Moms launch Web site for educational game rentals
| Monday, Nov 02 2009 04:37 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 02 2009 05:30 PM
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Michael Fagans / The Californian Business partners Jennifer Scheidle, left, and Christy Baker sit in front of a computer screen with their SmartyRents.com web site called up in their business office in Bakersfield on Monday afternoon. The two credentialed teachers both have master degrees in early childhood education and have found an online niche with their Netflix-like educational game rental service.
Christy Baker, a stay-at-home mom, liked the idea of buying educational games for her children, but found they were expensive and the children lost interest in them after a while.
She did some research to see if there was anyone who rented games for systems such as Leapster and Vtech, but found none. She thought, Why not me?
So she started www.smartyrents.com, a Web site that rents out games geared to children ages nine months to 10 years.
With a concept similar to Netflix, Baker and her friend Jennifer Scheidle set up their Web site about a month ago. Both Baker and Scheidle were teachers, and it was important to them that the games on the Web site be education based, not just regular video games.
There are hundreds of games to choose from for eight different game systems, and new games are added frequently.
Baker pointed out that Leapster makes about 50 games, and a store selling these games would probably carry 15 or 20 of them. On smartyrents.com, all the games are carried. Currently, the systems themselves aren't rented.
Web site users buy a subscription, with packages starting at $9.99. Gift certificates are also available.
After receiving a game, the family can keep it as long as they want. If the child really likes the game, it can be purchased from the Web site.
Julie Stovall, a mom who has used smartyrents.com, loves not having to invest money in buying games.
"I think it's great," she said.
Stovall especially liked that she was able to send back a game her 4-year-old son, Aden, thought was too hard and receive a new game soon.
Jessica Chapman, director of the Business Assistance Center at the Kern Community College District, said it is fairly common for people to start their own businesses when they see an unmet need. In fact, Chapman said, that is how most businesses are started.
Chapman cited the example of Debbie Meyer, inventor of Green Bags. Meyer noticed fruits and vegetables quickly went bad in the refrigerator and decided to do something about it. Green Bags prolong the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Now they are sold nationally online and through television commercials.
The Internet is especially effective in helping people start their own business because it is relatively inexpensive compared to buying property for a store, Chapman said.
"The Internet is the great equalizer," she said.
