Innovative and sharing business mushrooms in China
M-Bar (Mini KTV)
M-Bar is a selfservice mini karaoke chain that has started to pop up across shopping malls in China’s bigger cities. People can rock the microphone for 15 minutes or an hour — all in the privacy of a roughly two-squaremeter cubicle — and pay with their smartphones. The booths are plugged into social media, allowing customers to obtain recordings of their karaoke sessions via the likes of WeChat and Weibo accounts, where they can post their best hits — pretty much like an audio/video selfie. BingoBox (Cashier-less Store)
BingoBox is an unmanned convenience store open to customers 24/7. The prerequisite is to have a smartphone. To enter, a user scans a QR code via their social media account. After a text message authentication, the door will automatically open. Customers choose their wares, then scan the products with a scanner like a cashier would do. A screen displays the running total and the shopper can complete the payment using e-wallets such as Alipay or WeChat Pay. Ofo (Shared bikes)
Ofo Inc is the world’s first and largest station-free bike share platform and mobile app. The dockless system uses a smartphone app to unlock bicycles, charging an hourly rate for use. It operates more than 10 million yellow-colored bikes in 250 cities across 20 countries. It has moved into the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Austria. Tujia (Home-sharing service provider)
Tujia matches those who have spare apartments or rooms with travelers who want to rent a place for the short term, competing with hotels. Currently, Tujia has expanded its lodgingservice network to 345 domestic and 1,037 overseas destinations with more than 600,000 online residential houses.
Misspao (Minigym booths)
For around six yuan (90 cents) per half hour, people now are able to rent selfservice mini-gym booths in nearby residential neighborhoods for exercise and bodybuilding. Developed by Beijingbased startup Misspao, the booths are equipped with basic fitness equipment such as a treadmill, air conditioner, air purifier and a high-definition screen to listen to music or watch videos. Yi23.net (Clothing rental)
Beijing-based Yi23.net provides subscription-based rental clothing services, including everyday clothing and highend luxury dresses, for women in China. It offers users more than 200 brands and different subscription plans. They can keep the rented clothing items as long as they want, then ship them back for free and order new ones. Zhinanmao.com (Custom-designed trips)
Shanghai-based Zhinanmao.com focuses exclusively on custom-designed trips. The app also allows designers to share their experiences with handy tips on where to go and what to see. Behind the app is a 15,000-strong army of freelance destination planners. They work on mapping out schedules and itineraries, and are paid a fee for their efforts. Home-Cook (Shared kitchens)
Home-Cook, a Beijing-based startup, is revolutionizing kitchens with the sharing-economy idea. It has created an online marketplace to match diners with hosts who are willing to share their homecooked meals. Via a mobile app, the company allows its users to access meals made by people within a radius of three kilometers. It is targeting whitecollar workers who are increasingly tired of standardized meals from fast-food chains and restaurants and prefer healthier and more personalized food.