From brand-platform partnerships enabling delivery of groceries to futuristic ride-share vehicles, the top 2016 sharing economy ideas highlight a number of innovative platforms and services empowering consumers to connect with members of their community in order to leverage shared resources in an increasing number of areas.
Xiaozhu is a short-term home rental platform that is considered to be China's answer to Airbnb. With over 30,000 properties listed in 130 Chinese cities, the burgeoning success of Xiaozhu highlights the presence of a continually growing peer-to-peer economy in mainland China that falls in line with the government's efforts to restructure in the aim of transparency.
Known for their inventive and often experiential promotional campaigns, Airbnb UK recently launched a practical series that saw displays inside John Lewis shops offer information on being the 'the Perfect Host,' with masterclass workshops that included coaching on getting started and expertly handling the handing off of keys to guests.
Top 45 Sharing Economy Ideas in June
From On-Demand Clothing Rentals to Scheduled Ridesharing Apps:
Rebecca Byers — Jul 2, 2016 — Lifestyle
45
Short-Term Apartment Rentals
This Network of Co-Living Spaces Lets Workers Live All Over the World
44
Neighborhood Commerce Apps
The 'OfferUp' App Lets Users Sell and Buy Local Products
43
On-Demand Clothing Rentals
'Armarium' is an App-Based Platform for Clothing Rentals
42
Furniture Sharing Startups
Furnishare Lets People Rent Out Their Unused Furniture
41
E-Commerce Recommendation Platforms
Shopping Opinion Platform Askourt Enhances Customer Experience
40
Shared Living Space Services
'CoHo Stayz' Offers Long-Term Stay to Millennials and Professionals
39
Mobile Worker Residences
'PodShare' is a Working and Living Community Space for Individuals
38
Shared Luxury Lodgings
Ollie Lets Groups Split the Costs of Spaces and Amenities
37
Peer-Based Trip Platforms
TRVL Travel Booking Platform Where You Can Earn 10% Helping Others
36
Crowdsourced Trip Platforms
FundMyTravels Helps Millennials Raise Money For Their Ideal Vacations
35
Rental Bidding Apps
Rentberry is a Rental Application Platfrom That is Advantageous to Landlords
34
Pay-Per-Minute Hotel Rentals
'Recharge' Allows Customers to Book Hotel Rooms for Minutes at a Time
33
Need-Broadcasting Apps
The Getmii App Calls on Your 1000 Closest Neighbours to Help You Out
32
Item-Lending Libraries
'The Sharing Depot' in Toronto is a Complete Product Rental Service
31
Collaborative Grocery Deliveries
Walmart is Looking to Take Its Groceries Directly to Consumers
30
Community-Based Food Apps
This Food Startup Helps Neighbors Share Meals with One Another
29
Cryptocurrency Reward Platforms
Writing Platform Steem is a Blockchain-Based Social Network
28
Senior Travel Clubs
'The Freebird Club' is Like Airbnb for the Elderly Population
27
Youth-Targeted Rental Apartments
'Wowqu' Has Co-Living Spaces in Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing
26
Chinese Room Booking Sites
Xiaozhu is a Chinese Booking Service for Short-Term Room Rentals
25
Cartoon Turtle Apartments
This Airbnb Apartment is Styled Like the Ninja Turtles' Hangout
24
Hospitable Home-Rental Classes
Retailer John Lewis is Hosting Classes on Airbnb Hosting
23
Hairdresser-Discovering Platforms
Hospii Helps You to Find a Hairstylist and Keep Informed
22
Developer Bidding Platforms
Launchbids Helps Entrepreneurs Find Developers With Low Rates
21
Home Rental Reporting Systems
Airbnb Implements a Tool to Report "Animal House"-Style Guests
20
Ridesharing Car Rentals
'HyreCar' Helps People Without a Car Rent One to Drive for Uber and Lyft
19
IoT-Integrated Medical Platforms
The Cooey Platform Enables Users to Store and Share Medical Data
18
Peer-to-Peer Livestreaming Apps
The BitTorrent Live App Turns All Viewers into Broadcasters
17
Streamlined Telemedicine Startups
This Health-Tech Startup Uses Tele-Consulting For Targeted Care
16
Collaborative Design Platforms
Context Lets Team Members Give Design Feedback and Criticism
15
Rental Services Guidebooks
New Airbnb Feature Gives Renters Authentic Local Experiences
14
Streamlined Resale Services
Pregrab Makes It Easier To Sell and Purchase Pre-Owned Goods
13
Communal Renting Apps
The 'LiveWith' Rental App Connects World-Be Roommates Together
12
Watchful Neighbor Rental Services
This Airbnb Service Lets Your Neighbors Keep an Eye Out for You
11
Trackable Rideshare Programs
Uber Now Allows Users to Track Their Friends' Rides and Arrival Times
10
Scheduled Ridesharing Platforms
Lyft Now Lets Customers Request Rides Ahead of Time
9
Crowdsourced Discovery Apps
The PHIND App Lets You Access Real-Time Community Updates About Places
8
Smartphone Financing Plans
Zopa Partnered with Unshackled to Offer Two-Year Loans for Smartphones
7
Shipping-Simplifying Apps
The Qikship App Allows For Hassle-Free On-Demand Shipping
6
Accessible Legal Service Platforms
LawRato's Technology Improves Access to Legal Advice
5
Familial App-Sharing Services
Google's Family Library Allows Consumers to Collectively Use Apps
4
Self-Driving Rideshare Vehicles
Uber is Testing Self-Driving Technology in Pittsburgh
3
Streamlined Home Inspection APps
The Domain App Takes the Hassle Out Of Home Inspections
2
Taxi-Aggregating Apps
The Instago App Aggregates Car, Two-Wheeler and Rickshaw Services
1
Chinese Ride Sharing Services
Apple is Investing in a Chinese Ride Sharing Service
Related Ideas
Pet Bed-Equipped Chair Designs
The Conceptual 'Sharing Joy' Armchair by Zhe Gao Keeps Cats Comfy
Idyllic Pet Pop-Ups
Uber Eats and PetSmart Created "The Best Pet House Ever"
Social e-Commerce Platforms
Hoppn Creates "A New Type of Centralized Online Shopping Experience"
Shareable Storage-Packed eScooters
The 'Along' Electric Scooter Concept Has Luggage-Like Design
See-Through Ride-On Suitcases
The Latest Airwheel Suitcase Holds Up to 28-Liters of Essentials
Hybrid Design Electric Scooters
The 'Pro.Zui' Electric Scooter by Ognjen Docic is Feature-Rich
Expanded Chinese Technology Lines
Xiaomi Debuts a Range of Home and Tech Products for Consumers
Mobile Consignment Concierges
The eBay Luxe Line Bus Shares the Ease of eBay's Consignment Service
Gen Z-Targeted Scooter Models
The Conceptual 'Omni' Electric Scooter is Customizable
AI-Powered Shopping Apps
Shoptrue Curates Personalized Fashion Picks with Artificial Intelligence
On-Demand Fashion Production
Shein Moves Away From its Fast Fashion Roots with New Manufacturing
Expressive Home Assistance Robots
The Conceptual Oppo Xiaobu Has a Modular Hand for Helping
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
Circular Shopping Experiences
The Stock Market by Selfridges is a Sustainable Shopping Experience
Autonomous Showroom Concepts
JIDU's Dealership Experience Lets Buyers Watch Their Car Pilot Itself
Urban Rental Scooter Systems
The 'City Wander' Portable Rental Scooter Concept is Space-Efficient
Content-Inspired Physical Retail Experience
Netflix House Creates a Space for Fans to Buy Merch
Co-Browsing Shopping Platforms
buywith's Next Gen Co-Browsing Patent Helps Customers Shop Together
On-Demand Disability Care Platforms
'Joshin' Offers On-Demand Care at the Press of a Button
Customer-Driven Marketplaces
COS Clothing Partnered with Recurate on a C2B2C Marketplace
Gamified Shopping Apps
Yaysay Combines AI-Powered Personalization & Gamification
Whimsical Inflatable Sneaker Concepts
UV-Zhu Uses Daily Objects for His Nike Concept Sneaker
Online Luxury Resale Platform
eBay Has Launched a Luxury Consignment Platform for High-End Clothes
Athleisure Resale Marketplaces
Vitality's New Platform Fosters the Purchase & Sale Of Used Apparel
Mixed-Reality Shopping Apps
StockX Launched an Immersive Way to Shop with the Apple Vision Pro
Gen Z-Targeted Car Concepts
These Toyota bZ Concept Cars Were Debuted at Auto Shanghai
AI-Powered Fashion Assistants
Zalando is Launching a Virtual Assistant Powered by ChatGPT
Community Commerce Pop-Ups
TikTok Shop UK Opened a Pop-Up on London's Oxford Street
Safety-Enhancing Ride Share Devices
Bosch Ridecare Was Made with Ride Share Drivers in Mind
Creative Side Hustle Platforms
The 'Rassa' Platform Helps Users with Creative Ventures
Social Commerce Apps
GIST is an App-Based Social Platform for Sharing Purchases with Friends
Shoppable Hybrid Apps
Lemon8 is a New Social Media App Combining Aspects of Instagram & Pinterest
Parent-Connected Teen Shopping Apps
Hollister's Debuts New 'Share2Pay' For Teen Shoppers
Historical Doll-Themed Wardrobes
Consumers Can Rent Barbie's Dream Wardrobe Through Selfridges
Social Commerce Platforms
21 Buttons is a Social Fashion Shopping Network
Peer-to-Peer Returns Networks
'greenlist' Enables Eco-Friendly, Cost-Effective P2P Returns
Digital-Only Wearables
DressX & Zepeto Launched a Fashion Collection in the Metaverse
Elderly E-Commerce Education
JD's New Service Center Helps the Elderly Adapt to Online Shopping
Zero-Waste Voucher Solutions
On-us Launches New Technology for Sustainable Event Engagement
Shoppable Virtual Beach Houses
The J.Crew Virtual Beach House Shares Interactive Content & Games
Experiential Shopping Platforms
sune Shares a Fun and Engaging Way for Gen Z to Shop
Startup Bike-Sharing Services
Curve Electric Partners with SSCL to Launch a Public E-Bike Service
Wearable Conference-Focused Technology
Bizzabo Introduces Klik Experiential for Flagship Events
Smartphone-Brand Electric Sedans
Xiaomi is Shaking Up the Electric Auto Industry With the 'SU7' EV
Virtual Fitting Room Experiences
be Retail Social's 'beDynamic' Joins Up with Get Cutie
Marathon Retail Partnerships
The Deliveroo x Boots Marathon Roo-covery Hub is a One-Stop Shop
Social Media-Inspired eCommerce Features
Amazon Inspire Features Content and Lets Users Shop Looks
Car Rental Partnerships
Turo & Hopper Join Forces to Revolutionize Car Booking in Travel Industry
Aggregated On-Demand Service Apps
The 'finish'd' App Combines a Range of Services into One Spot
Pioneering Secondhand Search Engines
Beni Dominates Resale Marketplace with Innovative App
Elderly Customer-Reserved Retail Zones
JD Announced Exclusive Service Zones for Elderly Customers
Music-Sharing Transmitted Speakers
Zhujun Pang Designs the SoundMotion Speaker Connecting Peers
Affordable Fashion Retailers
Pinduoduo Launched the 'Temu' Mobile Application in North America
AR Secondhand Shops
American Eagle Outfitters' RE/AE Shop Spotlights Sustainable Goods
Hourly Job-Finding Apps
Gigs is a Job Platform for the Gig Economy
Gen Z Budgeting Platforms
Buddy and Klarna Teamed Up to Support Gen Z Financial Health
Chat App E-Commerce Integrations
'Charles' Seamlessly Blends Chat Services with Online Retailers
Pre-Loved Apparel Initatives
Ba&sh Launches its US-Based Second Hand Resale Platform with Archive
Four-Hour E-Commerce Deliveries
IShopChangi Launches an E-Commerce Delivery Service with FoodPanda
Sneaker Swap Shops
eBay's London Pop-Up Invites People to Exchange Sneakers for Free
Financial Firm Travel Apps
Citi Partners with Booking.com and Rocket Travel to Launch Citi Travel
Branded Customer Resale Marketplaces
Relove Enables Businesses to Launch C2B2C Storefronts
Eco-Friendly Transit Apps
Moovit Partnered with Lime to Deliver Electric Micro-Mobility Options
Pre-Loved Wedding Hubs
eBay is Meeting the Growing Demand for Secondhand Bridalwear
Vibrant Snowy Holiday Campaigns
Apple Presents the Share the Joy Campaign for the Holidays
AI-Powered Socialization Apps
The 'BU' App Takes an AI-Driven Approach to Event Planning
Social Shopping Apps
Locker Helps Users Organize, Share, and Earn from Online Wishlists.
Rentable Inclusive Womenswear
Simply Be Launches Its First Rental Line with Hirestreet
AR Apartment Platforms
3D Apartment Lets Home Hunters Virtually View Their Furniture in a New Home
Incubator Fashion Programs
SHEIN Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of Flagship Incubator Program SHEIN X
AI-Powered Business Discoveries
Yelp Unveils a New AI Assistant and 'Project Ideas' Feature
Battery Rental Services
Swobbee Launches an Online Marketplace for Rental Batteries
Repurposed Christmas Gear
Lidl Debuts the Christmas Jumper Rental Service to Tackle Clothing Waste
Collaborative Shopping Tools
Amazon Debuts the Consult-a-Friend Feature for Collaborative Shopping
Youth-Catered Transportation Apps
Uber Introduces Teen Accounts in the Latest Update
Electric Bikeshare Programs
'Bluebikes' is Adding a Fleet of eBikes to its Rental Suite
Sit-Down Scooter Rentals
Wheels Launches New Long-Term Scooter Rentals Option in Miami
Secondhand Shopping Extensions
Beni is a Free Chrome Extension That Simplifies Secondhand Shopping
Creator-Driven Grocery Shopping Platforms
Jupiter Helps Shoppers Discover Recipes From Creators
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
AI-Powered Wellness Delivery Services
'Localposh' Anticipates Products and Services for You
Rental Host Organizational Tools
RentalRunner is a Comprehensive Solution for Airbnb Hosts
Affordable Lifestyle Directories
'I Have This Friend' Makes Aspirational Living More Accessible
Emissions-Free Meal Deliveries
Zoomo and Uber Eats Have Partnered for Deliveries in London
Luxury Outerwear Rentals
Canada Goose Launches a Rental Edit in Cooperation with Selfridges
Men's Jewelry Rental Programs
Zales is Set to Revolutionize Men's Jewelry with Its Rental Program
AI-Powered Rental Insurance
Lemonade Officially Launches in the United Kingdom
Social Media Pre-Owned Luxury Marketplaces
LePrix Partnered with TikTok Shop in the U.S.
Digital Social Sharing Spaces
The Shilo App Invites Users to Share and Curate What They Love
P2P Clothing Rental Platforms
Sizters: Rent & Lend Fashion Provides Luxury Wardrobes to Rent
Instant Vacation Rentals
NextPlay Technologies Inc. Partners with Fareportal for Airline Upgrades
Sustainable Secondhand Marketplaces
Yoox Launches a Pre-Owned Marketplace for Used Apparel
Passion-Sharing List Platforms
MyLikes Helps Users Share What They Enjoy with Curated Lists
Smart Lock-Supported Rentals
Airbnb Releases a Software Update with Support for Smart Locks
Long-Term Bike Rental Services
'Yulu' Offers Bike Rentals from an App for Up to 90 Days
Nonprofit Electric Bikeshares
Bublr Announced the Re-Launch of its E-Bike Sharing Program
Crowdsourced Outfit-Picking Apps
Choiced Let's Users Crowdsource Their Outfit Options
AR-Enabled Google Tools
Google Launches a Slew of New Features for Search, Shopping, and Maps
iOS-Influenced Travel Apps
Uber’s Redesigned App Uses the Latest iPhone Features on iOS 16
Pocket Concierge Apps
The Scene Matches Users to Restaurants, Bars, Clubs & Cafes
Inclusive Secondhand Platforms
Lizzo and Fabletics' Yitty Launches a Resale Platform with ThredUp
Wedding Shopping Experience Partnerships
Bella Bridesmaids Partners with Something Borrowed Blooms
Shareable Purchase Features
Fashion Retailer Hollister Has Launched Its New Share2Pay Option
Content Creator Streaming Platforms
The 'Quench' Platform Offers Access to Exclusive Content
Luxury Bridal Rental Platforms
P.S. Bridal Rental Lets Brides Rent Out Their Own Wedding Dresses
Social E-Commerce Platforms
TikTok is Launching a New E-Commerce Platform for Consumers
On-Demand Grocer Deliveries
Sprouts Farmers Market and Uber Eats Partnered for Fast Delivery
Clothing Try-On Services
Rixo Launches a New 'Try-Before-You-Buy' Service in the UK
On-Demand Grocery Deliveries
Just Eat and Lincolnshire Co-op Launch a Grocery Delivery Program
Localized Networking Platforms
Presence Connects Users with Like-Minded Individuals Nearby
Comfort-Focused Business Features
Uber Launches a Series of Features to Benefit Business Travelers
Seamless Automotive Shopping Apps
Awin Group of Dealerships Launches Mobile App to Enhance CX
E-Bike-Booking Platforms
'Free Now' and 'Tier' are Offering E-Bike Booking in Dublin, Ireland
Airline Clothing Rentals
Japan Airlines is Launching a New Clothing Rental Service for Passengers
Flexible Coliving Platforms
The 'Coliving' Platform Helps Workers Find an All-Inclusive Place
Hospitality Neighborly Initiatives
Hotel Indigo Launches Neighborly Borrowing Program
AI-Powered Customer Assistants
Xiaomi Introduces the Upgraded XiaoAI Assistant Powered by an LLM
Flexible User-Centric Rideshares
Careem Introduces Flexi Rides to Bolster its Market Presence
Fashion Resale Platforms
SHEIN Launches a New Peer-to-Peer Resale Platform Called SHEIN Exchange
Curated Multi-Label Platforms
Unbound Group Debuts a Multi-Brand Platform for 55+ Consumers
Enriching Senior Initiatives
Ogilvy Shanghai Debuts a Seniors Initiative Called 'Morning Shanghai'
Bid-Based Ride Hailing Services
The InDrive Ride Hail Platform is Now Available in the Us
Circular Luxury Clubs
'More' Supports More Conscious Shopping and More Accessible Luxury
Food-Focused Travel Guide Platforms
'FoodieTrip' Connects Hungry Travelers to Experienced Guides
Streamlined Vehicle Rental Apps
The 'Nexus Connect' App Uses Text Recognition & Cloud Connectivity
Taxi Round-Trip Services
Uber Unveils the Intercity Round Trips Feature for Indian Travelers
On-Demand Convienience Shopping
Just Eat and Co-op Launch a UK-Based On-Demand Delivery Service
Outdoorsy Apparel Resale Programs
Moosejaw's New Marketplace Lets Users Buy & Sell Used Gear
Community Borrowing Apps
Borrow Encourages Neighbours to Interact and Share
Accessible Home Services Marketplaces
Urban Company Recently Made Its Platform More Accessible
Home Inventory Management Solution
'Bring Order to Chaos' Keeps Track of Your Belongings
Location-Based Photo Sharing
Harbor Creates Personalized Picture Albums Through location Sharing
App-Centric Price Search Toggles
Airbnb Launches a New Toggle that Unveils the Total Price
In-App Flight Booking Features
Uber Will be Launching Flight Functions in the UK Soon
Streamlined Start-Up Job Searching
Startup Jobs by Binh Pham is a Community for Job Seekers
Hospitality Full-Suite Commerce Platforms
fanz.io is a New Hospitality technology Start-Up
Organized Listed Article Platforms
The Pocket Service Unveils a Plethora of New Features
Social Wishlist Networks
WishSpace Lets Users Store Their Wishlists for Easier Gifting
Electric Ride Share Apps
Uber Intorudces Comfort Electric to Vancouver
Integrated Vacation Rentals
ApartmentLove Launches an Integration with Rental Supplier BookingPal