Leaving luggage in a hotel reception or train station may be common but one start-up is finding other means and locations. Business Travel iQ puts its questions forward to Stasher's CEO Jacob Wedderburn-Day (right in the photo) to find out more.
When were you launched?
We launched officially in June 2016.
How many people are working for the company?
We currently have a team of 13 working across Europe.
Sum up what your company/product does in one sentence.
We connect laden-down travellers with independent businesses who have space to store luggage, so if they're early for an Airbnb check-in or have ages to wait until their flight, they have somewhere convenient and affordable to leave their stuff.
Why is it unique?
We're a sharing economy solution that genuinely adds value for all parties involved. Hosts earn revenue from every bag stored at their premises, giving them a hassle and catch-free way to bring in additional footfall and diversify their income stream. Travellers are then given a vast network of trusted locations where they can leave belongings, meaning they don't have to walk to an out-of-the-way train station to pay for an overpriced storage locker for a few hours or days. It really is a win win.
What problem does it solve?
Everybody has been in a situation where they've been early for a check-in, or have had a few hours to kill between their check-out time and their flight, and have had to walk around the city with their suitcases. It's a common problem, which often stops people from doing what they really want to do at these crucial moments, because dragging a suitcase is a hassle. Our extensive network of affordable storage points across cities mean travellers can leave their suitcases safely for a few hours whilst they explore, therefore making the most of every second of their trip and putting an end to this frustrating dilemma.
What platforms is it available on and can integrate with?
Our website can be accessed online and has been translated into multiple languages. We're also currently in the process of finalising our app, which is due to launch at the end of May. This will be available on iOS and Android and will have a fully integrated GPS system so that users can find the nearest StashPoint to them.
What markets is it available in?
We're currently operating in cities across the UK and Ireland, as well as in the Netherlands, France, Rome, Berlin, Copenhagen and Spain. Next on the agenda are Japan and the U.S. The market is huge, especially with the huge popularity of vacation rental services and budget travel services worldwide.
How many people use your service currently?
Since stashing our first bag in 2016 we've stashed over 68,000 bags and counting, so that gives you a rough idea of the uptake.
What do travellers like about it?
Our feedback suggests that the affordable price point, as well as the ease of using the service, are the most popular elements of what we offer. It's a very straightforward transaction for customers, and they simply book and pay online and then drop their bag off, and the number of StashPoints we now have in key city break destinations means there's always somewhere cheap and convenient for people to leave their bags.
What are your growth plans?
Next on our agenda in terms of countries are the U.S. and Japan, both of which we're very excited about, and then of course there's the app. We're also going to be introducing a luggage delivery service this year, so that customers can drop bags at one StashPoint and have them delivered at a different one later on in the day or week.