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The Borrow Bar brings “access over ownership” to Raleigh
From espresso machines to outdoor projectors, The Borrow Bar allows locals to stop buying stuff they barely use—and borrow it instead… like a library, but swap books for high-end household, hosting and seasonal goods you might panic-buy before a party. Because who wants to drop hundreds on something they may need once?
Now online just in time for the holiday season, the brainchild of local entrepreneur Lisa Jeffries Nobling is built around a simple idea: Get the thing when you need it, then give it back when you don’t—without the hefty price tag or bulky bins to store it in later.
“I’ve essentially been living this concept forever,” says Jeffries Nobling, who grew up watching her parents lend things to neighbors and has long done the same with friends. “But I realize not everyone has that kind of built-in network.”
While clothing and handbag rentals have long been mainstream, durable household goods are a different beast, she says. Rather than traditional tool rentals, think highly curated premium kitchen appliances, outdoor equipment and entertaining essentials that take up precious storage space—or require a big investment—from acrylic podiums to countertop pizza ovens and frozen margarita machines.
Beyond convenience, the membership-based model also aims to cut clutter and waste by letting one product circulate among members rather than collecting dust in multiple closets.
The idea has already gained traction. Recently placing among the top 16 startups statewide, Jeffries Nobling beat out hundreds of applicants in the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s Startup Showdown, where entrepreneurs competed for up to $30K in funding.
She may not have walked away with the check—but the jump-start was real. Now, members can simply browse the online catalog, reserve for specific dates, schedule delivery and check out—then pack it back
into the provided case for pickup. Neighborhood pickup options are also planned.
For Jeffries Nobling, the appeal extends beyond convenience. “Coupling that local logistical need with my research into circular economies, the concept makes sense,” she says, “not just from a lifestyle and financial perspective, but as a practical way to reduce our environmental footprint right here in Wake County.” Turns out, you can have commitment issues and still have (and do) nice things.
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