Picture this: you go online and your newsfeed is filled with everything camping. You decide to give it a shot, but there’s one issue—you don’t own a tent. In an effort to make camping more accessible and sustainable, Rebecca Heaps aims to provide a solution through Tentshare.
When it comes to peer-to-peer rental in the camping and RVing industry, an image that comes to mind is recreational vehicles (RV) being listed on sharing platforms. Now, those who want to experience traditional camping without fully committing to buying a tent can rent one through U.K.-based Tentshare.
Founder Rebecca Heaps shared that the idea for the business came up when she was thinking about which asset she can use to generate additional income.
“I was doing a little mental go-through in my garage and then I remembered that I had a really beautiful canvas bell tent. And so I started renting it out to friends and family and it did really well,” the business owner told Modern Campground.
Considering the bigger picture, Heaps, through the company she established in February 2020, seeks to remind people that they already own resources they can utilize—or in this case—rent out.
“So with the climate crisis and the financial crisis and all the difficulties we’re facing, we’ve obviously taken enough out of the planet already, and […] there must be many millions of tents already sitting in people’s garages across the U.K. and beyond,” she expressed.
Renting not only reduces the chance of another unused tent sitting in an attic or garage but also decreases carbon footprint.
Heaps said that if one can imagine a journey of a tent, it is most probably manufactured in the Far East and then shipped all the way over to the U.K. From there, it’s then shipped to the store or to the warehouse, and then someone either travels to buy that tent or it’s delivered to them—only to be used once or twice for such a big carbon cost.
Single-use tents being left behind at festivals is also a concern.
During the Zoom interview with Modern Campground, Heaps revealed that she has been working with a company called Camplight to tackle tent waste at festivals. Last year was a success, she said, as the collaboration helped reduce single-use tent waste, with only about 5% of tent waste left at the end of the festival.
How Tentshare Works
When listing an item on Tentshare, users only have to ensure that the tent is in good condition. After this, they can upload photos onto the website along with a brief description, location, and price until someone interested can contact them.
But how does one protect their tent? Asking for a deposit is one layer of protection, per the businesswoman. Tentshare also has an optional lender’s guarantee for £1.20 per booking, which will cover up to £500 worth of damage.
Similar to other platforms, the peer-to-peer rental website also has a review system.
“Just like on an Airbnb platform, you can review the person who’s borrowed your tent and they can review you. And so you start to build up a nice review system and become, like, a trustworthy person on the Tentshare Co. platform,” the company’s founder told Modern Campground.
As for the payment, it goes through the platform, while shipping and handling will be at the discretion of the one renting and the tent owner.
Looking ahead, part of the company’s bigger effort is to alleviate the number of tents ending up in landfills while supporting the local economy.
Heaps said that in the future, they are considering adding a feature that will allow tent owners to donate tents beyond repair which will then be transferred to small local businesses that will repurpose the material into bags, pencil cases, and more.
Tentshare currently covers the United Kingdom, particularly in areas in Scotland, Dorset, and more. If the platform develops enough, Heaps is hoping for Tensthare to go global.
Visit https://www.tentshare.co.uk/ to learn more.
Who would’ve imagined that Tentshare is not only making camping more sustainable but also bringing the camping community closer together? By enabling people to share their tents, it fosters a cooperative and inclusive camping experience. Did you realize that Tentshare is promoting sustainable camping and fostering a sense of community among outdoor enthusiasts? It’s intriguing how it encourages collaboration and sharing, making the outdoor experience accessible to everyone.
Doesn’t it sound cool how Tentshare isn’t just about renting tents but also bringing outdoor enthusiasts together? It’s like a camping community vibe going on! And the best part? You can enjoy camping without the commitment of buying a tent. What are your thoughts on this eco-friendly camping trend?