Ever have to assemble IKEA furniture? It can be an incredibly frustrating time suck. But for someone with power tools who knows his way around fiberboard furnishings, putting together bookcases and beds can be a way to earn extra spending cash. San Francisco-based startup TaskRabbit is a marketplace for folks with little time and never-ending to-do lists and runners willing to help out for a price. The income earned ranges from task to task, but the average chore comes to about $45. Assignments run the gamut from grocery delivery to crafting a love letter to win back an ex-girlfriend. An iOS app lets users post, browse and manage tasks on the go.
Fun fact: Though the company has a rabbit as a mascot, it's actually a dog who helped sow the seeds of TaskRabbit. Founder and CEO Leah Busque was heading to dinner one evening when she realized there wasn't food for Kobe, her 100-pound yellow lab. Wouldn't it be great if she could pay someone to pick up a bag of Pedigree? No such service existed then; Busque decided to change that.
Face it, you have plenty of stuff doing nothing but gathering dust, so why not sell it? There'a an app for that, and it doesn't involve Craigslist or eBay. Yardsale connects neighbors looking to buy, sell or give away their belongings — all from their iPhones. The app lets people list and browse items, notifying both parties when there are responses. When sellers have offers, they have the option to accept them as is or haggle for better deals. Most transactions are done in cash or with the mobile payments reader Square.
Like traditional yard sales that served to bring together neighbors, the iOS app is also focused on connecting communities. Many buyers and sellers who use the app live within blocks away from each other, one of the company's co-founder tells me. The startup has a thriving community in the San Francisco Bay Area but is looking to expand to other cities soon.
Foursquare introduced the world to the idea of checking in. Back then, people only checked into venues, such as bars and restaurants. But now the concept has taken off to the point where folks are checking into TV shows, books and even groceries. Yes, groceries — which you can do with CheckPoints, an app for iOS and Android devices.
Why would you want to check into that bottle of Coca-Cola? It might sound silly, but by scanning the barcodes on various products with their phones, users can accumulate points that can be redeemed for gadgets, gift cards, airline miles and other goodies. In essence, the app serves like a rewards program that extends beyond just one store. There are many opportunities to earn additional points, including location check ins, user referrals, playing games and purchasing featured products. If you're heading to the store anyway, why not?
Similar to CheckPoints, EasyShift is an app that rewards shoppers when they're at the store. With it, iPhone users can double as mystery shoppers when running errands.
EasyShift doles out $3 to $8 for completed shifts. The app asks consumers to check promotional pricing, take photos of particular items, answer inventory questions and more. Once users claim dibs on a shift, they have three days to complete it.
Where does the money come from? EasyShift provides consumer brands with real-time retail intelligence, and companies, such as Nestle Dreyer's, pony up for these analytics. Next time you're at the store, fire up the app. It could pay for that carton of milk.
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