Yesterday I wrote about cameras. Today it is umbrellas. Everyone wants to get into the rental business. When you think about it,
renting umbrellas in urban areas throughout the United States, makes a lot of sense. An umbrella is something you don’t need to own.

I don’t know about you, but I never liked getting too close to my umbrella. I always felt like my relationship with my umbrella was very temporary. Either I would misplace it or someone would take it from me when I was forced to leave it by the door in a restaurant or at a party.

Another reason why renting is a good idea, most people don’t have their umbrellas with them when they need them. Let’s face it. If you carry your umbrella with you, it doesn’t rain. If you don’t have it with you, it rains cats and dogs.

Entrepreneur John O’Connor, said:

“The umbrellas will be stored in 500 branded ‘brellabox’ boxes throughout the first city targeted, NYC. Members will have key cards; rentals go from $2.50 for 12 hours, or you can purchase the umbrella for $15. An annual flat fee is also being considered.

“The umbrellas are disposable so if you purchase one, you can toss it when you’re done. If you decide to rent, you return it to a strategically placed ‘brellaBox.’ ”

Right now O’Connor has this all in the planning stages. The smartphone app is still being developed. It will be vital for locations, inventory, and payment for rental or sale.

If New York is successful, brellabox will be rolled out nationally.