Meet the neighbours while you store your stuff
Maryellen Clare
24 October 2012
As a long-term couch surfer my belongings are currently living under a friend's stairs - until I find a home. So I was interested to see a similar solution to lack of storage pitched as a business recently on Dragon's Den.
The pitch came from Storemates, an internet company that matches up people looking for storage with people who have space to rent in their homes.
People needing storage pay those with storage to spare. They then pay Storemates an admin fee. It uses existing free space - so the carbon footprint is likely to be minimal.
The Dragons were concerned about security - suggesting it could be open to abuse by "bad men" who might store stolen goods or worse in the garden shed of an unsuspecting neighbour.
Storemates admit in their own blog to taking a "mauling" from the Dragons. But part of this show's appeal is watching the entrepreneurial hopefuls trying to win over the Dragons. As Ben from Storemates says "this is TV" - and it does sometimes feel like the Dragons are playing a part as much as being themselves.
Deborah Meaden - a green Dragon and Friends of the Earth Clean British Energy Campaign Ambassador - was very nice to the boys but she too was put off by the security issue.
I don't think anyone will be storing their treasured family heirlooms or diamond collection through Storemates - but it's not designed for that. It's a new approach to storage encouraging us to make the most of existing space, to connect with our communities and maybe save money in the process.
I just hope my friend doesn't see what a great idea it is and start charging me.
Maryellen Clare, Communications & Media Intern
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