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(http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-shed)
d e hSr a eG
TECH TALK
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
Not so sure you like whitewater rafting? Now you can rent gear before you invest.
Photo: Ammit/ThinkStock
f your friends lack of kayaks keeps spoiling your dreams of organizing flotillas in nearby
lakes, weep no more: last week, a small group of New Jersey men formally quit their jobs
to focus on The Outdoor Exchange (OX) (http://www.usetheox.com/), a subscription-
()
But while OX is still young (currently it only has a couple hundred paying members), it's run by
seven business- and tech-savy teammates whose resumes are padded with names like Lockheed
Martin and Novo Nordisk. Jamiolkowski officially left his position as Handybooks vice president
of finance (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dariusz-jamiolkowski/22/8ab/3ab) in February
after being accepted into startup incubator TechLaunch (http://techlaunch.com/), while
marketing lead Adam Hackett quit his day job on June 6.
That team has come up with a unique gear-sharing model. Unlike GearCommonsanother
peer-to-peer program (http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-shed/tech-talk/The1-Million-Dollar-Gear-Shed.html) that depends on its users to supply gearOX stocked its
warehouse full of gear by working directly with manufacturers and distributors. The majority of
the 300 products in its inventory were provided by companies like Black Diamond, Hobie,
Maverick, and Folbot, a foldable kayak manufacturer. It's a relationship that benefits both
parties.
The issue (Folbots) having is that they have a great product, but it's hard for somebody who
hasn't been in a foldable kayak to spend $1,200 on a foldable kayak, Jamiolkowski said. So
we're putting butts in the seats for these guys. We're gonna get people to try the product and
nine out of 10 people are gonna try it and say it was great, but one person is gonna end up
purchasing the kayak...And our customers are going to be happy because they get to use a
premium product at a low entry-point.
The company is still working out some kinks, including how to streamline shipping costs. For
New Jersey residents, OX will drop off and set up gear at trailheads within 25 miles of its
warehouse for $20. But the idea of spending $100 a year on shared gear doesnt sound as good
if you have to pay an additonal $200 in shipping.
This week, OX began testing what its founder calls the Trailblazer Program. For a set $74 per
year, subscribers can ship all their rentals for free within the continental United States.
Ultimately, the team hopes to open local warehouses where subscriptions are most concentrated
to help defray costs.
You may be wondering, What happens if the gear gets damaged? Well, Jamiolkowski and his
team have set up a system to incentivize good gear treatment. OX rates both customers and gear
internally when products are returned. If a customer gets low enough marks, she cant rent gear
anymore. In order for this to work, it's gotta work both ways, says Jamiolkowski. Have you
seen MeettheFockers(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290002/)? We're building the Circle of
Trust.
We have families to support and mortgages to pay for, but we strongly believe in what we're
doing, based on everything we've done so far to build a very successful, not only business, but a
community for outdoor enthusiasts, he says.
sdaDrofraeGhceTtseBehT
saremaC063
(http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-
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!P U N GI S
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