Press Releases

In a world where a drill is only used for an average of 12 minutes over its whole lifetime it has become clear that even though we often feel we have too much stuff, we always seem to want and need more. After six months in live beta, Zilok, already the World’s largest peer-to-peer renting platform, today announced its full US service launch, and with it a proven green way to make money from the things you have and save money on the things you want and need.

Make money, save money
The bicycles, camping gear, strollers and electronics that gather dust in our cluttered closets and garages are needed right now by people in your area who would love to rent an item for a few days rather than spend much more to buy it themselves.

Keep it local and be a green hero
By simply renting things you aren’t using to people in your area, you cut down on conspicuous consumption and encourage the reuse of everyday household items and electronics. With Zilok you help save on the natural resources needed to produce more stuff.

“Inspired by conservation and green movements in Europe, Zilok is the fun way to tackle over-consumption while expanding everyone’s access to the things they want and need—whether that is a scooter or Wii, a ratchet set or a tuxedo” offered Gary Cige, Cofounder and CEO of Zilok.

How to rent out just about anything on Zilok.com
Posting an item just takes a minute: Type in what it is, where it is and when it is available, upload a picture, set your price and choose payment methods. Before you know it you may receive your first text message or email notifying you that “Someone requested your item.” Not someone from out of state, someone from your actual area.

How to rent just about anything on Zilok.com
Just type in what you are looking for and where you live. Find the item, set the time frame of the rental and confirm the request with the retainer system. Next pickup the item locally and pay the owner directly. It is that easy.

What Zilok Users are Saying
Lionel from New York City: “I needed a twin jog stroller for a weekend, and found one on Zilok in my neighborhood. I saved time and about $200, for something I wouldn’t even know where to store.”
Brianna from Seattle: “We have a scooter we don’t use much but pay insurance for. I listed it on Zilok and told neighbors. The word spread and it became an alternative transportation mode for some people in the community. I made more than $150 over this last couple of months, I’m glad we kept that scooter!”
Tony from San Francisco: “My kayak doesn’t get out of the garage very often. I hate seeing things not being used, and I’m glad other people can enjoy it now it’s on Zilok. The extra money is nice, and I really like the community and the green aspects of it.”

About Zilok.com
Zilok is the online rental marketplace, where anyone can offer just about anything for rent to the community. Zilok’s mission is to support and develop peer-to-peer renting as a new, sustainable and community-driven way of consuming.
Zilok went live in public beta in November 2007 in the United States, France and Belgium, and in Spring 2008 in the Netherlands and in the UK. US offices are based in San Francisco, CA. Zilok.com was awarded Site of the Week by PC Magazine, and elected the best European Startup by the audience of the Plugg Startup Rally 2008. Zilok is a member of the American Rental Association.

A tough call for the consumer
At the MacWorld expo on January 15th, Steve Jobs unveiled the most anticipated MacBook Air, the thinnest laptop in the world. As it hit the Apple stores by surprise on February 4th, the high price tag, disruptive innovations, uncertain availability and mixed online reviews left a tough call for the consumer.

A real-life try for $29 a day
Will the laptop be compatible with my other hardware? Can I manage without an optical drive? Is the form-factor worth the heavy sticker price? The Apple stores let you play with the ultraportable, but if that’s not enough for you to pull out the credit card, you’ll appreciate Zilok’s offer to rent it to you for $29 a day. This way, you can take it home and test it in your own real-life conditions. The MacBook Air can be picked up today at Zilok’s San Francisco offices and will be soon available across the nation-wide network of Zilok Ambassadors.

“I check Zilok and Craigslist everyday”
Sean, an early Zilok user and technology adopter, has booked the new Mac Book Air for two days. “I discovered Zilok as I was looking online for a DJ setup to rent. Next thing I did was to list my snowboard, and I already made more than a $100 out of it. Then I started looking daily for new cool stuff to rent, just like I do with Craigslist for stuff to buy. That’s how I came across the MacBook Air deal.”

About Zilok.com
Zilok is the first online rental marketplace allowing individuals and businesses to list any kind of goods for rent. Zilok is promoting peer-to-peer renting as a new, sustainable, and community-driven alternative to buying and accumulating. Zilok was launched in October in Europe, with operations in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and in early November in the United States, operating from San Francisco.
Zilok is a member of the American Rental Association.

San Francisco, California, November 6, 2007 -- Zilok.com, the first online rental marketplace for individuals and businesses, is opening up in the United States.

Zilok.com is a new concept that is changing the habits of consumers. Now everyone can put their stuff up for rent, and rent anything they want to anyone around them. You already buy and sell your belongings on the internet, but now you can also enjoy the advantages of renting them online. A desire to stay on the cutting-edge of technology, urban living and the practical concerns of less storage space, gaining access to luxury goods, and an environmental impetus against overconsumption all contribute to a rising interest in renting.

"A new movement by consumers towards renting, as well as technological advancements in geo-localisation made it possible to create Zilok, a marketplace dedicated to renting" affirms Gary Cige, CEO and co-founder of Zilok.com

Make money renting your stuff.

"You sell on the internet, now you can rent!" is Zilok's new slogan. For the first time, individuals can put their goods for rent on the internet, and benefit from renting's numerous advantages: keep more of your stuff, and obtain revenues often greater than selling. The electric drill you only use once a year, the tuxedo or designer handbag stored at the back of the closet, your 3 person tent that you only use occasionally. Just think of everything you have lying around, and you'll quickly realize just how much you have to offer for rent.

Zilok's interface follows closely the model of established online marketplaces, so it can also be used by professionals, to access new clients and increase visibility with a new online presence. With Zilok, it is simple to manage even several thousand objects online, all on the same account. Rent whatever you want, easily and around you

You're looking for something to rent in your neighbourhood? Zilok makes it simple and easy for you. Just type in what you are looking for and where you are, and a list of available rentals will pop up on a map around you. The conditions of rental are set by the owner, who you can contact directly online to make a reservation. Need a sound system for a party, a tandem bike for a romantic weekend, or a projector for a sports night with friends? You'll find what you want on Zilok.

Most importantly, Zilok offers a system that inspires the confidence necessary for creating a rental agreement: a 360° evaluation (object, renter, owner of object), a standardized rental contract created for each rental, and an optimal privacy protection system.

Zilok aims to revolutionize the world of online rentals by opening it up to individuals, and by bringing together the currently very fragmented world of professional rentals. As new ways to consume are being created and explored, renting becomes a positive, sustainable alternative to buying and selling.

About Zilok.com

Zilok was launched in October 2007 by Gary Cige and Thibaud Elzière, the founder of the online image bank Fotolia.com. Zilok is the first ever online rental marketplace where anyone, from consumers to professionals, can offer up anything they own for rent.

Press Contact

Jeff Boudier
Phone : 415-812-7637