The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.
This innovation initially came to life when…
We were moving house and reflecting on how much stuff we didn’t need. Often these items (furniture, homewares, appliances, clothes, musical instruments, etc.) get thrown away for lack of a better home. We didn’t want money for it; we just didn’t want it to become landfill. We realised one of our neighbours might be in need of the precise thing we were disposing of, but how would they know? Yoink was born to be the matchmaker between these unneeded items and the people who had a use for them.
WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
Facilitate reuse in less than 30 seconds. Yoink is the easiest way to get free things from people near you and give away the things you don’t need.
It does this by…
Using interactive maps on the web and iPhone to locate free things nearby. If you’re the first person to “yoink” an item, it’s yours; no bidding or waiting. Once you yoink an item you can privately message the giver to organise its collection. Conversely, give an item by describing it in one sentence and Yoink notifies people in your area.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
It’s conducive to a busy lifestyle; Yoink makes sustainable reuse quick and convenient. Just take out your phone, snap a photo of something you don’t need, and watch it become instantly available on the Yoink interactive map. On the flip side, check Yoink regularly to see what cool, free stuff has been listed right near you.
Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…
o A convenient way to de-clutter their homes in a fun, socially conscious way.
o An enjoyable way to get free things that they need but wouldn’t necessarily want or be able to pay for.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
A number of inconvenient, archaic options for reuse, including:
o Telling your friends one by one to see if anyone was interested
o Driving to often distant recycling facilities
o Putting stuff out on the street where it quickly becomes damaged
o Using cumbersome email lists/forums (see below)
Its predecessors/competitors include…
Freecycle, a gigantic Yahoo forum that requires applying to a local moderator to be considered for membership. If you are allowed to become a member, items are listed by sending emails around to thousands of people at a time.
TARGET MARKET
It is made for…
Anyone who wants to de-clutter their home and anyone who wants free things without harming the earth. Yoink is already popular across a huge demographic worldwide, from university students trying to deck out their pad, to middle-aged couples looking to reclaim space. People who live in small towns or rural areas are using Yoink just as much as inner-city dwellers. We hope it helps bring communities together and make the world a smaller, greener place.
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
It is available for sale through…
The iTunes App Store and the web (yoink.com) — both versions are completely free. In the future we will be releasing other native mobile apps.
Our marketing strategy is to…
Empower our members to evangelise Yoink to their friends and family through social media and word-of-mouth. We believe making an amazing user experience is the best marketing strategy. So far Yoink has garnered international press on CNN, the New York Times and various domestic media outlets. Yoink was also nominated for an international Webby Award.
SUPPORTING IMAGES AND/OR VIDEO
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INNOVATION
While the judging is now officially over, you can still show your support for this innovation in one of the following three ways:
- Hit the VOTE UP button: Top left of each page (Not available for IE users)
- Trigger a Reaction: Re-Tweet, Like on Facebook, etc.
- Leave a Comment: Share the love!
To check out the Anthill SMART 100 Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, click here.
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