How Having Less, Creates Room for More
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- March 17, 2022
Kristine Everly Smith, Co-Founder, Brevvie
Globally we are moving from pandemic to endemic, and as we flow through this shift, many of us are asking ourselves, “What changes are here to stay from the dog days of the pandemic?”
During the stay-at-home orders, people across the globe used the extended house arrest as a time to re-think everything. From simple things like how to use down time, to large scale decisions like where they live or what their career path is…nothing was off the table. This was a hard reset for many people, and rich with lessons for those who were open to acknowledging them.
In a society that has been groomed to believe that “having” things equals fulfilment, a trend has emerged which has now become a standard for the “new rich,” where owning less and renting more is seemingly one change that is here to stay. Consumers near and far have shifted their focus. Sustainability is no longer viewed as an option – it is now an important factor in day to day decisions and a way of life. Through resources like Brevvie (which stands for Briefly Rent Everything) consumers can now effortlessly rent items like a Dyson vacuum, use it, and return it for a simple fee. This means the consumer does not need to invest in the large purchase upfront, it requires no storage room on their part, and there is no need to manage maintenance. Not only is this resource convenient for the client, it conserves resources significantly over time.
Another change that very well may be here to stay is that people value time connecting and engaging in adventures. Having access to items like beach day basics from chairs to umbrellas, and camping gearing to inflatable at home water slides, allows people to follow a whim on a moment’s notice. These essentials for fun in the sun can be rented on demand and returned following their use. Being able to incorporate time to decompress through fun activities has been shown to add value to people’s lives by creating connection, and in return, elevating wellbeing.
One byproduct of owning less and renting more is that it connects people to sustainability without a compromise having to be made. People can still have access to all the things they need and want, while also feeling fulfilled as they do their part in the new era we are emerging into. Intuitively, people want to feel good about the way they live, and through resources like Brevvie, people can live gently while maximizing life’s moments.
Gen Z has largely been behind the sustainability movement, and triggered many Boomers to re-think what their perception of renting is. The term renting can have a negative connotation and is often tied to renting as it pertains to home ownership. But renting household items and recreation items that are depreciating assets is wildly different than renting a home which is an appreciating asset. The vacuum cleaner is not going to appreciate in value, and neither are the beach chairs or corn hole set that sits in your storage room – costing you money and space.
As the path to “owning less in order to have more” continues to unfold, items like farming equipment, boats, trailers, bounce houses and beyond all could become rented staples. The endemic brings with it layers of uncertain times, however, what we know to be true is this…having things does not equate to happiness, and elevated well-being has more to do with fulfillment. As we forge ahead into 2022 and beyond, resources like Brevvie are helping people live their lives on their own terms, one rental at a time.
Author is Kristine Everly Smith, Co-Founder, Brevvie
