It all started with a bucket-list family road trip. Somewhere in between Boston and Niagara falls, in a rented RV, the idea for Rannsak — the only peer-to-peer rental platform of its kind — was born.
“All we want is to try new things, but the purchase price and the cost of consumption is often too high,” says Rannsak’s co-founder Patrick Sherman. After a lot of “research, surveying, doubting, deliberating, and screaming,” Patrick and his co-founder and partner, Jessica Sherman, decided their solution to this universal barrier to new experiences was to reinvent consumerism.
“There are assets in garages and basements that still have value and they can make people money,” Patrick remarks. “Now, we don’t have to buy so much anymore. Instead, they can search on Rannsak, find what they need, and rent it out for a fraction of the cost, instead of buying and using it once. They then return the item, and it’s not sitting in the garage for years.”
What is Rannsak?
Rannsak is a Peer2Peer equipment rental marketplace for tools, outdoor equipment, party accessories, and more. Founded in 2022, Rannsak is a company that aims to reinvent sustainability by bringing together people who want to try new things and people who want to utilize their assets to make supplemental income.
“We are focused on reducing spending, increasing sustainability, and decreasing consumption,” says Patrick, a disabled veteran who saw combat during two tours to Iraq. Founded alongside Jessica — who has held senior management positions, including Head of IT, with a top online home decor and furniture store — Rannsak offers a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for anyone to rent out their belongings. “Our goal is to get Rannsak in most households so they can start generating supplemental income and ultimately decrease consumption.”
In short, imagine the things you would find in your neighbor’s garage, attic, basement, or living space if you had the chance to “Rannsak” their house. “We bring together people who want to try something new with people who have the item you need for this one project or this one bucket list,” says Patrick. “The idea is that the time is yours when you need it.”
Bucket list opportunities
In the midst of working and raising their three daughters, Jessica and Patrick dreamt of venturing into uncharted territory — kayaking, paddleboarding, snowboarding, “even deep frying a turkey once,” they add. These were just a few of the activities they talked about, but they always wondered, “will we actually use this more often, or will it just be stored in our garage?” This predicament alone prevented them from chasing after their bucket list dreams and ticking them off over the years.
“Should I invest in this?” became the definitive question that often determined whether the pair would try something new. More often than not, they could not convince themselves to spend money on things they may not enjoy or use after the initial trial run, but the truth is that they just wanted to give things a try.
“Our concept is to expand the shared economy space to everyday items and allow people to lean on renting items rather than buying them for a short-term use,” Patrick explains. “I remember discussing all the things we were seeing in people’s backyards and in their garages, and dreaming about ‘just’ renting it from them, instead of buying it — this is how the idea of a P2P rental marketplace community was born.”
How does it work?
The Rannsak team breaks down the platform’s functionality into four simple steps. Firstly, you search for gear or equipment on the platform to suit your next project or adventure. Merchants offer a wide variety of goods, from extensive ranges of sporting equipment, tools, and party rentals for you to choose from.
Next, you select your gear and rental date, before the request is sent to the merchant for approval. Once approved, payment is made through a secure platform to finalize the booking.
Then, it’s a case of meeting with the merchant to grab your gear to embark on the adventure. Once you’ve finished with the rented item(s), you simply return the equipment to the merchant and complete the rental transaction online.
A win-win solution
On that fateful road trip to Niagara Falls, Patrick and Jessica had their lightbulb moment — a platform for neighbors to rent out things they have. “People could try out new things, while others could put their assets to good use, and make a little money on the side,” Jessica says. “The time has come for the American family to try new activities they could only dream about — activities too expensive to purchase, but not too expensive to rent.”
Their hope is that it both allows people to try the things they have put off for years and allows others to make a little extra cash on the side. “We hope you allow yourselves the opportunity to try something new,” says Patrick. “Your neighbors have it and it’s ‘yours when you need it.’”
