OwnOutdoors: Outdoor tours marketplace
A Sharetribe marketplace for booking outdoor tours: map view, instant payments, and a membership subscription model.
The idea
OwnOutdoors was conceived by young entrepreneurs to serve kayak and snorkeling tour operators, fishing charters, and other outdoor activity providers. These operators faced challenges launching their businesses online: costs, website design, SEO, booking systems, and secure payments. OwnOutDoors was created to solve all of that in one place.
What we built
An ongoing development partnership spanning over two years, involving numerous enhancements well beyond the default Sharetribe platform:
- Map view integration A map view on the same page as listings, essential for location-based discovery and not available by default in Sharetribe GO
- Stripe payment modifications Immediate payment release and refundable deposits for smooth, secure transactions
- Availability calendar enhancements Hourly features, date availability management, and minimum duration settings for flexible booking
- CSV location uploads Bulk upload of locations via CSV files, making it easier for sellers to manage multiple listings
- External integration script A script allowing sellers to use OwnOutdoors booking functionality on their own websites
- Membership fee and affiliate program Membership fees and an affiliate program to encourage user engagement and growth
- FareHarbor integration Pulled in listings from FareHarbor, expanding the range of available activities
- White-labeled pages Hotels can represent activities to their customers under their own branding, enhancing the platform's versatility
The result
The marketplace grew beyond a basic Sharetribe setup into a full booking platform with hotel partnerships and affiliate revenue. Map view and custom calendar features gave activity providers tools that the default Sharetribe GO platform doesn’t offer. FareHarbor integration expanded the range of available bookings, while white-labeled pages opened a hotel partnership channel. Stripe modifications simplified transactions, and the affiliate program and membership fees added sustainable revenue streams.
“They didn't just build what I asked for, they helped shape my business idea and suggested better solutions. Super responsive, transparent, and the process is easy for non-technical founders to follow. I always recommend IT House.”
CEO, OwnOutdoors
