DUFL Sports stores and delivers sports equipment for active travelers.
TEMPE, ARIZ. – DUFL, the premium travel service that’s changing the rules of business travel, announced the launch of a new service: DUFL Sports. Active travelers use DUFL Sports to transport gear and/or clothes to travel destinations so they won’t have to carry sports equipment through busy airports. The rollout follows a series of high-profile awards, positive media attention and a successful funding round of $5M for the fast-growing virtual valet startup.
“DUFL has made a huge splash in travel services because it makes life simpler for the frequent business traveler by eliminating the need to launder, pack and transport bags to and from destinations,” said CEO Bill Rinehart, chairman and founder of DUFL. “But business travelers aren’t the only people dealing with the hassles of traveling with items they’d rather not carry with them – now DUFL Sports offers relief to active travelers, by storing, inventorying, photographing and delivering their fishing, cycling, diving, golf, snowboarding, skiing and other gear in a secure virtual closet and delivering it to their destination so they can focus on the fun part.”
Those who travel frequently for sport or bleisure (business + leisure) travel can create a DUFL account online or via the Android or iOS app. The user will be sent shipping labels, and once ready, will schedule a pickup in the app and their sports gear will be shipped to the DUFL warehouse where it will be photographed and stored in their DUFL virtual closet. DUFL Sports users can also store and ship their clothes in addition to their sports equipment by requesting a DUFL Welcome kit, which contains a large suitcase that they can fill with their clothing and toiletries. The user schedules a pickup via the app. DUFL picks up the user’s clothing items and inventories, photographs, cleans and stores everything in the member’s virtual DUFL closet(s).
When preparing to leave for a trip that includes sports equipment such as golf clubs, skis, scuba gear etc, the DUFL Sports users can pack via the DUFL app, by simply entering their destination address and arrival date and then selecting the items they want to pack from their virtual closet. DUFL will then send the sports gear and/or professionally packed suitcase to the traveler’s destination where it will be waiting for them upon arrival. When it’s time to go home, travelers just schedule a pickup at the hotel, and DUFL picks up the equipment and/or suitcase, and then cleans and stores all items so that they are ready for the next trip.
“DUFL Sports is perfect for anyone who wants to eliminate the hassles of traveling with their sports gear, but it’s also an ideal solution for active people who live in large cities in apartments with limited storage space,” Rinehart noted. “Now instead of skis, snowboards, diving gear, bikes, golf clubs, fishing rods and other sports gear taking up premium closet space, DUFL users can store their equipment in a shippable container at our secure facility, and we’ll have it ready and waiting when they need it for vacation.”
Users pay $9.95 per month for a sports locker, which is large enough to hold several items (i.e. golf clubs and ski equipment). Standard 3-day US domestic shipping for golf clubs will start as low as $75 per round trip including cleaning. Quotes will be provided for other types of equipment and is dependent on size and weight. International shipping is available to select destinations.
DUFL, which was voted “Best New Travel App” in USA TODAY, closed their seed round with investments from US and Japanese private investors. DUFL will be looking at additional funding mid year to scale the business for international growth and to expand operations and offer new products and services.
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
