The YoungPlanet Story
YoungPlanet is a brilliant new free app that gives people the chance to both get rid of and discover fantastic items that have served their purpose in one home but can still be enjoyed in another. No money changes hands, which helps contribute to the burgeoning circular economy and keep usable items out of landfill!
YoungPlanet was started by parents Emma and Jason Ash who had lived and worked all over the world and with each move benefited (and continue to benefit) from hand-me-downs for their children from their friends and from within their community. These items had been used by one or more members of one family before going on to be enjoyed by all three of the Ash boys yet still had more life left. The realisation that children’s items are used for such a short amount of time yet they could serve many children and even generations before they are no longer usable led to the creation of YoungPlanet. Emma and Jason couldn’t find a digital platform dedicated to children’s items that would facilitate this and are acutely aware of the need to preserve our planet and divert as many items as possible away from landfill.
Emma and Jason’s experiences in cities such as Paris, London, Istanbul, Dallas, and Moscow also showed them that the idea of YoungPlanet could work anywhere. Emma’s obsession with keeping items out of landfills and finding homes for the things that were not being moved with the family showed that there was always a willing recipient for the item being given away. In fact, helping the environment has always been top of mind and the Ash boys know to do their bit and have even learned to not rip their birthday presents open so that the wrapping paper can be reused J.
In order to get the app going, Jason and Emma spent time developing the plan whilst juggling a corporate job and a young family. Once the ball was rolling, they received encouragement from friends and family to launch it properly. Jason put together an advisory board, stepped away from his corporate job, and together they invested both financially and emotionally to get the app up and running.
The YoungPlanet app was launched in December 2018 and was initially only available in Hackney. This is because of the borough’s history with innovation, size, and socio-economic and professional diversity. It’s also a long way from where Emma and Jason were based, as they wanted to test it properly rather than prove they were right J
Within 3 months, the app had a strong grassroots following and in order to meet the demand for the app to spread to other boroughs within London, YoungPlanet conducted a successful Crowdcube fundraising campaign in December 2019. The App paused exchanges during Covid lock down but is now back up to over 1,000 views a day and headed towards 10,000 users and is available London-wide.
Juggling a start-up and 3 children is a challenge at the best of times and more so than ever during lockdown but as a couple Emma and Jason choose to divide and conquer. Jason concentrates on the technical and financial elements of the business and Emma has more interaction with the users.
Emma and Jason’s aim is for the YoungPlanet app to become the natural choice for families whether on the giving or receiving end. They would love to combat the stigma associated with second-hand items and to provide an easy solution for people who want to declutter and see their item enjoyed elsewhere – whilst helping to preserve our planet’s limited resources.
"Declutter, give joy, save the planet...and it doesn't cost a penny"