Latest news with #Airtasker
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
‘I earned £6k in months after building debts to care for my dad'
'I love that I don't have to do the same job all the time' Last year, Alison Goldsmith took a step back from her career in marketing and retail to look after her 94-year-old father. The 58-year-old found herself with little time to work due to her caring responsibilities and began accruing debts. In February 2024, she stumbled upon Airtasker, a marketplace for odd jobs, and signed up. However, she said: "My challenge soon after I started was being able to commit to work when my dad needed extra care and was nearing the end of his life. "So I stepped back to look after him and then came back to it several months later." After her father's passing, the Essex woman faced a mountain of debt and grim statistics. "Age Without Limits reports that one in three people get turned down for work after 50 because of their age and there are 460,000 people aged 50 to 64 who are currently out of work that would like to be in work. On Airtasker, age doesn't come into it." By September, Alison had dedicated more time to tasks on Airtasker, earning rave reviews and cash. In just a few months, she became one of the top taskers for 2024 and made £6,000. She said: "I've been able to pay off some of the debts I accrued when stopping work for a while to care for my dad, which has made life less stressful. When I first started Airtasker, it didn't even occur to me that it would be possible. "I thought it would just be a few jobs here and there and the money would be helpful. I was surprised to see how active it was and the variety of tasks that I could do. My favourite thing is helping people, it is so rewarding to know you have helped someone and made their life just a little bit easier." After more than 25 years spent in marketing and retail, Airtasker is now Alison's primary source of income, taking on a range of tasks from gardening to crafting an adult-sized Oogie Boogie costume. She noted: "Most people live around their five-day working week, but I'm able to fit my work around my life and whatever else I have going on. I love the fact that even on the day, I can find a task if I want." Having always worked for herself, Alison notes the similarity with self-employment but added: "The main difference is that the job opportunities are presented to me in one place, I don't have to go looking for them. "Also, for a lot of my self-employed work, I have to wait to be paid, whereas on Airtasker the money is in my bank account 2-3 days after the job's completed." Looking back at her journey, Alison wished she had known not to overload herself from the start: "There's no need to make so many offers! Although it's helpful as then you're more likely to be chosen, when I first started I thought that if I missed out on a job there might not be another opportunity but I then realised there were many tasks available and plenty of work to go round."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Side hustle shock as 'broke' Gen Z student earns $1,000 in a week: ‘Good way to make money'
A Melbourne university student has gone viral after sharing how she is making $1,000 in one week on top of her regular job by picking up odd side hustles. She's done everything from extra hospitality shifts, to letterbox drops, and even helping a girl catch out her cheating boyfriend. Ruby Corbett is hoping to travel to Singapore for a holiday with her best friend in a month, but admitted she was a 'broke uni student' and didn't want to dig into her savings to fund the trip. The 18-year-old told Yahoo Finance she decided to set herself a challenge to earn $1,000 in one week to make some extra cash. Along with selling her old iPhone with a broken screen for $150 and picking up odd hospitality shifts using the app Supp, Corbett has been using Airtasker to find tasks to help her complete her challenge. RELATED $25 side hustle trick to make $202,515: 'Life changing amount of money' Centrelink issues urgent Age Pension eligibility change warning: 'Double check' ATO issues superannuation warning for retirees over June 1 rule 'change': 'When you can access savings' 'I've done a range of things. I've done distribution of flyers on there, I've picked up items, I've put someone's bins out. I've helped someone catch their cheating boyfriend,' she said. She was paid $23 to help catch the cheating boyfriend, which she explained involved signing up to Tinder and seeing if he would match with her. She earned another $31 to take out and bring in someone's bins, $35 to deliver a parcel which was near her gym, and $120 to do letterbox the letter box drops can take a few hours to complete, Corbett said the other tasks were relatively quick to do and were the types of jobs that anyone could do. 'There's a lot of those sorts of tasks on there, like delivery tasks,' she told Yahoo Finance. In total, she has already made $785 and is on day five of the challenge. While she has two days left to go in the challenge, she expects she will hit her $1,000 goal early after she completes another round of letterbox drops. Corbett is currently completing a double degree in international relations and law, while working part-time as an office assistant for a real estate company. She also has two hospitality jobs, but does not get consistent hours for these. Corbett has been sharing videos online about her $1,000 challenge, with some Aussies sharing their surprise at how much she had earned for easy tasks. 'Are u kidding me, $30 to take out bins!' one said. Other Aussies weighed in on the easy ways they had made extra cash. 'Some guy gave me $150 to put a pile of leaves in his bin. It took me 20 minutes,' one wrote. 'Sell your clothes on Depop & FB marketplace, so worth it,' another said. 'Try Askable! It'll really help you bump up your numbers in your spare time,' a third suggested. 'I do flyers as well, I did 1500 for $150 it's really good. Ask in your local fb groups if anyone needs business cards handled out into letterboxes for a fee,' another said. Others suggested doing surveys, market research and mystery shopping, while some recommended jumping on Uber Eats or Doordash. Airtasker CEO and founder Tim Fung said it was great to see people using the platform to make extra cash. 'We love seeing people like Ruby turn to Airtasker in specific times where they want to be earning some extra cash, and rely on the flexibility of the platform to be able to complete as many or as little tasks as they like,' he said. 'It's incredible how much demand there is for everyday skills like dog walking, delivery services, resume writing, cleaning, and cooking - it's about unlocking the value of your skills, no matter how big or small." Corbett said she plans to keep using the platform to make extra cash, given that being a uni student is 'not the cheapest', when her challenge is completed. For others wanting to jump on, she said the best thing to do was to apply for as many tasks as you can to help build up positive reviews. 'The biggest thing is just apply for everything that you can do because the odds of getting everything is probably not very high,' she said. 'I think it's a very good way to get money. I found it works for me.'
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Would you queue at 3am to buy a toy? These Aussies have – here's why
At 3am in the morning, most Australians are still tucked up in bed – but there's a new craze sweeping the country that has people lining the streets at an ungodly hour. The Labubu, a furry plushie featuring a bizarre grin and sharp teeth, has become the ultimate status-boosting item after soaring to popularity with huge celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the product is sold by Chinese toy company Pop Mart following a collaboration with Lung on his story series book The Monsters, released in 2015. While the Labubu hit the market in Asia in 2019, the slightly scary-looking plushie only took off after Blackpink's Lisa, a popular K-pop singer, was spotted with a keychain-version of the doll attached to her handbag in April 2024. And in just 12 months, the whole world has become hooked, including Aussies. Aussies first became addicted to the viral toy craze following Pop Mart's arrival Down Under in mid-2023. Fast-forward two years, and there are now 11 Pop Mart stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, all of which regularly draw huge crowds with the hopes of snagging an in-demand plushie. But, as one recent video filmed in Melbourne shows, it's not children who are frantic for the Labubu – it's fully-grown adults. Another clip shows puzzled onlookers watching on as a long queue stretches down Pitt Street in Sydney recently, prompting the TikTok user to ask: 'All for a Labubu?' Pop Mart, which describes itself as a 'rising global force in pop culture and entertainment', said the power lies in the 'love at first sight' reaction the toys get from loyal followers. 'This isn't just about 'toys' but a collectable, pop-culture movement engaging Australian adults like never before,' a Pop Mart spokesperson told 'The excitement here mirrors what we've seen in major cities globally with queues forming around the block as eager collectors hope to get their hands on these unique pieces. 'We collaborate with a series of designers to create highly collectable figurines, and the range has grown from strength to strength.' Another key element in the toy's desirability lies in the fact consumers never know what design they are getting. Each one comes sealed in a box that could contain one of several variations of the toy, or a very rare 'special' version, that are highly coveted among collectors. Shoppers are also only notified of a new drop at short notice, often via WhatsApp the morning stock becomes available, further fuelling hype. With collectors often waiting in line for hours, some have reported queuing on social media for over 12 hours, and some Aussies have resorted to extreme measures. Airtasker has revealed people are being booked using the platform to queue up and buy a Labubu, with one Sydneysider paying a stranger $100 to avoid the large crowds. 'It's always fascinating to see how Airtasker users adapt to cultural moments,' Airtasker Founder and CEO Tim Fung told 'Labubu isn't the first craze we have seen people paying others to help them source – there was digital queuing for the Taylor Swift Eras tickets, help finding the CJ Hendry artistic wheelie bins and lining up in person for the popular pistachio papi desserts. 'If there is a cult buy happening it's more than likely you will find people posting on Airtasker for help to get their hands on it.' Despite the obvious downside to buying a Labubu (some have likened the rush to get the sellout item to The Hunger Games) it seems the trend is here to stay. The $32 key-ring doll, which often has a resale value of well over $100, was recently described as a 'must-have fashion accessory' by Vogue – cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon. But while many are prepared to get up at the crack of dawn to snag the doll, others have warned it's 'not worth the hype'. 'My friend arrived at 3:30am and I got there at 4:30am and we saw people where getting trampled,' one wrote on social media. 'I genuinely don't know what the hype for Labubu is. Someone please explain what's so appealing?' another asked.
Herald Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Airtasker continues to build revenue momentum
Airtasker marketplaces revenue up 15.8% on pcp Annual recurring revenue increases of 153% for UK market and 399% for US market Airtasker Australia net EBITDA hits A$1.5m Special Report: Online local services marketplace provider Airtasker has once again achieved strong growth across its targeted markets this quarter, achieving an increase in total group revenue of 11.6% compared to the previous corresponding period. Airtasker (ASX:ART) also delivered positive free cash flow and operating cash flow of A$800k for the quarter, achieved by growing group revenue 11.6% on pcp to A$13.6m, and Airtasker marketplaces revenue by 15.8% on pcp to A$11.7m. The company also increased cash receipts from customers by A$2.3m (17.9%), while increasing operating cash outflows A$4.5m, mostly in the form of marketing and upfront payments related to a new television advertisement. ART finished the quarter in a strong cash position with A$18.3m in hand, reaffirming its guidance for positive Group free cash flow in the 2025 financial year. Source: Airtasker Marketplaces sees stable demand from customers The third quarter of the 2025 financial year marked another double-digit increase in revenue for the Australian arm of the Airtasker marketplace, lifting 10.6% on pcp to A$10.8m. The implementation of a more customer-centric refund process in 1H24 continued to lower overall cancellations, reducing breakage revenue by 29.2% pcp while platform revenue increased by A$1.3m (15.2%). Airtasker says it's enjoying steady customer demand across the Airtasker marketplaces – booked tasks have increased 1.5% on pcp, cancellation rates have fallen 7.2% and yield management initiatives enabled a 10.3% increase in ART's monetisation rate, bringing it to 22.3%. 153% increase in UK marketplace revenue Airtasker has been growing steadily in the UK, with posted tasks rising by 69.2% on pcp and gross marketplace volume (GMV) lifting by 76.8% to £1.7m (A$3.5m). ART points to a continued brand investment through Channel 4 and increasing momentum in the Birmingham and Manchester areas as the key points of impact. Overall, the company increased its UK marketplace revenue by 153.2% on pcp to £355k, and GMV (on a trailing 12-month basis) by 63.8% to A$12.8m (£6.5m). Source: Airtasker US Marketplace revenue quadruples Continuing the theme of accelerating momentum, Airtasker's US marketplace has experienced very strong revenue growth of 399% compared to the previous corresponding period, rising to US$86k. Advertising partnerships with TelevisaUnivision, iHeartMedia, Sinclair and Mercurius as well as new city launches in Austin and Las Vegas drove GMV up 197% to US$411k (A$655k). On a TTM basis, GMV grew to A$1.5m (a 92% increase) and revenue increased by 212% to A$300k. The Airtasker US marketplace achieved a GMV annualised run rate (ARR) of A$3.6m as of March 31, 2025. Source: Airtasker Australian EBITDA of A$1.5m Airtasker's Established Marketplaces – which includes Airtasker Australia and Oneflare – delivered positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation or amortisation (EBITDA) of A$6m during the quarter, with $2.1m comprising non-cash marketing. After covering all global head office expenditure, the Established Marketplaces segment delivered a positive Australian net EBITDA of $1.5m. Source: Airtasker The aforementioned $2.1m investment in non-cash brand marketing continued through the third quarter via oOh!media and ARN in conjunction with the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix, decreasing net EBITDA. ART expects to realise the value of this above-the-line brand marketing over a three-year period. Due to a $12.9m investment in New Marketplaces, Group EBITDA was negative at $11.4m, mostly consisting of non-cash marketing of $7.9m across various media channels in the UK and US. Airtasker expects the current state of affairs to continue into the fourth quarter as the company continues to use its non-cash media advertising services in Australia, the UK and the US. Importantly, the positive cash flow generated in the Established Marketplaces segment contributed A$4.5m in available funds to invest in New Marketplaces. The A$4.5m was invested in UK and US marketplaces without increasing their fixed costs, simultaneously growing both segments significantly and delivering positive Group free cash flow. Airtasker founder and CEO Tim Fung said he was 'super pleased' with the large revenue increases achieved in the UK and US, while still securing strong double-digit revenue growth in Australia. 'A huge shout out to the amazing Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team and our incredible media partners across Australia, the UK and the US for their contribution to this awesome result,' Fung said. This article was developed in collaboration with Airtasker, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Airtasker on a roll with another quarter of revenue growth
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
How Airtasker's smart media deals allow it to scale with minimal cash burn
Airtasker's media-for-equity strategy drives major growth Scaling fast with limited cash burn Airtasker takes on the UK and the US Airtasker (ASX:ART) has a unique way of building its brand, swapping equity in the company for advertising space. It all started in 2016, when Airtasker struck a media-for-equity deal with Seven West Media (ASX:SWM), giving Seven an 18% stake in exchange for brand exposure. This helped boost Airtasker's brand awareness from 6% to 60%, and revenues immediately shot up 20 times. When Airtasker floated in March 2021, Seven West Media cashed out for $45 million, pocketing a sweet 5x return. Fast forward to today, Airtasker is now locking in similar deals with other media firms. Scaling without burning cash Rather than forking out big chunks of cash for advertising campaigns, Airtasker now works with major media partners like oOh!media, ARN, Channel 4, and others, who provide significant advertising inventory in exchange for equity in Airtasker's local operations. It's a model that's still fairly niche, but it's gaining traction among fast-growing consumer brands looking to scale without taking on debt or blowing their budgets. And because these media partners now hold equity, they're aligned with Airtasker's long-term success. Everyone's incentivised to make the campaigns work. It's a model simply designed for growth without the cash burn. Airtasker's 11.6% rise in Australian revenue for the H1FY25 came from a $3.6 million marketing investment, with $2.6 million of that being non-cash, thanks to these partnerships. Pretty smart capital efficiency, and it's what allows the company to scale while keeping its balance sheet healthy. At the end of the half, Airtasker finished with $18.3 million in cash and term deposits on its balance sheet. Win-win But here's where it gets really interesting. At the end of a five to seven-year runway, Airtasker has the option to buy back that equity from its media partners. The valuation will be simple: it will be based on local revenue, multiplied by Airtasker's own revenue multiple. And the buyback can be done in cash or Airtasker shares, whichever makes more sense to Airtasker at the time, giving the company flexibility. It's a win-win. Airtasker gets audience scale without upfront spend, and its media partners get clear path to exit with an upside. Taking the strategy global Airtasker has taken this media-for-equity play to the UK, with Channel 4 investing another £4.0m ($7.8m) in exchange for an unsecured convertible note issued by Airtasker UK. This follows a £3.5m ($6.7m) it put in last year, bringing Channel 4's total investment to £7.5m ($14.5m). With this partnership, Airtasker now has access to Channel 4's 47 million viewers, or 78% of the UK population. The company has now ramped things up, taking the strategy to the US. Airtasker raised US$9.75 million through partnerships with two massive media players there: iHeartMedia, America's top audio company, and TelevisaUnivision, the leader in Spanish-language content. These partnerships give Airtasker access to a combined 376 million people. iHeart has 276 million audio listeners and TelevisaUnivision has 100 million daily viewers across TV, radio, and digital platforms. 'We are super pumped to be building on the momentum of our global media partnership strategy by joining forces with two of America's leading media companies – iHeart and TelevisaUnivision – to scale Airtasker in the USA!,' said CEO, Tim Fung. Enter: Formula One Meanwhile, away from media companies, Airtasker has also stepped onto the global stage through a unique partnership with the newly rebranded Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team, or just VCARB. For context, VCARB is Red Bull's second F1 team (previously known as AlphaTauri), now backed by Visa and Cash App. The partnership gives Airtasker branding rights across the F1 circuit. Airtasker's whole proposition with VCARB is about highlighting the unsung heroes behind the scenes. The people keeping everything running smoothly in the garage, organising the logistics, and making sure everything's spot on. Just like Airtasker's Taskers, the company said. Also, Formula One's audience has grown fast in recent years, fuelled by younger viewers and a global following thanks to Netflix's Drive to Survive. 'I'm really pumped to reaffirm our full-year free cash flow and revenue growth guidance and keeping up the momentum in the second half," Fung said.
