SHARE SALISBURY (A LIBRARY OF THINGS) CIC

Executive Summary

Share Salisbury (A Library of Things) CIC holds a strong community-centric position within the sustainable consumption niche, demonstrating growing membership engagement and improving financial results. Leveraging its unique combination of rental and repair services, the company is well placed to expand service offerings and geographic reach, though it must address scalability challenges and financial sustainability to fully capitalize on growth opportunities.

SHARE SALISBURY (A LIBRARY OF THINGS) CIC - Analysis Report

Company Number: 13243164

Analysis Date: 2025-07-20 18:17 UTC

1. Executive Summary
   Share Salisbury (A Library of Things) CIC operates as a community-focused item rental and repair service in South Wiltshire, positioning itself within the niche of sustainable consumption and circular economy initiatives. As a community interest company, it leverages local engagement and volunteer support to differentiate itself from traditional rental businesses, demonstrating strong member growth and improving financial performance despite relatively modest turnover.

2. Strategic Assets

• Community Engagement & Membership Base: With over 1,147 registered members and 1,273 rentals in the year, the company has established a loyal user base that supports recurring usage and word-of-mouth promotion.
• Unique Service Offering: Combining item rental (camping gear, tools, electronics) with monthly repair cafes addresses multiple community needs—accessibility, affordability, and sustainability—creating a distinctive value proposition.
• Non-Profit Structure (CIC Model): This status enhances trust and aligns with growing consumer interest in social enterprises, potentially unlocking grants, partnerships, and volunteer resources.
• Financial Health & Growth: The company’s net assets almost doubled from £6,330 in 2023 to £10,365 in 2024, with a significant increase in operating profit (£4,981 vs £1,420), reflecting efficient cost control and growing revenue streams.
• Asset Base: Tangible assets (primarily machinery and equipment) increased 55% to £5,068, supporting expanded service capacity.
• Volunteer and Director Expertise: Directors bring diverse skills (conservation, legal, fire safety, customer experience), fostering well-rounded governance and operational insight.

3. Growth Opportunities

• Service Expansion: Broaden the inventory of rentable items based on member requests to attract new user segments and increase usage frequency.
• Digital Platform Enhancement: Invest in online booking, inventory management, and community engagement tools to scale membership and improve user experience.
• Partnerships with Local Government and NGOs: Collaborate to secure funding, raise awareness, and embed the service in broader sustainability initiatives.
• Repairs and Workshops: Expand repair cafe offerings and educational workshops to increase community involvement and potential revenue from service fees or sponsorships.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programs: Position as a partner for local businesses’ CSR efforts, offering memberships or event collaborations.
• Geographic Expansion: Replicate the model in neighboring regions with similar demographic and sustainability profiles.

4. Strategic Risks

• Limited Revenue Scale: Current turnover (£6,156) is low relative to operational expenses (~£7,144), indicating reliance on grants, donations, or volunteer labor, which may limit scalability.
• Volunteer and Director Dependency: Heavy reliance on volunteer activity and directors with no employees could constrain operational capacity and continuity.
• Asset Utilization Risk: Maintaining and managing physical assets without sufficient rental volume risks underutilization and depreciation costs.
• Market Awareness: The concept of item sharing may require ongoing education and marketing investment to overcome cultural barriers and competition from outright ownership or commercial rental stores.
• Financial Sustainability: The company must ensure diversified funding sources to mitigate risks from fluctuating grants or donations.
• Regulatory and Compliance: As a CIC, it must maintain compliance with community interest criteria and reporting, which could add administrative overhead.