TuShare is to care: Aussie startup thinks big for Global Sharing Day

This Sunday is Global Sharing Day and Australian share economy startup TuShare is celebrating by organising a flash-sharing extravaganza with its 5000 Share campaign.

The startup launched in December last year and uses a peer-to-peer marketplace to enable users to give things they may no longer need.

TuShare’s 5000 Share campaign hopes to encourage 5000 items to be shared over five days, from June 1 to June 6.

Users log into to TuShare on their smartphone, snap a picture of whatever they want to share, and wait for requests from other users to roll in.

There’s no need to visit the post office, receivers can organise for door-to-door delivery.

Since launch over 10,000 items have been shared on the service, ranging from children’s clothing and toys, to gardening and home and garden appliances.

TuShare co-founder and chief marketing officer Petra Buchanan says sharing can be a rewarding experience.

“Don’t hesitate, pull out your smartphone and do it, it couldn’t be easier,’’ she says.

“We know that the gift of something useful can be life changing, convenient and fun.

“We hope the TuShare 5000 Shares Challenge inspires people to take time out to share things they no longer need with others.

“Sharing helps save money, avoid clutter and prevent useful items from going to landfill.”

Buchanan says the company isn’t divulging how many people have signed up to TuShare but the company was glad to see the share economy starting to enter the mainstream.

“The whole collaborative consumption movement is growing in Australia, it’s been quite of a sleeper, there’s been a bit of activity but never at the forefront,’’ she says.

“Now people are starting to talk about the implications, how they can get involved, what does it mean for commerce, what does it mean for regulation.

“We’re excited to be a part of it.”