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Monty Marion 6 | June 2009 Community Impact Newspaper • Northwest Austin Edition Business Profile Loanables Ryan Cush, left, rents out his fishing boat to a user of the item-sharing site Loanables.com. By Melissa Mixon In late 2006, Ryan Cush was talking with friends and family about some of the old tools that had accumulated in his garage over the years — saws, a lawn mower, even a fishing boat. The items had been sitting and collecting dust, which got everyone thinking. “We realized people have all of this stuff and it’s never used. If you need something, you go to Home Depot,” Cush, 32, said. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if you could share all of your stuff?’” A few months later, the north Austin resident started the online sharing site Loanables.com, which allows neighbors to rent out items from each other, though sometimes items are shared for free. Loanables started as an online itemswapping site that was used by only a few north Austin residents. Now, it has a few thousand Austin members, and Cush gets inquiries from as far away as England, where a fan of the sharing site has asked how to start a Loanables group for her community. Unlike eBay and craigslist, the items posted online are borrowed, not bought. People loaning out items for rent get to decide the terms of the rental, including the price and security deposit. Once a person requests to rent the item, a loaner New Office Policy: LIGHTS OUT@ 5Pm! can approve or deny requests, and both parties remain anonymous until they agree to a transaction. The Loanables site does not charge a usage fee and provides a legal rental agreement that protects both the loaner and the renter. Payment and delivery of items is determined and handled by the two parties. The idea behind Loanables started as a way to help reduce mass consumerism. Rather than spend money on new, and often expensive, parts Cush figured they could be shared within the community. Cush also saw it as a way to get to know your neighbor. “One guy rented my boat and we started going fishing together and having coffee. We ended up talking about career stuff and we’ve kept in touch,” Cush said. That is partly what attracted Marc Ostryniec to Loanables. Ostryniec, who lives in Tarrytown, has loaned out everything from saws to bungee cords and buckets. Once, members of a school drama club came over to borrow his tile saw to do work on their set. When they arrived, Ostryniec could tell they had never used a tool like it before, so he gave them quick instructions on how to use it. “It worked great,” he said. “It’s really nice to see what peoples’ projects are.” While the most popular items rented are tools, the site offers everything from Teachers Loanables www.loanables.com There has got to be a better way to economize. Economize around the office without going to extremes with Time Warner Cable Business Class. Get a free evaluation from one of our local account reps. Then enjoy Internet, Phone and Cable TV solutions tailored for your business and budget. That way, you pay only for what you need. Sign up for a Business Class bundle today and take up to 42% off our standard rates! * Act by July 31, 2009. Call today for a FREE evaluation. 1-866-797-7249 or visit www.twcbc.com/tx Halloween costumes for babies to a horse that can be rented for up to $75 a month. In a creative twist, a Tennessee woman offered her handyman of a husband for rent. Of course, another perk for both renters and loaners is money. Cush has taken in roughly $2,500 to $3,000 for items that he has rented out on Loanables. “I have a fishing boat that has more than paid for itself,” he said. Given the economy, Cush said the site is especially useful to people wanting to do projects cheaply or get extra cash by renting their items out on the site. “That stuff can be your best investment,” he said. “You spend $100 on your stock and then you look at that and then you spend $100 on that thing you can rent out. You get a better return on those things hanging out in your garage or your attic.” Loanables also has items for teachers. On the site, teachers can browse supplies for subjects ranging from drama to science. The teacher section is relatively new and postings are limited, but teachers can find items like overhead projectors and Spanish language audio CDs. Visit www.loanables.com/teachers. *Offer applies for new Business Class customers who subscribe to a minimum three-year term agreement. Savings of 42% is based on the Time Warner Cable Business Class three-year Texas bundled pricing (15 x 2 data service and 3 lines of Business Class Phone) versus the TWCBC standard month-to-month pricing for the same levels of service. Savings amount varies for other bundled packages. Excludes applicable taxes and fees, installation charges, and construction costs. Early termination fee may apply. Offer not transferable and may not be combined with any other offer. Business Class Phone does not include back-up power and should there be a power outage, Business Class Phone, including the ability to access 911 services, may not be available. Additional charges apply for taxes, fees, Directory Assistance, Operator Services and calls to International locations. Actual speeds may vary. Offer ends 07/31/09. After promotional period regular monthly rates in effect at that time will apply. Products and services not available in all areas. Some restrictions apply. © 2009 Time Warner Cable. All rights reserved.
Melissa Mixon Business Profile Local travel agencies Isla de Mujeres, Mexico By Tiffany Young While health, crime and the beginning of hurricane season, which began June 1, are keeping some vacationers from traveling to Mexico, others are taking advantage of the low prices and deals being offered. Mexico has been affected by low tourism turnout this year, which led to VivaAerobus ceasing operations out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at the beginning of June, but many Austin travel agents say cruises to Mexico are the way to go. Don Kurtz of Paradise Vacation and Travel Co. said many travelers are still going on cruise ships to Cozumel, where he visited recently and felt safe. But he added that he had not sold any packages to interior Mexico in a while. Diana Whiteside, an Austinite and Anderson High School graduate, opened Cruise Holidays of Northwest Austin in the Gateway Shopping Center about a year and a half ago after teaching sixth grade geography at Cedar Valley Middle School. Specializing in cruises, she agrees that cruises are a great way to travel, especially if you are concerned about safety. “People ask about hurricanes all the time, and what I always tell them is the ship moves — [allowing it to] avoid the hurricane,” Whiteside said. “And travel towns are not where the violence is — that is about 400 to 500 miles inward.” However, she advises tourists to practice safety while abroad. “We tell people to only visit legitimate businesses, always leave an itinerary with a family member at home and that there is safety in numbers, so go on excursions with a group,” Whiteside said. In mid-May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed its travel health warning for H1N1 swine flu in Mexico, meaning it should be safe for U.S. travelers. The CDCP, however, recommends that high-risk travelers, such as small children and adults over 65 years old, see a doctor before making the trip. For specialized information on planning a trip, booking through a local travel agency can offer travel tips and information on specific destinations. “Travel deals can be found online and with local travel agencies, but a local agency can offer personalized service you would not receive online,” said Karen Brice, director of leisure sales for Accent Travel/American Express. “Local agencies can also help to minimize cancellation penalties from travel vendors.” For more information on safe travel, visit www.cdc.gov/travel. Local travel agencies in northwest Austin * AAA Travel - Austin North 13376 US 183 N., Ste. 108 335-5222 www.aaa.com Accent Travel/American Express 10710 Research Blvd., Ste. 328 338-0444 pam@accent-travel.com www.accent-travel.com Cruise Holidays of Northwest Austin 9901 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. #220 338-8880 diana@cruiseholidays.com www.cruiseholidays.com/ northwestaustin * While Community Impact attempted to include all locally owned agencies within the Northwest Austin edition’s distribution area, this list may not be comprehensive. Easy Tours of India Arboretum 10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 250 345-1122 austin@easytoursofindia.com www.easytoursofindia.com Paradise Vacation and Travel Co., Inc. 418-0290 paradise@austinrr.com http://paradisevacationandtravel.com Sterling Vacations 345-7755 info@sterlingvacations.com www.sterlingvacations.com Above and Beyond Travel 3720 Far West Blvd., Ste. 109 346-4793 bwodarski@aab.webmail.com www.aabtvl.com Laser Resurfacing Acne Treatment Age Spot/ Freckle Removal Dermatology Mole Checks/Skin Cancer • Laser Surgery BEFORE AFTER impactnews.com June 2009 | 7 TREATMENT OF HAIR, SKIN AND NAILS Michael H. Coverman, M.D. Board Certifi ed Dermatologist Jennifer J. Jordan, MS, PA-C Certifi ed Physician Assistant www.laserskin.com • 345-9411 Cedar Park Jewelry Custom Jewelry for 30 Years WE BUY: • GOLD • DIAMONDS • SILVER • PLATINUM • ROLEX’S • COINS Y C • Ring Cleaning • Watch Battery • • Appraisal • Watch Link Removed • • Ring size (up/down 1 size) • Chain solder • Expires 7/24/09 512.259.9430 • CedarParkJewelry.com • 601 E Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 112 15 % OFF Cosmetic Procedures * not to be combined with other discounts or offers. Expires July 31, 2009
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