her parents. I can do that,” he said. “I hope this will lead to more rentals.” “
Lend !t has been downloaded 1,000 times to date, and around 700 users have signed up since the app launched in June.
