Rebecca Heaps is founder of Tentshare, the first peer-to-peer tent-lending platform.

It’s a brilliant idea in so many ways - it encourages spending time in nature, it keeps tents out of landfill by making use of the sharing economy and as a result reduces carbon emissions.

Rebecca launched Tentshare in February 2020 just before the first Covid-19 lockdown, so I was really intrigued by her story. Here’s what she told me.

What is Tentshare? Tell us a bit about when and why you started it.

Tentshare is a community led tent sharing platform. It works just like Airbnb but for tents. So, if you own a tent you can make money by renting it out to someone in your local community. If you would like to go camping, then you can rent a tent from someone local who has listed their tent on the Tentshare platform..

It started because I rented out my bell tent to make some extra money. I looked for a central tent directory to add my tent and found that there wasn’t one. I was moaning about it to a friend and they told me to create one, that was the beginning of Tentshare.

The brilliant thing about sharing our tents is that we are creating and keeping our wealth within the local community. Additionally, no new tents are being purchased, this reduces the strain on our planet’s resources plus creating a sharing, camping community.

It’s surprising how many people have tents stored in their garages or lofts that barely get used. Why not make some money from a resource you already own? Each tent has a carbon cost to produce and transport, each time a tent is used that carbon cost reduces, lowering its carbon cost.

What does running a purpose-driven business mean to you?

It means the world to me to run a purpose driven business. Traditional business models are no longer serving us as they are based on consumption and to consume actually means to use up until it’s all gone, we are consuming this planet’s resources.

The difficulty is that as a society we have over consumed and are now running out of resources. Tentshare provides a solution, by using items that we already own to share and rent. Tent owners can make some extra money by renting out their tent which is an asset they already own. People who would like to camp can rent a tent from someone in their local community.

I love that I am offering an alternative to the traditional consume and throw away model.

What are some of the challenges of running a purpose-driven business?

The sharing economy business model is a fairly new sector. There is a definite shift, especially with Generation Z, away from the endless need to consume and own stuff towards seeking out experiences and activities.

Tentshare offers the option to experience camping without having to go and buy a new tent and camping kit. The experience is the same, but the strain on the planet’s resources is reduced. I think it will take a while for this mindset shift to happen, but it is changing with the younger generations.

What are the opportunities?

So far the idea is new, so Tentshare currently has no direct competitors. That creates a space to be a disruptor and challenge the traditional ways of doing things. I find that exciting.

Do you incorporate any ethical marketing tactics in your business?

As Tentshare is offering a service with sustainability and community at the core, we are careful that we don’t align with any brands that don't share our same values.

Where can people learn more about Tentshare?

Marketing for purpose-driven businesses

Need help marketing your purpose-driven business? I can take you through the marketing planning process to help you get clarity on what marketing goals to set, and how to achieve them. I can also help with content and copywriting and email. I also offer 90 day content plans so you can let me take the strain and remove the hard work of planning for each of your marketing channels.

Contact me

Get in touch with me via email or by booking a call directly on Calendly.

Featured leader Q&A: Rebecca Heaps, Tentshare