Initial Thoughts and Ideas for: Borrow Don't Buy, Library of Things

 

Initial Thoughts and Ideas for Library of Things

Introduction

I am excited to work for Borrow don't Buy, Plymouth as the organisation has real value within the community, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. As an environmental science student, I understand the need for organisations like this to thrive and am happy at the opportunity to help with the expansion. At a first glance, I believe the concept of the organisation is very positive and has great potential for growth within the community. I will conduct more research on the concept and the organisation and pick out areas that would benefit from improvement. Due to the focus of community which inspired the start-up of Library of Things, any expansion should be focused on bringing people together.

The main issue identified is the lack of awareness. For this reason, I believe a strong focus on advertisements and outreach to other businesses is key to expansion. During my research stage, I will find sources for advertisement such as different social media posts, leaflets, stickers that could be on each product (others could see the stickers and enquire), the potential to have merchandise (there are currently tote bags, could also have pens etc.

Target audiences and expanding our customer base

Students could be a huge source of borrowing potential. They usually come to a new city, cannot bring many things with them as it is temporary/ no means to transport. This is especially the case with international students, they are coming from a different country they could only perhaps bring a suitcase or two, do not have parents or friends nearby would they could borrow things from easily. Find out what students would want to borrow; surveys on student group pages, international student pages. Student membership options or student discounts would also draw in more people. There could be leaflets given out in 'freshers' starter packs.

 

Collaborations 

Overhead at Plymouth, other Facebook groups to post to, where students will see them.

Borrow don't buy collab with more local charity shops? 

Sports equipment: collab with bike hire places in Plymouth perhaps their display items could be given for borrowing after a turnover. Collab with stores that sell these items? Give them a percentage if people order through them. A collab with different sports groups; rent out equipment for beginners who want to try out the sport. Target sports equipment to holidaymakers (increase in staycations could mean an increase in hiring) by making a collab with holiday making companies? 

What do our customers want?

Data on how often things are borrowed: sort this data to see different trends.

Which items are we doing well? Which aren't? Time trends (time of year, week)

Survey on Facebook, a survey on Instagram feed?- simple easy answer questions (more people likely to answer) offer reward if answer questions. 

Number one most borrowed items: can we double up on these if we are getting a high demand?

Advertise different sections of BDB to a specific target audience: i.e. show art supplies to art students, find out where they all are connected, Facebook page, classes, etc.

Events

The repair café has brought more awareness to the organisation. Similar events could also bring more awareness and promote the business. Students could be offered to come in to fix their items and then learn about borrowing, they could then tell friends.

Events for students could be shared by lecturers and on different group pages. An event would be made for people to click attending to. This could also be advertised by marketing students at the university who go into lectures and spread awareness for different events and issues. A contest could be added at the event to spark interest and to get people excited. Ideas from other LoT: woodworking, mending meetup, chutney making.

Post-COVID- social distancing, NHS test and trace, outdoors on a sunny day, hand sanitiser and masks, limited number inside.

Usability 

The signup page is easy to use: maybe have choosing the date easier to use (change the way to select the year)- this will make the process quicker and users more likely to follow through.

Suggestion box for items people would want to borrow on the web page?

Facebook page- does not come up if you type in Library of Things. Possibly more easy to find if this is added to the title.

Not entirely clear how to make an order on the website, could this be made easier?

On the website there is a very long list with many pages:  dividing into more subsections will expose people to items they hadn't thought of buying and would have scrolled past/ just typed in the item they needed. Sort into sections of interests? 

Other Ideas/ Comments

Adding a delivery service might increase the borrowing rate? Demographics show there are members that are based further out, they may be less likely to borrow due to travel times. Increase opening hours?

Drop-off and collection points | UPS Access Point - United Kingdom

Borrowing time: could we have a per-day fee, as other LoT have? Borrow items for longer at a discount? 

I like the newsletter promotion with the discount code: tailored newsletter to the customer using AI/ machine learning, algorithms?

I liked the interactive guessing game with the prize, more things like this will keep BDB fresh in people's minds.

Tote bags: could sell them? (act as another form of advertisement)

Create a business blog?

Google ads?- money goes back into buying more products.

Yelp page?

Low-income membership option? 

New product ideas: Chainsaw (usually people don't need this more than a few times), different sports equipment, student books needed for their course (borrow on yearly basis?).

Industrial Symbiosis: are there companies that may have waste products or by-products we could use/ (exchanging material, water, and energy streams) are there any services we can offer?

LoT- Track your impact: does BDB have this?

Can we have something similar to this:

Reviews: currently there are only 13 google reviews (all 5 star), increasing reviews puts borrow don't buy onto a higher ranking on the search list along with creating trust with customers. Provide rewards for leaving a review?  Reminders to leave reviews: on receipts, on the website, thank you emails, in person.

Rewards for sharing posts? Rewards for people who bring in donations: discounts? Collab with other companies: discounts or freebies with their products.

Track any changes that are made and the impact on membership sign-ups, increase in borrowed items, increase in donations etc...

Could have partners who give free items such as in London LoT where the partners are: Bosch Power Tools, Kärcher New Venture and STIHL.

Issue of customers not returning items: ask customers to provide ID when signing up?

Conclusions

There are many potential avenues to increase revenue and expand the business. I believe focusing on increasing awareness through advertisement will be most effective. There are also many other options such as increasing awareness through customer reviews and sponsorships and business collaborations. Another aspect would be to increase the outreach, and an example of this would be to focus on student advertisement and increasing the products available for this target audience.