What is the Sharing Economy?
Also known as the gig economy or collaborative consumption, the Sharing Economy is an economic structure that allows individuals to share resources with other fellow individuals with the help of an on-line platform.
The Sharing Economy has been around for over a decade now and we can find examples in the likes of Airbnb and Uber, to name a couple.
We will delve into where the sharing economy is now and how much it has grown throughout the years. In this article, we will learn how the sharing economy will look moving forward into the future.
The Sharing Economy’s Persecution: Criticism
Before the sharing economy got to where it is now, it had to go through a ton of skepticism and backlash. Airbnb and Uber, for example, both had to experience lawsuit after lawsuit from government sectors not just in the United States but in other countries as well.
For instance, in 2017, Uber was forced to terminate its services in the Philippines over the case of unregistered drivers.
Airbnb also experienced legal struggles of their own, such as in Australia in 2018 when NSW passed two laws against them.
The Sharing Economy’s Contribution: Benefits
A primary advantage that the sharing economy contributes to is that it allows its consumers to share their extra stuff, vehicles, space, time, services, and talents through peer-to-peer renting and outsourcing platforms.
Participants are thus given the opportunity to earn income their own way and on the other end, enjoy more affordable access to products and services with budget-friendly alternatives.
The sharing economy also allows more flexible options for consumers to choose from, no longer are they restricted to big brands and expensive hotels when they can rent products and rent homes overnight.
This system also opens up leverage for job seekers to be able to find work that is in-line with their skills and career choice and likewise, it helps business owners find employees easier than ever before.
More benefits include contributing to the battle against material waste and creating unity and trust in the communities.
One more idea to keep in mind is that the sharing economy has technically been around for centuries, it was when times were simpler and there weren’t yet any big brands that hindered people from trading and selling with one another their personal belongings and self-cultivated goods.
But, with the help of technology, the public is given yet again an ecosystem wherein independent trade is possible.
It Comes in Different Types
The sharing economy consists of an enterprise of two types; non-profit and commercial.
Platforms that offer free online courses and learning materials are examples of the non-profit side of the sharing economy.
The commercial types of platforms are where companies provide certain services and secondary products to consumers for affordable prices.
Here are a few examples of different kinds of commercial-type services and websites:
- Freelance and Outsourcing – These are platforms that offer freelancers easy access to job applications fitting their specific skills. These sites also allow businesses and companies seamless outsourcing. Upwork and LinkedIn are two of the big examples of freelancing and outsourcing websites. They have been around for a while now and have dominated the online job application industry.
- Peer to Peer Lending – Big names such as Uber and Airbnb fall under this category, but there are definitely others more. Peer-to-peer lending refers to platforms that offer rental services to those looking to make use of the belongings they have lying around their house. It’s a great way to make money and save money at the same time.
- Fashion – Rent the Runway, Dress for Less, and The Black Tux are fashion websites that offer clothing for rent. These places are specially made for those hoping to spend less on high priced clothing brands only for a certain duration.
What does The Sharing Economy look like moving forward?
The sharing economy has been growing exponentially over the years, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. According to an article by Brookings India, people in the sharing economy will possibly be spending $335 billion by 2025 in the United States alone.
Whether we like it or not, our economy is evolving, we could be seeing more services and categories emerge in the times ahead, providing the general consumers a more convenient, accessible, and affordable economic system.
Our platform, My Garage Rentals, also falls under the peer-to-peer category; but we prefer the term neighbor-to-neighbor, which boasts of our aim to build a trustworthy rental community, which allows a more secure and faster transaction for both the renter and the lender.
We are a rental platform that allows almost anything you deem useful to rent, such as handy tools, power tools, sports gear, camera gear, appliances, you name it, My Garage Rentals can rent it!
Sign up now at www.MyGarageRentals.com and take advantage of our rental services! Enjoy easy registration, the security of our $1,000 risk-free guarantee, and more unique features.
Stores and businesses are finally reopening here in Tucson, but it’s doing so only at a gradual pace. It’s rather slow but a good sight to see that businesses are bouncing back from this crisis.
While we wait in our homes for the economy to rise back up and for our favorite restaurants and shops to re-open, we can take advantage of the gift we call the world wide web.
While some stores weren’t allowed to re-open physically, operations were allowed to continue virtually.
Here are 6 Tucson-based online stores you should definitely visit.
My Garage Rentals
The first Tucson-based online peer-to-peer rental platform; My Garage Rentals seeks to connect the Tucson community, making it easier to rent from friends, neighbors, and other locals nearby with just a message away.
Whether it’s tools, musical instruments, kitchen utensils, or even cars, My Garage Rentals is the platform to rent anything under the sun.
It can be used to make money out of the tools and things we only use occasionally by lending them to others for a price of your choice.
It can also be great leverage for those looking to save money instead of buying something only needed momentarily; obviously, when you rent you pay less and in turn, you save.
Another reason you would use My Garage Rentals for would be to explore new hobbies. Like renting out a camera for example and just testing the waters of photography first. A lot of people set out to try new hobbies and end up letting go mid-way, already spending more than they should have.
I can go on and on about how My Garage Rentals is quite an efficient platform, there are countless benefits. But we’ll leave you to imagine and discover for yourself as you give this website a try.
Pueblo Vida Brewing
Recently nominated for “Best Brewery of 2020” by Tucson Weekly, Pueblo Vida Brewing is known for its high-grade brewed craft beers.
Their tap list boasts of a wide variety of unique flavors ranging from their Bavarian-style Hefeweizen to Coffee Brown Ale.
Their beers are sold in cans, with each flavor owning their distinct artistic design.
And if you just can’t get enough of their amazing brew, you can always order an entire 1/6bbl keg.
We wouldn’t be giving Pueblo Vida Brewing enough justice if we did not acknowledge their kind and accommodating crew, which you will meet as you pick-up your order.
The staff shows how Pueblo Vida Brewing does not only desire to sell you their great tasting craft beer but that they seek all the more the satisfaction of the local community with every pick-up.
Winner of multiple awards such as the “Best of Tucson Clothing Designer of 2017 and 2019” and “Best Designer in Tucson Fashion Week 2013,” there is no denying the raw talent and passion of clothing designer Laura Tanzer.
Designing clothes since 2013, Laura Tanzer has always aimed at incorporating sustainability along with style and comfort in her designs.
Laura Tanzer flaunts a wide selection of clothing from various categories; from her latest Antique Linen Kimono Origami Jacket to her Convertible Knit Dress, every piece exhibiting their unique kind of chic.
Leaning towards the greener and more ecological approach; Laura Tanzer chooses to produce her clothing with sustainable natural fabric and donates the left-over tatters to schools, later to be used for art projects, according to Green Living Mag.
Did we mention that Laura Tanzer makes facemasks too? Talk about being safe with elegance and style!
Old Paint Records
Good news for all of you classic music geeks living in the town of Tucson. Old Paint Records is up and running for online shopping.
For those of you newcomers in Tucson who haven’t heard of Old Paint Records, it’s a vinyl record shop and miscellaneous store found in Old Town Artisans.
They sell only classics in almost every genre; from Rock and Soul to Country and Blues, Hip-hop and Jazz to R&B and Punk, name it and they surely got it.
They have an impressive collection of only the most acceptable music for vinyl, some of these you may not even find elsewhere on the internet.
So even though you’re spending more time indoors, you can still slap a brand-new vinyl on your record player and dance to the likes of Marvin Gaye and Miles Davis.
El Be Goods Boutique
From handcrafted greeting cards to clothing and accessories, there is no lack with El Be Goods Boutique.
This is the perfect online store to go shopping for your girlfriend or your mom, being that most of their merchandise is targeted towards female consumers.
Just by looking at their products, you can very well tell that they were made with heartfelt effort.
Whether it’s a last-minute gift for someone or just a treat to cheer yourself up, El Be Goods Boutique is the store to shop.
Visit their website now and start shopping, click Here!
Or if you’re willing to get out of the house to see their products in person, you can most certainly do so by setting an appointment on their available business days which are on Thursdays to Saturdays from 12 noon to 5 PM.
You can find El Be Goods Boutique at 245 E. Congress St. #115, Tucson, AZ 85701.
Founded by Shahida Clayton, this women’s contemporary clothing collection was birthed from a dream to make all of its wearers experience power, chic, and comfortability altogether.
Shahida’s style is breath-taking in a sense that it evidently expresses the elements of the desert and its dwellers, promoting the beauty that is found in Tucson while still revealing power and chic.
Shahida Parides has been responsible for several celebrities’ gowns, dresses, and tuxedos; Sofia Vegara, Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Paris Hilton for example, have been spotted wearing Shahida Parides clothing.
Kaftans and Halter dresses are Shahida Parides’ specialty, we recommend that you have a look at their selections under these categories.
There are a lot more websites we haven’t been able to include here on our list. What do you think about our list? What other online stores owned by Tucsonans do you know and love?
Leave this blog a like or send us a message and we’ll gladly respond to you.
On January 30th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Since then, public transportation around the world has been restricted to help prevent the spread of the virus. But as we are now entering a new normal, the restrictions are slowly being lifted and public transportation guidelines and regulations are being implemented, allowing citizens to commute again. Despite the lifting of restrictions, many citizens have chosen not to utilize public transportation and instead have decided to purchase their own bicycle. Besides the obvious reason that it’s a good way of transportation, owning a bike during the pandemic holds a lot of benefits. If you’re one of the commuters who are still skeptical about getting a bike for transportation, this article may be just for you. We’ve listed the top 5 reasons you should own a bike during the pandemic.
A study by Zhen Yan, Ph.D., professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia, shows that exercise can help in the prevention of the Covid-19 virus. A type of respiratory failure called ARDS or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome inflames the lungs and leads to a build-up of fluid, preventing oxygen from reaching your organs. ARDS is the cause of death for 3% to 7% of patients infected with the coronavirus. Zhen Yan concluded through his experiment that exercise promotes an antioxidant enzyme called extracellular superoxide dismutase, or EcSOD, that helps keep our lungs safe from damages caused by ARDS.
As you probably already know, biking is an amazing form of exercise. It’s a great way to sweat out a good cardio workout. Biking helps strengthen the muscles in your legs, hips, core, and glutes. That being said, biking is an excellent way to get those antioxidants out into your body and fight away the chances of respiratory failure caused by the virus.
These are hard times and not only are people losing their jobs and getting sick physically, but people are also getting affected mentally. This pandemic has caused most of us to be fearful of catching the virus and fearful of the uncertainties of the future. While a little bit of fear is good in helping us stay careful and aware, too much of it along with anxiety, stress, loneliness and not to mention the boredom of being in lockdown, can lead up to a dangerous level of depression.
Regular exercise has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress, working out produces small neurochemicals called endorphins that create a “high” of happiness in achieving a goal, and that can benefit one’s well-being. A study on exercise in mental health by Sammi Checkroud from Oxford University showed that on average, a person cycling suffered 21% fewer days of poor mental health as compared to a person performing other forms of exercise.
Riding a bike can also be quite therapeutic depending on the environment you’re biking through, riding through an amazing view, and with the cold wind in your face can be a rather calming experience. Biking on your own gives you a chance to think and process things while biking with other people can alleviate loneliness and boredom.
With several countries being in quarantine and on lockdown, traffic has nearly stopped and airline travels have been ceased, resulting in nitrogen levels dropping rapidly and the ozone layer recovering more quickly. Despite all the suffering this pandemic has caused humanity, it has brought drastic positive effects to the environment as well.
While we wait for things to go back to the way it was, it’s good to consider supporting the recovery of the environment. We can help contribute to Mother Nature’s healing with something as simple as owning a bike instead of using gas emission producing vehicles. Do your part and ride a bike now.
Saving money is a major factor in surviving during the pandemic. A lot of people have lost their jobs and businesses, and this has made it obvious that we have to be financially careful and well-prepared. And even if you’re one of the few who haven’t lost their source of income, being that the future is still uncertain, lack of budgeting during these times can be detrimental to your livelihood.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that a bicycle is inexpensive compared to getting a car. It’s also more affordable to purchase a bike than to constantly have to pay for an uber, a taxi, or for a bus ride to your workplace every day. Let’s also point out the fact that you will not have to worry about spending any gas money when owning a bike.
More than just saving money, you can actually make money out of owning one too. At our website at My Garage Rentals, you can have your bike rented out to people who only need it for a short time. You never know when your neighbor might need one quick ride to the grocery. This is an opportunity to take advantage of owning a bike and charging people to rent it out.
My Garage Rentals makes it very simple to post your bikes out for rent. Creating an account is quick and easy, and rather user-friendly. But if you’re the one interested in a bike, you can rent one out yourself; luckily, there is one available for rent right now for only $30 per day! Visit My Garage Rentals today and see all the available items for rent.
These are just some of the many reasons why you should start owning a bike during the pandemic. We haven’t even mentioned the fact that the fun and excitement in riding a bike can really turn things around for anyone during these hard times.
Please tell us what you think about this article. Was the article useful and was it able to help you decide whether or not you should own a bike? Is there some way we can improve in our writing? Send us your feedback and let us know what you think.
These are difficult and trying times, not just health-wise but also wealth-wise. Multiple businesses have been forced to shut down, employees have lost their jobs, and the rest of the economy is falling in a downward spiral. The unemployment rate in the US alone has skyrocketed to an all-time high since April, says a statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it isn’t the end of the world, and even though it may probably take a really long time, we will definitely bounce back from this crisis. In the mean-time here are 5 ways to earn extra cash while coping with the pandemic.
Create Something and Sell It
An anonymous person wrote, “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” There is something about our human nature that drives us to create something and to gain satisfaction from it. From toddlers with their Lego pieces to adults who practice robotics, we all have our own way of creating things. Most of the time we won’t even have to leave the house to create, making this an outstanding way to earn some extra cash during these times! If you’re a handyman for example and you’re into woodwork, or an arts and crafts kind of person; websites like Etsy can help you sell your own personal homemade creations online. Creating an account is easy and posting a product up for sale is oversimplified for its users. Depending on what you make or how many, you can earn a lot; but just like everything, it takes persistence and perseverance to see the results.
Offer Work and Services Online
If you’re into graphic design or photography, there are multiple websites that allow you to post your artwork online for sale as stock photos. Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Unsplash, or Pexels are some of the best websites you can visit to upload your artwork for sale.
Or why not apply as a virtual assistant, a content writer, a social media manager, video editor, or an online tutor? Websites like UpWork and LinkedIn can help you easily find work online, all you have to do is to create a profile that includes your resume and you’re good to go. According to an article we found in Statista, about 160 million people in the United States since April 2020 have used LinkedIn to find work.
Offer Your Services to Neighbors
Living in a neighborhood means having a lot of opportunities. Offering to mow your neighbor’s lawn is actually a brilliant way to earn some extra money, and it’s not even that hard. You can water their plants, walk their dogs around, or do their grocery shopping for them. If you know a bit about plumbing or carpentry, offer to do repairs. If you’re on the way to buy food, offer your neighbors to buy their food or beverages for them, just charge them a bit but don’t overprice it!
Sell Things You Don’t Use Anymore
Everyone’s got something lying around their house they no longer need or will probably never use again. These items may be useless to you, but they could be worth something to others. With websites like Craigslist, Offerup, or Facebook Marketplace, it’s easy to sell items. With these websites, finding buyers within close vicinity will not be a problem at all. Rummage through your box of old things in the attic, clean out your basement, or ravage the toolbox in your garage. I’m sure there’s at least one thing they’re worth selling and don’t tell me I’m wrong because you know I’m not.
Rent Out Your Things
If you’re not comfortable selling the items and equipment you have lying around your house, you can always have them rented out instead. With a website like My Garage Rentals, having your things rented out online is made possible. Maybe rent out that old vacuum you don’t use anymore or that old camera you’ve forgotten about. Creating an account is a breeze. User profiles and feedback are there to ensure that a renter is genuine and takes excellent care of what they rent. My Garage Rentals is a sure-fire way to earn money, especially during this pandemic, because people would rather avoid risking their health going into crowded malls just to buy something brand-new that they’ll most likely only need once, and prefer renting out an item at a location and from a person they can safely discern through the website. So, clear out your garages and start renting out your stuff today, click here for more details.
Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” There’s always a way to earn money out there, you just have to get up on your own two feet, you’ve got to stop sulking about the economy, and make something out of what you have lying around. There are many ways to earn money during tough times like this and there still are many more out there. Opportunities are everywhere, and this virus shouldn’t limit us or stop us from taking them.