Read the full article at MSNBC.com

MIAMI - Cassandra Smith spends $800 a month renting designer handbags and leases a luxury condo in downtown Miami. Environmentalist Zoee Turrill helped create a bike-sharing program at the University of Denver.

Though they might seem to come from different ends of the consumption spectrum, they have something in common: They’re not buying things.

The rise of rental or borrowing services catering from everyone from fashionistas to environmentalists has even spawned a marketing buzzword: the “transumer.”

It’s a lifestyle that’s “less about treasure and more about pleasure,” according Reinier Evers of Trendwatching, an Amsterdam-based market-research firm that coined the term.

It almost seems anti-American to rent, rather than buy; a look at the popular reality TV show “Clean House” is a testament to Americans’ love of accumulating stuff. But Evers says that in this global recession, people are warming to the idea of renting, and not buying, certain goods — because of cost, ease or space considerations.

“On the one hand, you have consumers who want to collect as many experiences and part-time possessions as possible,” Evers said. “And then there are transumers who value non-ownership for environmental reasons: to only use something when you really need it, which involves everything from renting to passing something on to the next person.”…….

…….Rentals also reduce the amount of natural resources spent on producing an item, says Eric Ginsberg of Bookswim, a New Jersey-based book rental company.

“There’s a tremendous amount of natural resources used to make books, DVDs, you name it,” he said. “Sharing an item also saves driving to and from the store. Our books come in the mail. Our books are essentially taking mass transit to get to our customers.”

Bookswim would not give out sales figures or the number of their subscribers, but Ginsberg said that in the past year and a half, the company’s membership has risen 500 percent……..

Read full article at CoolMomPicks.com

Need a couple of last-minute Father’s Day ideas to make tomorrow just a wee bit more special? We’ve got a few ideas that won’t cost you 8 zillion dollars in overnight shipping - or even a trip to the store……….

………5. Bookswim is like Netflix for books, and any erudite dad would love a subscription - along with some guaranteed time to actually read them. Right now code ILikeMyDad09 gets you $10 off a $50 gift card, or $25 off $100. And it’s a great choice for eco-crusaders too.

Read the article at InStyle.com

Having trouble deciding between Lauren Conrad’s buzzy new tome, a best-seller like Stephanie Meyer’s The Host or a classic book like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? Don’t bother! Keep your beach tote packed with a subscription to Bookswim.com, an online book-borrowing service that functions like NetFlix. The process is stress-free: create a list of picks, they will ship directly to your doorstep, and don’t worry about returns—keep the books as long as you want with no shipping or late fees. Best of all, subscriptions start just under $10, which means you can all the books you’ve been dying to read, the new bikini you’ve been coveting and still have money left over for your summer getaway.

INSTYLE.COM READER SPECIAL
Enter “SUMMER09″ at checkout for one month free as part of a three-month subscription.

—Lisa Tilson

Read the full article at News12.com

“The only man a girl can depend on is a daddy,” said Frenchie in one of my favorite movies, Grease. That stuck with me. My dad has proved it to me time and time again! My father has taught me so much. He taught me to put family first, loyalty, to work hard, to value all of the things I am fortunate to have and take care of those things. He has tried to teach me how to take care of my car and save money, but I am still working on those things! My dad has always been there for me. He never missed a thing. He would play outside with all of the neighborhood kids and always entertain us. Poor dad happily sat through countless shows, dance recitals, cheerleading competitions, rounds of Candyland and even allowed my sister and I to do his hair! Til this day, he never misses a special segment or blog . I do have one complaint about Dad–in fact, it’s a running joke in our family. He is impossible to buy for. We get him a million gift cards–so boring. So this year I did a search for gifts for my dad, and yours. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I usually do!

Here’s what I came up with…………

If your dad travels- or just likes to read - try “Book Swim” . It’s like Netflix, but books. $20/month www.bookswim.com

Read the article at WUSA9.com

WASHINGTON (WUSA) — There’s a new term out there for all of you who want what you want when you want it. Without, that is, paying full price.

Transumer.

A transumer is motivated by the here and now. Say, you want that designer handbag. But you don’t want to charge up your credit card to bring it home.

Or, you rent books, DVD’s, or anything you want for the moment - just not forever.

Rental industry expert Eric Ginsberg, with Bookswim.com, says this kind of spender has gotten a boost from the economy.

And, because of companies like Netflix, that ushered in a new way to do business, consumers benefit.

“There’s the convenience of free home delivery. No due dates. No late fees. People have really embraced that as a model,” says Ginsberg. “Previously, rental was based on timeframes.

Online renting can save you hundreds or thousands on your favorite items. You keep more money and don’t have to worry about accumulating stuff you won’t use.

And, Ginsberg believes transumerism will continue even after the economy bounces back, as people realize they don’t have to spend all their money, to have everything they want.

Read the full press release at Rutgers.edu

A nonprofit microlending organization and a new online phone application for commuters were considered to be the top two business ideas at the 9th annual Rutgers Business Plan Competition, hosted by Rutgers Business School’s Institute of Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) . The competition qualifies student and alumni participants to submit their ideas for a new and innovative business to encourage the development of business plans that have the potential to become an engine of economic growth and job creation in New Jersey. This year’s prizes, totaling $35,000, were generously contributed by The New Jersey Sales Executive Foundation……

……Last year’s winning team, Bookswim, a book rental company based on the Netflix model, has since gained national attention and has been featured in prominent industry publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine’s quarterly Entrepreneur’s Startups and more.