As the number of European rental companies using Second Warehouse grows, the company is introducing SMS messaging to its pro A/V cross-rental service to improve sub-hire opportunities.

Launched fewer than six months ago, Second Warehouse reckons to simplify and speed up the process of pro A/V cross rental, providing a safe, fast and monitored environment in which rental companies can hire gear from one another. Now, users can search for and find the equipment they need then submit a hire request without leaving the Second Warehouse website or progressive mobile app. Hire requests are immediately delivered via email. Potential suppliers will receive an SMS explaining that an email is waiting with a deal to be struck.

SMS will be strictly limited to hiring opportunities and critical communications such as log-in details: ‘Email is the principle way that we communicate with our users and that’s not going to change, but it’s really important that Second Warehouse users don’t miss the opportunity to make money because of an overenthusiastic spam filter,’ Second Warehouse founder Stuart Kerrison explains.

‘But with that said, we passionately believe in respecting the privacy of our users – Second Warehouse will only ever send an SMS to help a user hire out equipment or with information about their account. We will never use this system for marketing. Users are also free to opt out of SMS alerts. SMS support is being introduced to make sure that even if you miss the email, you won’t miss the deal.’

Cross-rental – often referred to as sub-hire – has long been an essential part of how A/V rental companies source additional equipment. As a source of revenue, it is a powerful method of achieving quick return on investment, and a lifeline for smaller businesses during quieter times. Second Warehouse simplifies the process, and makes it affordable. For the supplier, the only cost is a small commission, while for the hirer, the process is free. Companies are also able to select up to two Preferred Users, with whom they can trade on Second Warehouse as much as they like without any commission to pay. There are no sign-up or subscription fees.

SMS support arrives as one of a number of refinements to the Second Warehouse system, including the addition of a built-in concierge service named Ask Sam. In the unlikely event that a search fails to return all of the requested items, users can tap the Ask Sam’button, thereby gaining the assistance of Second Warehouse Inventory Manager Sam Nesbitt, who will immediately take over the search.

More: www.secondwarehouse.com