Share Shop

= the SHARE shop, or 'borrowing hub', in Frome, England

Description

Lucy Purdy:

"SHARE, in Frome, Somerset may be the first shop in the UK where lending, rather than selling, rules.

At this ‘borrowing hub’ items are loaned out rather than sold – and everything is personalised with the story of its previous owner. SHARE founders believe this nurtures trust and respect as well as providing a practical service.

The store also aims to reduce waste, save customers money and train young people with practical skills through workshops and social events.

People are asked to donate or lend useful, high quality items which the shop then lends out to others for several days at a time. Only a nominal fee is charged to borrow items: between £1 and £4.

At SHARE, all items are displayed with the object’s history and a photo of the person who donated it to encourage people to forge connections and introduce a richness of experience, arguably often missing from financial transactions." (http://positivenews.org.uk/2015/economics_innovation/17845/uks-first-share-shop-opens-for-business/)